A Crippled Man Walks

And [throughout Lycaonia] they were preaching the gospel there. 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.

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, healing must have been part of the Gospel Paul and Barnabus were preaching.

As they 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 same heard Paul speak.” The man heard the Gospel. Then Paul “observed 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.”

A miracle happened that day. Yes, the man leaped and walked and praised God for his healing. But the first step he took that set a new course in his life was to hear. He tapped into the connection between hearing and healing.

CONFESSION:

Hearing God’s Word produces faith in me. Therefore, as I continually hear the Word, I walk in divine health, peace and abundance.

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999