A Crippled Man Walks

And they (Paul and Barnabus) were preaching the gospel there(Lystra). And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. ---Acts 14:7-10

Paul and Barnabus were preaching the Gospel, the Good News, in the cities of Lycaonia. Good news to a sinner is that he can be saved. Good news to a poor man is that his needs can be met. And good news to a sick man is that he can be healed. Therefore, the gospel, which Jesus told us to “Go into all the world…” with was being shared by those who never new Him personally. They were sharing the Good News everywhere they went and signs and wonders were following them. The healing of the physical body is part of the Good News and Paul and Barnabus would respond to people who had faith. Such is the case in this story.

As Paul and Barnabus taught and preached in Lystra, a crippled man who had never walked sat in the crowd. Suddenly, something radically changed his condition. What was it that changed the course of his life? “The man heard Paul speak.” The man heard the Gospel. Then Paul “observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” And he leaped and walked.”

As I have traveled to Nigeria, India, Ukraine, Kenya, and many other places, I have seen people respond to the Good News message through faith. They didn’t know us Americans other than knowing we were Christians and from the USA. But we spoke the Gospel and it was their belief in what we said and opening their hearts to receive their healing, that they were healed. I watched a man lame from birth starting to leap on his feet in Aba, Nigeria! I saw a man stone deaf suddenly hear and begin to speak in Colombia, SA. I have seen dozens of legitimate miracles that occurred because of the faith of the person hearing the Gospel!

Miracles happened in Paul’s day and miracles happen today. Yes, these people stood up on new-found feet or heard for the first time, but the first step they took that set a new course of their lives was to hear the Word. To hear the Good News. They tapped into the connection between hearing and healing.

How about you? Have you heard with your heart the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you have, you can receive your healing through your faith in the Word you have heard. Speak this confession out loud several times today:

Confession: I hear the full Gospel of salvation and healing, and faith rises in me to be healed. I act on my faith in God’s Word and it produces what I desire. God’s Word works!