When Jesus entered the Synagogue in Mark chapter 3, He had already caused a stir in the hearts of the men who were in awe of His power, and those who Jesus later called ‘sons of the devil’ (John 8).
He healed the paralytic man who was brought to Him through the roof by the four men. Through their faith and determination, they didn’t want to settle for just being in the room, which was full of people anyway; but were determined to lower the paralytic man down to be near Jesus. (Mark 2:4)
There are times when you need to go the extra mile, push through fear and insecurity, push through the noise around you, and push through the enemy’s attempt to prevent you from getting close to Jesus to receive your miracle.
It is through the kindness of the Father that we receive the miracle, but it is for His glory that we are set free in the miracle. (Mark 2:11-12)
As Jesus entered the synagogue (Mark 3), waiting for Jesus were the religious leaders, and a man with a withered hand. Knowing the evil, scheming hearts of the religious leaders, Jesus was focused on His Father’s business (Luke 2:49).
Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Step forward.… Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mark 3:3,5)
Jesus demonstrated the power of the one who sent Him. He pushed back on the religious spirit now residing in the synagogue – the house of prayer and worship, by healing and restoring the man’s hand on the Sabbath.
The power and the kingdom of God is not restricted to the forces of the enemy around us. He is calling us forward to grab hold of the very things He knows would help us push through the noise, the block-walls and the challenges.
He wants our obedience. He wants our eyes focused on Him, and Him alone. Don’t look to the left, or to the right, and keep your path straight. (Proverbs 4)
Step Forward in faith to receive your miracle from God the Father who is kind, generous, full of grace and love.
As we too are pressing forward to receive a miracle to enable us to address the needs in the season ahead for PKNZ, we are focused on who He is, His character. We do not focus on the ‘withered hand’, but on the One who gives life because He is the reason for the miracle.
Let our eyes be focused and see what is described in Revelation chapter 4; the One sitting on the throne and looks like a jasper and a sardius stone with a rainbow around it that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four elders clothed in white robes with crowns of gold on their heads. “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” (v.5).
There are four living creatures who do not rest night and day, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (v.8). At the same time, “… the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honour and power; For you created all things, And by your will they exist and were created”. (v.10-11).
As we serve God and the men of this nation through PKNZ, I’m reminded daily why we are doing this – it is for His glory that we seek miracles in ministry and in life. His heart is moved by our faith in Him. It is His compassionate heart that rescues us even when we don’t have it all together.
My prayer as we come to the end of 2024, is for us to capture what is in the heart of the Father. When we do, there will also be a call that will be asking for our Yes. The object of our yes is not the sacrifice, but it’s our obedience, which is the delight of the Father’s heart.
He is worthy to receive glory and honour. Amen!
In His richest blessings,
Frank Po Ching