Power to Forgive Sins

Monday 26 June
READ: Luke 5: 17 - 25
MORE LESSON: Psa. 32: 1 - 5

A man was brought to Jesus for healing. Invariably, his sickness was as a result of a sin he committed. Sin causes sickness and every kind of calamity. It was after the first man sinned that death, sickness and every other form of suffering entered into the world. Many times the troubles that a man faces are as a result of the sins he has committed. A person who lives in sexual immorality contacts HIV/AIDS and the toll of sickness begins to tell on his/her body. Sin has gross repercussions.
However in the text, we see a man who was suffering from sickness as a consequence of the sins he committed. When he was brought to Jesus, contrary to what many men would have said, Jesus didn't tell the man, “That serves you right. You committed sin and now sickness is ravaging your body. Good for you.” The compassionate Jesus looked at the man and said, ...Man, thy sins are forgiven thee: Luke 5:20. The religious guys were angry because He attributed to Himself the ability to forgive the man's sins. Jesus told them, But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house: Luke 5:24. Jesus healed the man as a proof that He had actually forgiven the man.
No matter how numerous or grievous your sins are, Jesus has the power and willingness to forgive you. Even if your suffering today is a consequence of the mistakes and sins of the past, Jesus is ready to forgive you and remove the consequence of your sins. If you have contracted a disease because you lived in immorality, Jesus is not one of those people who will stigmatise you and say that your condition serves you right. He wants to forgive your sins and heal your diseases. You will no longer be judged by the mistakes of yesterday, the Blood of Jesus will wipe your slate clean. His blood washes all your sins-past, present and future. The accuser might still be looking for your sins, but the blood of Jesus washes you.
There are only two things He requires of you. First, He wants you to come to Him in utter repentance. He has promised that whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out (John 6: 37). Come to Him and He will forgive you, wash away your sins and their consequences by His Blood. The second thing He demands of you is what He said to another man that had diseases as a result of his sins; Jesus said to Him and to you, ...Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee: John 5:14.

Prayer/Action
* Father, whatever is happening in my life as a consequence of my lifestyle, have mercy Lord, in the name of Jesus.
* Father in Heaven, forgive me my past and present sins, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every dark stain on the horizon of my glory, by the blood of Jesus I decree them removed, in the name of Jesus.