Text: Mark 2:1-12
Memory verse:
“… Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” ‭‭
I Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Faith is a fuel for miracles. Faith has different levels. Many years ago, on a Sunday service, while we were pastoring a church that was made up of over ninety percent youth, I charged members to step out in faith to support the evangelism bus project. A number responded to the call and made pledges to support it. A few weeks later, a father, who wasn’t attending the same church, shared the experience he had with his son and how he was so challenged by his faith. This teenage boy, desperate to fulfill his pledge, sold his new pair of shoes to his elder brother, who promised to pay at an agreed date. So, having failed many times, an argument ensued between the duo that caught their father’s attention. It was then that he got to know how this younger son had sold his precious shoes to his brother in order to raise money to pay his pledge. Violent giving! Violent faith indeed! “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” ‭‭(Matt‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬)‬‬.
The Lord honoured his faith, and that singular act laid the foundation for the enviable destiny of this teenage boy, who is now an adult and a father today. God singled him out in his family and made him a global star. Violent faith triggers the miraculous (1 Kings 3:4-5).
According to our text today, four men brought their paralytic friend to Jesus. Getting there, they found the place totally filled up with no way to pass through the jam-packed crowd
to reach Jesus, who was inside the house. Turning back or surrendering would have been a tenable excuse, but violent faith doesn’t accept any excuse. Violent faith sees a way where there seems to be no way, while passive faith sees obstacles at every challenge. Rather than giving up their goal or turning back, the four friends thought of what to do. Violent faith is creative. Even climbing a ladder and opening the roof also had challenges. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, they didn’t get discouraged. Life does not deliver to you what you deserve but what you demand. Violent people take their delivery by the force of faith.
Friends, be violent in your faith, and your portion will be delivered to you.

Prayer points
1. Father, please ignite my faith with fresh fire in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please move me from passive faith to violent and aggressive faith in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. Through violent faith, my portion is delivered to me.
2. Violent faith makes me to be desperate, persistent, and to be deaf to discouragement.