(Pastor Chen)
In previous lessons, we have established the fact that we already have faith, and it is our responsibility to develop and exercise our faith. In Romans 10:14, we see the process involved for a person to be saved. From this Scripture, we see that the principles of faith involve hearing the Word of God, believing the Word of God, and acting on the Word of God. The same faith principles that we used to receive salvation grace are the same principles that receive all other promises of God. When we faithfully put these principles into practice, we will always see the results.
The principles of faith are demonstrated throughout the entire Bible because God is a God of faith and without faith it is impossible to please Him. We can learn a lot from the examples of people who exercise faith. Hebrews 6:12 tells us to "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." One minister puts it well, "Find out what people did in the Bible to get their result and do the same thing, and you will get the same result because there is no respect of persons with God." The principles of faith will work for anyone who faithfully applies them.
In Acts 14:7-10, we see the action of faith demonstrated, "And they were preaching the gospel there. 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." In verse 7, Apostle Paul was preaching the gospel. The crippled man did three things to cause the healing to take place. First, he heard the Word of God. Romans 10:17 tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The Word of God reveals to us the will of God, not only what God wants to do but what He will do as we put our trust in Him. Without knowing the will of God, there can be no faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known.
The second thing the cripple man did to receive his healing is, he believed in the Word of God that he heard. Hearing the Word of God alone is not enough. If hearing alone were sufficient, everybody who heard the gospel would be saved and be healed. But Hebrews 4:2-3 tells us, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest." It is not that the Word of God is not effective, but like a seed, if it is not planted, it does no good. The Word of God can only take roots in our heart when we believe it and embrace it. Otherwise, it falls by the wayside.
The third thing the cripple man did to receive his healing is, he acted on the Word of God that he heard. When the Apostle Paul told the cripple man to stand up, had the cripple man not acted on what he heard, he would not have walked. James 2:20 tells us, "Faith without works is dead." Faith must have a corresponding action for it to be released. What kind of corresponding action is required depends on what God reveals to us through His Word and His Spirit. The corresponding actions are not always spelled out clearly in the Word; this is why we need an intimate fellowship with God. The more intimate we are with God; the more our faith will be perfected. More to come in the next lesson.