Which ministry is easier?

[Moses Foyah]

Mark 2:9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, '[Your] sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?

Our master and Savior Jesus, the Messiah, asked this critical question of the religious leaders of those days after they doubted His words to the paralytic. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus declared that the sick man's sins were forgiven before he healed him. The incredulous religious bigots questioned Jesus' authority to forgive sins. He therefore manifested His authority in forgiving the man's sins by telling him to "rise up, take your bed and walk". The man was instantly healed. 

However, before Jesus performed this miracle, he asked that key question which is the subject of this discussion, "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? Obviously in God's realm, nothing is easy or difficult. Nothing is impossible with God. On the other hand in this natural realm, situations can be classified as easy or difficult. We know the answer to Jesus' question. In the natural world, it is easier to say that someone's sins are forgiven than to command that they rise up from paralysis and walk. The old adage, it is easier said than done holds true here. We are living in a day and age where the Church majors in saying than doing, speaking than demonstrating; mental assent has taken ascendancy over acting in faith. 

Anyone can preach or teach a sermon especially after having acquired some form of training or done some practice. But how many preachers and teachers can do the harder ministry? Taking the ministry out into the deep waters where the "prophets of Baal cannot hold their ground"? A realm where the ministry is "not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (I Corinthians 2:4). Note that Jesus did not become an apologetic by trying to persuade the doubting experts with words. No. he demonstrated the Word. An evangelist friend of mine used to say that "a miracle settles the issue". What was the result of the "harder" ministry? Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" (Mark 2:12 NKJV).

We have heard the saying, "the greatest miracle is that of the new birth". Yes indeed. I believe so too. However, no other person sees that miracle taking place in the individual who is experiencing it. If Jesus had not demonstrated the sign and wonder for all to see, I doubt whether anyone would have glorified God on that day. 

In this day and age when Christians are depending on crooked politicians to change the spiritual landscape of nations through laws, I am persuaded that the answer lies in pressing into doing the "harder" ministry. Instead of laboring with the intellect, may we find the spiritual energy to develop our spirit man; the inner man of the heart who has no limits in the realm of the spirit. The full development of this "inner man" is the door to this realm we have considered as difficult. 

We most be convinced with every fiber of our being that we are spirits. We are made in God's image, who is a Spirit being.(John 4:24)  Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6). If you are born again, you are a spirit. A spirit has no limits. That is why Jesus equates those who are born of the Spirit with the wind (John 3:8). Note that Jesus said "everyone". Operating in the spirit realm is not for a special group of people. Anyone who is born of the spirit can move in the supernatural when they begin to think and act as "spirits". Our heavenly Father is the Father of spirits (Heb. 12:4). Say it emphatically with me: "I AM A SPIRIT". 

Our next assignment then is to begin to fully develop the real man; spirit.  Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.