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. 

 

 

Crisis of Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,* for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Rom 1:16-18 (NKJV)

 

 

Faith.  Is there a more confusing concept in all of Scriptural teaching?  Don't get me wrong I understand what faith is.  I understand its importance.  I know that it comes from hearing the Word of God.  I know that through faith people have received answered prayers, victories, healing and deliverance from adverse  circumstances.  I know that we received Christ by faith.  We are saved by faith.  Without it, we will not please God.

So you may be asking by now then what is confusing about it?  For me, it is when I believe, truly believe...  and it still does not turn out as I have prayed and believed.  I am not talking about praying for a million dollar check to come in the mail. I am talking about praying for healing.  Healing that is provided  in the atonement.  Healing that does not appear to happen while someone is still on this Earth.  If we are honest, we have all had instances where we felt confused about the role of faith within a situation.  After those times I have poured hours into studying the Bible, trying to find out where I missed it.  To see what the Bible says about it. I know some were healed because they came to Christ and asked.  Some were healed by the laying on of hands.  Some were healed because others came for them to Jesus.  Others were healed by the spoken word from far away.  Peter's shadow healed people. Paul's apron healed people.   Some people are healed because of their own faith.  Others are healed because of the faith of a loved one.  Trust me. I  have studied it out.  But I still have unanswered questions.

But for me, I have decided whether I understand it now, or not until heaven, I will not deny my faith.  I will not give up on it, I will not back down, I will not water down what the Word of God says is true. His Word is truth, everything else a lie.  Sometimes we just have to trust in the One who is higher than we can understand, the One who works purposes we cannot perceive.  This passage talks about "the righteousness of God being revealed from faith to faith."  This encourages me because sometimes I have little faith, other times more.  But either way, I am making progress moving from faith to faith.  I see it as stepping stones in a brook.  If I do not pass the faith test this time, I try again on the next rock.  If I get wet, I get up and hop on another faith rock.  As I go, I learn a little more, I grow in the  faith, and little by little, I please God.  Oh, I would love to be a woman of big, bodacious faith.  But for now, I have to just keep making forward progress. 

Maybe you are on a mountain with your faith today, recently having prayers answered.  I praise God with you!  Maybe you are in the valley today and feel your "faith foundation" has crumbled.  I weep with you.  We all go through crises of our faith.  But please, do not give up.  Without faith, we cannot see God.  Without faith we cannot please God. Without faith, we cannot do anything.  Do not cast off your faith.  It will be richly rewarded.

 

Dear Lord, I pray for those today in a crisis of faith.  Grant them the gift of faith to believe beyond the seeing of their eyes and the understanding of their minds.  Increase my faith, O Lord I pray!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

Learning to Walk

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”  I John 2:6

 Wow!  What a tall order!  Walking as Jesus did.  He walked every step in faith.  He walked every step in love.  He walked to the hurting, the rejected, the sick, and the down and out.  He brought healing, acceptance and restoration.

Jesus walked in wisdom.  He walked with an eye to pleasing the Father.  He walked the path to Calvary.  And Bless God, he walked the path to pay the price for our sin, to purchase our redemption and to build for us a home in heaven.

Jesus walked where he was hated, rejected, taunted, set up and crucified.  He walked where no man would want to go.  He walked where no man had the power to go.

Jesus is our great example in all things.  Let us endeavor to walk as he did, showing love, goodness and compassion to a hurting world.  Let our feet be the ones that bring good news.

Dear Lord, I am speechless at the thought of all you have done.  Help me to walk as you did, in all sincerity and with Kingdom purpose. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri