The Power of the Lord

By Bishop Keith A. Butler

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. The power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Luke 5:17

Most of us are familiar with this story. It's a situation whereby Jesus is in the house and He's teaching the word of God. The house is jam-packed; it's filled up with all of the dignitaries of the time and all the religious leaders. All of the doctors and Pharisees and the scribes are in the midst while Jesus is teaching. It's so packed that people who are coming in to get healed, can't get in the house.

When God's moving, there's always a full building before long. Well, these guys, of course, want to get their friend healed, and their friend wants to be healed. They finally that they are not going to give up; they are not going to quit. Surely, most people would have quit when they discovered that they couldn't get in. Most people would have said, "Well, it's filled, we can't get in, it's too late."

Not these guys. These guys said, "Well, there has got to be a way to take part in what's going on." And so somebody came up with the idea to make a hoist to get the friend on the roof, break up the ceiling and drop him right down in front of Jesus. That's being bold.

First of all, to risk danger by going on the roof is one thing. They also broke up somebody else's house and then had the audacity to interrupt Jesus, is another. All the time, that they're up on the roof, there's noise. When you are breaking up a roof, it's not a quiet thing.

Obviously the man his friends are demonstrating great faith. So much faith that that man walked out of that place healed. But faith is not the only thing involved in this story.

There are two things that occurred in order for this man to walk off healed.

First, you've got their faith and you've got the power of God present. What kind of power? It's healing power. You need faith and you need the manifestation of healing power. However, there was only one thing that was standing in the way between that man's faith and the manifestation of healing power. What was that? The roof was in the way. The roof was keeping him from receiving that which he and his friends believed was available. So what did they do? They got rid of it.

There are some of you with the same kind of faith like that man had. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God. You believe Jesus is a healer. You have made some steps in that direction, but there's something between the manifestation of that power for you and what you believe. You got some roof of some kind. You need to get in the roof-breaking business.

Prayer for Today

Father,
I know that it is Your desire that I walk in divine health. Jesus died on the cross so that I may be the recipient of it. I will take the responsibility of not allowing anything between the manifestation of my healing. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Selah: Think on These Things

• Jeremiah 30:17
• Psalm 103:2