For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Acts 14 tells us that Paul was preaching in a city called Lystra, and he noticed a certain man who was crippled from his mother’s womb: And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:8-10). When the man heard the Gospel from Paul, it imparted faith to him, but faith alone didn’t do him good. He was still crippled, even though he had faith. His faith was so palpable that Paul noticed it; he perceived that the man had faith to be healed.
It’s the same predicament that many are in today in the body of Christ; they have faith, yet they’re snowed-under by the adversities of life, living as victims. Their problem is that they’re not using their faith. Faith is like currency; you have to use it. It’s like money in your account, wallet or in your pocket; it won’t do anything for you just because you have it; you must put it to use.
The Bible says, ..Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). That means faith without corresponding actions; faith that’s not used, is dead. Imagine if the crippled man had argued and hesitated when Paul told him to stand up; he would have neutralised his own faith. But the moment he acted on the Word, his faith was activated and a miracle ensued.
Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. :18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. :19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: :20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; :21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
