Show notes:

The video starts with a couple of great testimonies. People are starting to put into practice what we are learning and it’s making a difference in people’s lives.

Here are the ten reasons to major on Faith that I borrowed from brother Dan Maio.

1. Without faith, it is impossible to please God – Heb 11:6

2. We are justified by faith – Without faith, we can’t be saved – Rom 3:28

3. By faith, we have the answers to our prayers – Matt 21:22

4. Those who are justified walk by faith – Gal 3:11

5. You can not conquer sin without faith –Rom 14:23

6. We receive our inheritance by faith – Acts 26:18

7. Spiritual gifts come in proportion to our faith – Rom 12:6

8. Victory comes through faith – our Shield – Eph 6:16

9. By faith, we overcome the world – 1 John 5:4

The Ten healings in the gospels that were initiated by the faith of the recipient or those with them.

1. The Centurion’s servant “”Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”

2. Healing of the Paralytic “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic…”

3. Jairus’ Daughter “Do not be afraid, only believe.”

4. Woman with the issue of Blood “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.”

5. Two blind men “It shall be done to you according to your faith.”

6. Syrophoenician Woman’s daughter  “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.”

7. Two Blind men near Jericho (including Batimaus)  “Go; your faith has made you well.”

8. 10 lepers “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

9. Peter’s Mother-in-law  it was the disciple’s faith – “they asked Him to help her”

10. Royal official’s son was sick The man believed and obeyed Jesus and went when there was no evidence.

There are four more where Jesus in one way or another stirred up faith for healing.

Yes there are instances where Jesus simply ministers healing as a sign with no faith necessary from the recipient. He still does it, but, by definition, then all you can do is hope or even wish for that kind of thing to happen.

But if my faith is the key to my healing, I can play a part in the process. I can learn faith. I can grow my faith.

To be clear, Jesus is the healer. But God is moved by faith. He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

For this reason, we are going to spend a good deal of time looking at faith. We will look in detail at each account where Jesus healed individuals. And it’s going to be good.

Faith

Let’s start with a good Bible definition for Faith. The obvious place to start is Hebrews 11 – the faith chapter.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1 KJV

Before we just move on, let’s make sure we know what this means. Let’s break it down.

Now – to begin with – Faith is NOW.  There is no yesterday in faith. If we’re looking back, we’re not in faith. If our answer to the question “Where is your faith” is something you did in the past, like pray a prayer or some exploit you did or witnessed and we have nothing to speak of today, we are on a mushy foundation.

Now faith is the substance…

The KJV which some of us came up in, says substance, but that doesn’t really cut it in the twenty-first century. The NASB comes closer with assurance. But if you look at other places in both the KJV and NASB you’ll find this Greek word translated confidence, and I think that get’s to the heart of the meaning in a way we can clearly grasp.

Now faith is the Confidence of things hoped for.

Hope is not that wish kind of hope we talk about today. For example, these days if I asked you, “Are you going to be healed tonight?” and you said, “I hope so,” it’s pretty clear that you’re not confident that God is going to touch your body. This modern day hope is not what the Bible is talking about. Bible hope is not so week and iffy. The word hope here is also translated expectation and trust. If I substitute trust for hope in my little role play – listen to how it changes.

“Are you going to be healed tonight?” – “I trust that I am.” Thats a different answer, isnt it.

Next we have conviction. In our culture a conviction comes when the evidence makes the truth inescapable. The KJV here uses evidence, and I think that’s good too. Another possible translation is proof.

So – let’s put it together

Now faith is the confidence of things expected and the proof for the things not seen.

Notice – Faith is by definition about things that are not yet, and things that are unseen.

If can see it you don’t need faith. Faith comes before the miracle.

Everyone says I’ll believe it when I see it. Well – of couse, but that’s not faith. Faith is about confidently expecting that what God said He did is actually done, even though you can’t see it or feel it or smell it. None of your five natural senses can grasp it, but you consider it done.

A little further down the page, we see in verse 6 this further defining of faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6 NASB

There are lots of folks who believe that God is. They believe He’s the unique son of God, born of a virgin and resurrected from the dead, but they don’t get this next bit. To please God, we must have faith, and faith looks at God and sees that He is a rewarder. This is important. We get this religious mindset that says if God wants me to have anything good, He will give it to me. But I don’t want to be pushy and ask, or seek, or knock.

