The Power of God

On April 23, I was driving home from the office , which is about a forty, forty-five minute commute. I was listening to Scripture through a Bible app that I downloaded sometime ago. The narrator was reading in the book of Acts - a book I’ve studied before and have referenced several times. This time, I’m studying this book with the focus on baptism. At this moment, I have not been baptized, but will be soon. Currently, by the grace of God, my discipler has tasked me with New Testament verses on Jesus’ teachings about baptism and why it must be done. One quick reason: Jesus said it fulfills all righteousness…but this elaboration on baptism will come another time. Nonetheless, despite having specific baptism verses to study, I just decided to reread the entire book of Acts. The narrator continued from this morning’s commute at chapter 14, and after hearing a particular passage of Scripture, I immediately paused the app, spoke aloud what was in my heart, and was led in prayer to a Holy God, our heavenly Father.

Scripture reads:

“(8) In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. (9) He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed (10) and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk” (Acts 14:8-10).

Earlier in this chapter, we learn of Paul’s journey to Lystra. At first, Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium. During biblical times, Iconium was a major city in Asia Minor and Lycaonia’s capital. They were preaching the gospel in a Jewish synagogue to Jews and Gentiles. But then, some Jews stirred up the Gentiles against them. Paul and Barnabas continued to speak boldly about Jesus and him crucified, and to confirm the truth that was spoken, the Lord granted them to perform signs and wonders by their hands. The city became divided with the apostles followers and followers of the Jews leading to the Jews and the Gentiles plan to persecute Paul and Barnabas. But, Paul and Barnabas learned of the plan and fled to Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding Lycaonian cities, and continued preaching the Gospel.

Now, here in Lystra, Paul is ministering the Gospel, looks directly at the crippled man, and sees that he has faith to be healed. After pausing the Bible app and praying, I was led to reflect on the faith that exists in this interaction.

In this reflection, my thoughts turned to Jesus’ own ministry. I recalled several instances where Jesus declared, “Your faith has healed you.” The woman with a twelve-year bleeding condition, believing if she could just touch Jesus’ cloak, she would be healed. And she was. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 4:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). Another moment was Jesus healing the ten men of leprosy. Only one, a Samaritan, came back to thank him, to whom Jesus said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:11-19). And the blind beggar, upon receiving his sight, was told by Jesus, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you” (Luke 18:35-42; Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52). In these accounts, they were aware of the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ ministry had spread throughout the town, so when they got word that Jesus was passing through, they acted on their faith, seeking him out. Jesus, in turn, acknowledged their faith and that they have been healed. They walked in freedom and in wholeness from their afflictions.

Only God can open a person’s heart to receive the truth. Paul couldn’t change the heart of the crippled man to believe in Jesus and him crucified. This was a divine intervention to draw the man to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the foundation that our faith is built on. Paul saw the working of the Lord in his heart, and with the Lord being with Paul, he was able to not only witness the spiritual healing of the crippled man, but the physical healing done by his hands from the power granted to him by the Lord.

Therefore, when it comes to spreading the gospel of Jesus, there’s no need to doctrine up the Gospel for demographics like Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y (Millennials), Gen Z, or future generations, or to cater to any racial, ethnic, economic, or educational groups. Attempting to appeal to the masses about Jesus by focusing on worldly identities makes a mockery out of him, especially since those who profess the faith are a new creation in Christ, and should be walking in that freedom. God, in His own timing, will open the hearts of those to believe. Believers are called to witness and testify to the Gospel as it is written in all righteousness and in truth, and the Lord will confirm his word is true. When hearts are open to receive the Lord, people begin seeking him out as they are guided by the Holy Spirit. There’s a joy that fills the hearts of those who receive the truth because they have come to the awareness of the one true living God. Presenting any doctrine other than the Gospel robs people of this joy - an eternal joy that overcome all suffering. This brings out a selfish ambition that doesn’t glorify God. Sadly, it’s not just the unbelievers with a false perception of Jesus based on the sayings and doings of those who profess the faith; it is also believers who carry a false joy in their hearts - which Jesus warns believers about false teachers and false prophets, stating that they’ll be held accountable for their actions. With this, believers must be faithful in ministering the good news of Jesus Christ and his teachings, all while trusting in God’s power to work in the hearts of people.

When the apostle Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God throughout Jerusalem, the message remained the same. The Lord said to Paul, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11), and Paul obeyed. The Gospel he preached to the Romans was the same. Paul said:

“(16) I am not ashamed of the gospel , because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteousness will live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

Believers must be unashamed and boldly live out the faith as God calls us to, for our lives and the lives we are divinely connected to depend on it as there is no other name through which salvation can come, except through Jesus. God will open the hearts of people to receive the Gospel - for it is by His power that we come to believe and have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Morgan