What role does faith play in witnessing miracles like those in Acts 8:7? Setting the Scene in Acts 8 – Acts 8:7: “For with loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.” – Philip preached Christ in Samaria (Acts 8:5). – The people “paid close attention” (v. 6) and soon “believed Philip as he proclaimed the gospel” (v. 12). – Miracles and faith appear together, each reinforcing the other. Faith Opens the Heart to Receive God’s Power • Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God…” • Mark 6:5-6 – Even Jesus “could not perform any miracles there… and He was amazed at their unbelief.” • Faith is the divinely appointed means by which a person becomes receptive to deliverance and healing. • Where hearts trust God’s character and power, His works flow freely; where unbelief dominates, the flow is hindered. Faith Activates Our Participation in the Miraculous • Mark 16:17-18 – “These signs will accompany those who believe…” • Acts 14:9 – Paul “saw that he had faith to be healed.” • Faith is more than mental assent; it expects and acts. – Hearing the Word births expectancy (Romans 10:17). – Expectancy leads to action—coming forward for prayer, laying on hands, speaking with authority (James 2:17). • God remains the sole source of the miracle, but He delights to work through believing vessels (Acts 9:17-18). Faith Grows Through Witnessed Miracles • John 2:11 – Jesus’ first sign in Cana “revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” • Acts 8:13 – Even Simon the sorcerer “believed” when he “saw the signs and great miracles.” • When God acts, faith is confirmed and multiplied, creating a cycle: 1. Faith welcomes God’s power. 2. Miracles occur. 3. Observers place fresh trust in Christ, widening the circle of faith. Cultivating Expectant Faith Today • Immerse in Scripture—miracle accounts build confidence that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). • Pray in faith, not presumption—James 1:6 warns against doubting prayer. • Walk in obedience—Acts 5:32 links the Holy Spirit’s power with submission to God. • Gather with believers who honor the supernatural—corporate faith, as in Samaria, creates fertile ground for God’s works. Faith, then, is both the doorway and the response: it positions us to witness God’s power, and every genuine miracle, like those in Acts 8:7, sparks deeper, wider faith in the risen Christ. |
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