But this is faith.

Faith is confidently expectant in regard to what God has promised and is ready to take hold of the promise.

So where do we get this faith?

as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. – Romans 12:3 NASB

God gives us faith in the first place, but how does it come, how does it grow?

So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of Christ. – Romans 10:17 NASB

And here is where we need to get it. Our faith comes and grows as we hear and hear the Word of Christ. This word is the word Rhema, which gives us the idea of the spoken word of God. It could be from the Word on the page that God lights up for you, or it could come as an inner voice, or a vision, or even an audible voice. Any way it comes, as the Lord quickens a truth to us, an aspect of His will, a revelation of His promise, faith is quickened within us and we begin to have a confident expectation for that which we can’t see, but we know it’s ours by the Word and will of the Father.

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD (Rhema) THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'” – Matthew 4:4 NASB

We noticed that the two Greek words for word, Logos, and Rhema, on not in conflict or contrast. Logos is the entire all-encompassing word of God – the whole volume – all of which is summed up in Christ who is the Word (Logos) made flesh. Rhema then is more of a right now word – spoken word – timely word that God has highlighted for you right now.

That’s why FF Bosworth said, “Faith begins where the will of God is known.”

Your faith requires feeding. And if you want faith for healing you need to be meditating on and listening to God’s word in relation to healing.

Faith is not an umbrella policy for your life. As we meditate on God’s word in a particular area, faith will rise up for that thing. This is simply because faith stirs as we meditate on the Word.

If you want faith for healing, you need to hang out in the healing scriptures and get some good messages by good faith teachers about healing. Find someone walking in divine health, or someone who has victory in the area of health, and hang out with them.

If you need your finances turned around, get under teaching in that realm and hang out with people who have a track record of walking in faith for finances.

If you need healing, hang around folks who receive and minister healing on a regular basis.

Our associations rub off on us. Not just magically. It’s not simply by osmosis, but because these people who have victory, will be talking victory. That’s the way the kingdom of God works. We share our testimonies so others can experience the same victories we are walking in.

So let’s get to it. We’re going to walk through some miracles for the next few weeks and see what we can learn from hanging out with the Master for a bit.

The Leper

We’re going to start our look at faith for healing with a Leper. Mathew makes this the very first individual healing in his gospel. Mark and Luke have it in a different order. I’m keeping it first, because I believe it answers a key question for us.

Keeping Boswoth’s quote in mind, “Faith begins where the will of God is known,” we must answer the question, is it God’s will to heal? We’re going to circle back to this question frequently as we continue to press in. But really, here it is in it’s simplest form. Let’s read it. Though Matthew has it first, Mark brings detail to the table that Matthew does not, so we’ll start in Mark 1:40.

And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. – Mark 1:40-42 NASB

Let’s break it down.

The leper came to Jesus
Beseeching – Begging Him
If you are willing you can

This is the pew much of the church is sitting on right now. They fully believe that Jesus can heal. He has the power. Many even believe that He still does heal today. But they are not quite sure about His will.

I am willing

Willing: to will, have in mind, intend
to be resolved or determined, to purpose
to desire, to wish
to love
to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
to take delight in, have pleasure

We started in the first session with the idea that Jesus is the clearest expression of God’s will that we can find. Jesus is perfect theology. So this leper asks the question that the church has fought about for years. Great numbers of Christians, the majority at least here in the US, believe exactly what the leper says. God could heal me. He has the power. I’m just not sure He is willing to or to put it another way, I’m not sure He wants to.

Much of the church takes the same attitude toward healing. Lord, I know you have the ability to heal, I know you have the power and authority to heal, but I’m just not sure you want to. Some times we couch it in religious terms and say, “If it be Thy will.”

We start next week digging deeper into this miracle and the implications of Jesus saying I am willing, be clean.

Here’s the link to the Keith Moore preaching series, God’s Will to Heal.

Here’s a link to FF Bosworth’s book, Christ the Healer.

Here’s a link to John Franco’s book, By His Stripes I am Healed.

Thanks for stopping in.

I’d love your feedback,

In Jesus,

Ben