Nr. 204: THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH

Nr. 204:

THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH

Thy faith hath made thee whole (Mark 5:34).

According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29).

As thou hast believed, so be it unto thee (Matthew 8:13).

He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord (James 1:6,7).

According to Mark 5:24-34, a certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. She had suffered many things of many physicians and spent all that she had. But instead of getting better, she rather grew worse. Finally, hearing of Jesus, she sought Him and touched His garment and was made whole. What made this woman whole? Many will say, "Christ." In a sense, that is right, for without touching Him she could never have been healed. But after she was healed, Christ himself said, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole (verse 34). According to Jesus’ own words, it was her faith that made her whole. She never would have overcome the difficulties in her path, which seemingly made it impossible for her to touch Him, had she not had faith.

At another time, two blind men came to Jesus for healing. He touched their eyes and they were opened. What was it that opened the blind eyes? After Jesus touched them, He declared, According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29). In reality, it was their faith, in cooperation with the power of God through Jesus Christ that brought about their healing.

Jesus said to the centurion, As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee (Matthew 8:13).

In reading the New Testament accounts of healing in the ministry of Jesus and His early followers, we may find many statements such as these. All the promises of God are conditioned upon faith. There is no other way to receive anything from God. James states this fact in the clearest possible language. Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed...let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1:6,7). Faith is an absolute necessity if one is to receive anything from God.

Gifts of healing + faith = healing

Many today have a mistaken idea that, since many are exercising the gifts of healing and miracles, all they need to do is attend one of their meetings and they will be healed, without faith on their part. They think that the gift of healing will take the place of their own faith in God. This is not scriptural! The gift of healing will not take the place of your own faith in God.

There is no doubt that Christ exercised all the gifts of the Spirit, including healings and miracles. Yet when He went to Nazareth, He could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them (Mark 6:5). And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58).

The gifts of healing possessed by the Lord himself did not bring healing to others independent of their faith. Neither will the gift of healing exercised by men of God today bring healing to you unless you have faith.

Paul met a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet. Paul said to the man with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet (Acts 14: 10). The man was healed immediately and leaped and walked! Notice that, according to verse 9, before Paul commanded him to stand upon his feet, he perceived that he had faith to be healed. Although Paul exercised the gifts of healing and miracles, he recognized that they were insufficient, in themselves, to bring about the desired result. Faith on the part of the suffering person was necessary to bring about healing.

When Christ healed the woman the of Mark 5:25, He did not say "Daughter, my gift hath made thee whole," but rather, Thy faith hath made thee whole. Paul didn't say to the impotent man, "All right, fellow, get a card and get in line. I've got the gift of healing." Rather, Paul looked the situation over and discerned that the man had faith to be healed!

It is a marvelous privilege today to be able to attend meeting where God’s anointed men are bringing deliverance in the name of Jesus! But this, in itself, is not enough. If Christ himself were conducting the meetings and laying His hands upon the sick today, He would, no doubt, say to them as in the days of old, "Thy faith hath made thee whole!"

Borrowed faith

Many people confess that they do not have much faith and wonder if it is possible for them to be healed through some other person's faith. Many have said to me, "I do not have any faith, but can't I be healed through your faith?"

James 5:16 says, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. But God's guarantee is to those who themselves have faith! If a person received healing without having faith, it certainly would be the exception, and not the rule laid down in His Word.

You might be healed through another’s faith, but how would you keep that healing? Faith is necessary not only to receive healing, but also to retain it, for Satan is not easily defeated. Almost without exception, when a person has been healed, Satan will immediately attack him, in an attempt to snatch from him the gift that God has given. Thus, if your healing depended upon another's faith, Satan would only have to wait until the other person was not present to find you utterly defenseless and take your healing from you. This is why many suffer today from diseases they were once healed of.

Do not be discouraged if your faith is low. The next chapter is written with you in mind. It will build your faith, if you follow its instructions. Read it prayerfully and obediently. As you do, the flame of your faith will burn brighter and brighter.