Healing Faith

READ: Ezra 3,4; Psalms 19; Acts 14:1-18

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14: 8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked.
9 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.

OBSERVATION:  Jesus told his disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mk.16:15). Here, Paul and Barnaba continually preached the Gospel on the streets of Lystra (Acts.14:7). A lame man paid attention to hear the Gospel as Paul preached the word. We do not know how long or how many days he continued listening to Paul’s sermons. However, when “Paul looked directly at him” as Peter and John did in an earlier incident (Acts 3:4),  he saw that the lame man “had faith to be healed.” The lame man must have started to believe in Jesus Christ as he listened to the word of God from Paul. The lame man’s faith became visible when he responded to Paul’s call. Surprisingly, a person who never walked in his entire life could “jumped up and began to walk.” Usually, if a person does not use his legs for more than a few days (due to prolonged bed rest or being bedridden for medical reasons), they cannot stand on their feet immediately without any support.  But this lame man “jumped up” without showing any signs of weakness. An unbelievable miracle! The same Lord Jesus worked with Paul and Barnaba and confirmed his word through a miracle (Mk.16:20).

When Jesus healed people, he saw their faith and told them, “your faith has healed you.” There is a connection between one’s faith and receiving miracles. In Mark 6:5-6, we read that Jesus could not do any miracles due to people’s lack of faith. God sees and honors our faith. When the lame man heard the Gospel of Jesus, he believed it was for him. He did not ask for a miracle. But, God saw his faith and healed him.  When new believers receive a miracle or healing, it authenticates the message they heard and believed and gives them confidence that they have put their faith in the right place. There is no shortcut to receiving a healing faith. We need to listen to the word of God continually and obey what the Lord says.

APPLICATION: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb.4:12). The words of Jesus are “full of the Spirit and life” (Jn.6:63). When I hear God’s word and believe him, I receive life. God’s word will accomplish His purpose and will in my life. My faith in God and his word never goes in vain.

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for your words that are alive and active even today. Lord, help me to rejoice and believe when I hear the word of God. Help me to listen to your word and put it into practice in my life, today and always. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

Day - 201