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Faith Is Not Always Required – Part Two

Posted by Paul Yeenie Harry on November 19, 2005

Does God perform in people’s lives in a special way? Oh, yes, He does! No questions about it! Does God perform in people’s lives in a special way only when those people exercise faith in Him or in what He is going to do? No, I say, no!

As you may recall, on 29 October 2005, I published Part One of this article. In Part One, see article , I pointed out that God manifests Himself (or works in a special way) in our lives in many different ways. The ways, and the conditions under which He chooses to perform, are straightly His prerogative, and it is according to his sovereign power and nature.

I ended Part One with Psalm 115 verse 3: Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him. So, if it pleases God to perform miracles in a person’s life without that person, first exercising faith, who are we to question the sovereign power of God?

Let it be remembered that my argument is not that God will never require faith in performing in a special way in our lives. I am aware of the many scriptures where faith is mentioned as the precondition for healing/miracle.

For instance, in Luke 8:43-48 (also recorded in Matthew 9:20-22 and Mark 5:25-34), we read the moving story of the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. The condition was so depressing that she spent all that she had on medications and doctors’ consultation fees; however, she could still not be healed of the disease. Then, as Providence would have it, she heard and noticed that Jesus was passing her way. She said to herself, “If only I could touch His garment, I believe I would be healed.” (see Mark 5:28)

So, her faith moved her and she consummated her plan – she touched the garment of Jesus! And guess what happened! She got healed instantly, I mean, on the spot! Do you know what was the precondition of her healing? Let’s hear the answer from Jesus’ own mouth. Are you ready? Then look at verse 48 of Luke 8: And Jesus said unto her, “Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has healed you; go in peace.” She was healed because she exercised faith! Fantastic, isn’t it?

However, God does not always require faith as a precondition on the part of the person in whose life he wants to perform in a special way. There is a plethora of examples in scripture where God performed miracles without first requiring faith on the part of the subject.

Let see an example where God acted based on the faith of a third party, and not that of the subject. In a very passionate story recorded in Luke 5:18-26 (also recorded in Matthew 9:1-8 and Mark 2:1-12), we learn about a man who was suffering from palsy – a complete or partial muscle paralysis, often accompanied by loss of sensation and uncontrollable body movements or tremors.

It happened that Jesus was in a building located in the same city. Some people, related to the sick man (not stated how), brought the man in a bed and decided to take him straight to Jesus for healing. They tried every means but could not succeed because of the huge crowd that was present. Realizing that it was impossible to find a way through the crowd, they climbed on the top of the house and let the man down right before Jesus, through an opening via the roof.

Guess what happened! The sick man was healed because of faith. But based on whose faith? Let the Bible answer it for us. In verse 20 of Luke 8, we read: And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick man, “Man, your sins are forgiven.” In other words, Jesus was saying, “sick man, you are healed because of their faith.”

Are you paying attention? The Bible does not say, “when Jesus saw his faith …’ It says, “when Jesus saw their faith …” So, the sick man was healed because of the faith of the people who brought him to the place where Jesus was, those who got on the roof of the house and descended him in front of Jesus through an outlet, those who unflinchingly sought all means to get the sick man before Jesus. Indeed, their faith, and not his, healed him. Clear enough?

Let’s turn to another story recorded in the book of Acts 3:1-11. In Chapter Three, there is the account of a crippled beggar whom, every morning, people took at the gate of the temple called Beautiful. The Bible tells us that the purpose of taking him there was for him to beg for alms (money or goods given as charity to the poor) from those who were going into the temple to worship. (see verses 1-2)

In the same chapter, verses 3-5, the Bible tells us that when the man saw Peter and John entering the temple, he begged them for alms. When this had happened, Peter and John turned to the man and asked him to listen to them. The Bible says (see verse 5) the man attentively looked at Peter and John, expecting to receive something from them. What does the ‘something’ refer to? Healing of his disability? Of course, not! Remember he had already begged them for alms, so when Peter and John stopped and went closer to him, he was convinced they would give him some alms (see verse 5 again). Got the point?

Now, let’s find out what happened next. Peter told the man that they did not have silver and gold; however, they would give him what they had. What did Peter and John have? They had the faith to get the man healed. So, they told him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” After saying this, Peter lifted the man by the right and, immediately, the man began to walk (see verses 6-7). Was the man happy with what had happened? Oh, yes, he was! In fact, the Bible tells us that he followed them in the temple, jumping up and down and praising God (see verse 8)! God is wonderful, isn’t He?

Let’s put certain things into proper perspective. Firstly, it is clear that the man was healed. Secondly, it is also clear that he was healed because of faith. The question is: based on whose faith, his own? No way! It was based on the faith of a third party (Peter and John), like the story of the paralyzed man above, whose healing depended on the faith of those who tenaciously fought and placed him before Jesus.

Hmm! What can we say? In Luke 8: 43-48, the woman was healed based on her faith. In Luke 5:18-26 and Acts 1:1-11, two sick people were healed based, not on their faith, but on the faith of a third party. What does it tell you, my friends?

Well, Psalm 115 verse 3: Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send them to me: pyharry@help-liberia.org