Everyone knows that faith and healing are somehow connected.  There seems to be much confusion, however, as to how the two go together.  Let’s see if we can clear up some of the mystery.

Photo Credit: IronRodArt – Royce Bair (“Star Shooter”) via Compfight cc

What is Faith?

Maybe we should begin by defining what faith is.  Simply put, faith is being absolutely convinced that something is true, regardless of the surrounding evidence. There is really nothing more mystical to it than that.  As it relates to God, faith is being convinced that God is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do.  This conviction will always manifest itself by moving us in God’s direction.  If we truly believe the Lord still relieves physical suffering, we will put ourselves in position to receive healing from Him.

Whose Faith?

So whose faith is involved in the healing process?  An examination of the Scriptures reveals that it can be the faith of the one in need of healing, as in the case found in Acts 14:8 – 10.

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.  ESV (emphasis added)

It can also be the one ministering healing that has the faith.  Look at what Peter said after the healing of the man at the temple gate in Acts 3:16.

And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. ESV (emphasis added)

An examination of the whole story shows that it was Peter and John who had faith in this particular case.  Sometimes someone other than the patient or the minister can have the faith, as in the case of the Roman Centurion seeking healing for his servant in Matthew 8:5 – 10.  The ideal would probably be for faith to be found in all parties involved.

How Much Faith Does It Take?

How much faith does it take to receive healing from the Lord?

I don’t know.

Quite often it is thought that the amount of faith required to receive healing is determined by the severity of the infirmity.  Therefore it would be considered that it would require more faith to be healed of cancer than it would a head cold.  However, when we turn our attention away from our infirmities and focus on the Lord, no situation is greater than another.  It’s not like it requires more effort on His part to heal Muscular Dystrophy than it does to heal a skin rash.  So the only limits are the ones that come from a misplaced focus on our part.  If we go into it looking at the Lord, all the limits quickly fall by the wayside.

In light of this, I would like us to look at something Jesus said about the faith required to work a miracle.

And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.  Luke 17:6  ESV

Measuring one millimetre in diameter, a mustard seed was the smallest seed known to farmers at the time.  The implication is that it really doesn’t take much faith to see God do something spectacular.

So, with regards to healing, what is the smallest amount of faith you can think of? For me it would be the simple act of requesting someone pray for you for healing.  That simple little act of faith could position you to taste the powers of the Coming Age in your physical body.

Don’t Focus on Your Faith

Beloved, please don’t get caught in the trap of focusing on your faith.  Instead, focus on growing in your relationship with the Lord.  Your faith will increase in direct proportion to your knowledge of God.  The better you know Him, the more confidence you will have in Him. This kind of intimate knowledge is a result of daily living in the Reign.

M