9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Our opening Scripture reveals how the Apostle Paul preached the word of faith at Lystra and there was a man there that was crippled from his mother’s womb, who had never walked all his life. The crippled man heard the Gospel and believed it. There are a couple of things about the crippled man’s faith that are worthy of note regarding what the Word of faith is and how it works. The man heard the gospel concerning his healing and believed, but he was still crippled. Is it possible to have faith for something but still lack the physical manifestation of it? Yes, of course! In our opening verse, the Word declared that Paul perceived that the crippled man had faith to be healed, but his condition was still the same. So, a man may have faith regarding change and still have his situation unchanged. The second thing we notice about the crippled man’s faith is that his faith didn’t heal him until he acted out his faith. When Paul perceived that he had faith to be healed, Paul said with a loud voice, stand upright on your feet; then he leaped and walked. Understand that he had faith to be healed but didn’t act out his faith; he didn’t give expression to his faith, so his faith couldn’t heal him. Did you notice those two things about the crippled man’s faith? What then is Bible faith?
Bible faith is believing the Word of God and acting upon the Word because you know that it is true. Bible faith is not just believing the Word and saying that you believe the Word without acting on what the Word says. Bible faith is conviction based on the Word heard and such conviction creates and demands action. If Paul shouted, stand upright on your feet, and the crippled man didn’t have faith to be healed, leaping and walking would be impossible! Paul’s shout only aided the faith that the man had already received while Paul was preaching the Word. So, faith is first a conviction based on the Word heard and backed up with a corresponding action which is consistent with your conviction. That’s what Bible faith is. Did you get it? So, what causes a change in your situation is your faith acted out, or expressed, not just what you believe. So, to have faith to be healed and to be actually healed, are two different things, but related though. So, stand up and do something in line with your faith! That’s how to let your faith change your life and your situation.
SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that the Word is working for me. I believe the Word and act upon it; therefore I reap the harvest of my seed faith in Jesus’ Name!
Further Meditation:
Job 8:7; Luke 8:43-44.