Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked
Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
The historical account of the Acts of the Apostles was never more powerful than Paul’s experience in Acts chapter fourteen. A lame man, born crippled, “who never had walked”, heard Paul’s sermon. Something about the preached Word enlightened the lame man’s eyes. The spoken Word sparked belief in this man, who carried a life-long issue. Acts 14:9-10 declares two keys to the healing of the lame man. Paul perceived that he had faith to be healed and Paul spoke the Word of healing, “Stand upright on thy feet.” It was the spoken Word combined with faith that resulted in the healing. The Word provoked Faith insomuch that Paul could see it emanating from the lame man. The profundity of the moment cannot be overstated.
This dual action is found throughout the scripture. The convergence of the preached Word and a response of Faith manifests itself in healing and power time and again. Paul wrote to the church at Rome and offered this exact duality: Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The Word and Faith are forever linked in the annals of time and in the scripture. What we hear leads us into the realm of faith and belief.
Consider Jesus Who is the embodied Word, the Logos, the Living Truth. Mark chapter 9 depicts the scene of a tormented son brought by a desperate father. Jesus, the Word, responded to the man whose son was afflicted: Mark 9:23 “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. The Word was delivered and the father responded… “Lord I believe.” There is little doubt that when we hear the Word and respond with faith, something powerful and life-changing is going to happen. Our miracle, healing, and deliverance could be waiting on the Word and our response.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole