Focus: Miracle-working Faith (Pt.2)

Text: Act.14:9

"The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed."

This man, lame from the mother's womb, heard Paul speaking the word of God, and he believed it. Faith always comes by hearing the word of God. The word of God generates faith in our hearts, and faith connects us to God and enables us to collect from God - connection for collection.

The man had faith to be healed. As you hear the word of God preached, do you believe that God could and would heal you? Do you ever come to God, expecting to receive something that you need from Him? Do you believe and know that God has the character and capacity to do as He has promised?

I want you to know that having faith means accepting and resting on God's word as:

*Final

*Authoritative and able

*Infallible and immutable

*Trustworthy

*Holy

As far as faith is concerned, God's word is everything. Faith depends on it. The believer is confident that what God says, God does.

God works with your faith. That man had faith to be healed, and he went home totally healed. He came to church impotent on his feet, but he went home, leaping and walking.

God heals those who have faith to be healed. Jesus Christ says to a sinful woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (Lk.7:50). Jesus Christ says to a blind man, "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee" (Lk.18:42). Jesus Christ says to another woman who had been down for too long, "Thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour" (Mt.9:22). To the Syrophenician woman, Christ says, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour" (Mt.15:28). To a certain high-ranking person whose daughter was sick, Christ says, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole" (Lk.8:50). He says to a leper, "Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole" (Lk.17:19). These Scriptures point to one truth, which is that your faith can be the means of your deliverance or healing. Your faith can make whole. God heals by faith.

In Jeremiah a question is posed: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" (Jer.8:22). I believe the answer is a lack of faith in God. We claim to have faith, but in reality, we don't. James tells us that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick." Jeremiah prayed, "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise" (Jer.17:14). The psalmist testifies, "O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me" (Ps.30:2). He declares somewhere else, "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions" (Ps.107:20). God heals by His sent word. God's word is both creative and curative.

God allows your faith to be a decider or determiner. He lets your faith be the means by which you tap into the inexhaustible resources of grace. By faith you connect and collect. Your faith is a miracle-working faith. Your faith is meant to yield divine results. I prophesy to you now that your faith will save you. By faith you will overcome that overwhelming situation in your life. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter