SUNDAY July 16, 2023
The Faith to Heal
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Acts 14:8-10
Paul and Barnabas traveled to Lystra. Once there, Paul observed a crippled man who had never walked in his entire life. Paul himself had a physical weakness, and I am sure, he related to this man. As Paul was in tune with God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he spoke boldly to this man and said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Paul was used by the Lord to heal the crippled man. In doing so, he had used the spiritual gifts of discernment and faith.
Honestly, not many of us would have the faith to do what Paul did. These incredible spiritual gifts are activated only through the power of the Holy Spirit. On the mission field, a missionary needs these same qualities, because they have to be able to discern when God desires to move and do the miraculous in a person’s life. First, they discern. Then second, the gift of faith will enable them to spring forward into action.
When a missionary is completely submitted to the Lordship of Christ, God will do the impossible through them. I encourage any missionary to be very in tune with God every day. Then they will do His will. God will speak to them and lead and guide them. He will give them the power of the Holy Spirit so they are enabled to step out by faith in using the gift of healing.
There is no telling how much power God can put into a man. When divine strength comes, human weakness is no more a hindrance.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
