Visible, Viable Faith

 

 

 

    

Acts 14:9-10

 

He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10 and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

NIV

 

What causes a person to be healed?  That is a question that many people grapple with. At one point, I spent a lot of time going through the gospels and Acts trying to uncover a pattern for healing.  What I found surprised me.  And blew some of my theological assumptions.

As I went through and marked the passages where Jesus or his disciples  healed someone, I found quite a variety of ways that it occurred.  Sometimes it happened because the sick person had great faith.  Other times it is because someone else had faith for them.   Still other times, it appeared to rely on the person praying for them. 

The means of healing varied also.  Sometimes a word was spoken, sometimes an evil spirit was rebuked, sometimes they were touched, and sometimes there was a faith action step required. (Using mud, going to the priest, etc.)  Sometimes a person came to Jesus or the disciples to seek out help.  Sometimes they just "happened" to be in the right place at the right time.  On other occasions, someone would be brought, or even someone would come on their behalf.  Some events even occurred  with the sick person miles away.

So what is the point of this discussion?  It is merely to point out that God heals and that the means, mode and participants vary. In today's verse Paul "saw that he had faith to be healed."  I love this!  Can someone else see your faith?  Can God see your faith?

I do not say this to put pressure on you to work a miracle on your own behalf.  That is not the point.  It all depends on the power of the Holy Spirit to work a miracle in your body, your mind, your spirit or your relationship.  It is all His working.  But our participation depends on believing Him.  Believing that He has the power to do it.  Believing that He loves you and wants to help you.  Believing that His power is still for today.  Believing is  your part.

Will this guarantee a healing?  I cannot give you a guarantee because God is Sovereign and not always predictable.  But one thing I can guarantee, you will never be sorry for putting your faith in God.   Because whether or not you get it like you want it, when you believe in Him, He grants you peace.  He gives you strength.  He carries you through hard times and sustains you. He cancels your sins and purchased eternal life for you.  We must have faith in Him, no matter what. 

Is your faith evident to others? Is there tangible proof in your life, your speech or your conduct that you believe?  God wants to perform so much more healings and acts than we are currently believing Him for.  Release your faith, "Stand up on your feet!"  In Jesus' Name, believe!

Dear Lord, I believe.  But help my unbelief.  Increase my faith.  Help it to be visible to You and to the world.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.