2.05. The Absolute Necessity of Faith

CHAPTER 5 THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH Mark 5:34 "Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Matthew 9:29 "According to YOUR FAITH so be it unto you."

Matthew 8:13 "AS THOU HAST BELIEVED so be it unto thee."

James 1:6-7 "He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive ANYTHING of the Lord." A certain woman (Mark 5:24-34) had an issue of blood twelve years. This woman had suffered many things of many physicians, had spent all she had, but instead of getting better, she rather grew worse. Finally, hearing of Jesus, she touched His garment and as made whole. What made this woman whole? Many will say, "Christ." In a sense, that is right, for without touching him, she could never have been healed. But after she was healed, Christ Himself said, "Daughter, THY FAITH hath made thee whole" Mark 5:34. Then, according to Jesus’ own words, it was HER FAITH that made her whole. She would never have overcome the difficulties in her path which seemingly made it impossible for her to touch Him, had she not had FAITH! At another time (Matthew 9:27), two blind men came to Jesus for healing. He touched their eyes, and they were opened. What was it that opened the blind eyes? After Jesus touched them, He declared, "According to YOUR FAITH so be it unto you." Then, in reality, it was their faith, in cooperation with the power of God through Jesus Christ, which brought about their healing.

Jesus said to the centurion, "AS THOU HAST BELIEVED so be it done unto thee." Matthew 8:13. In reading the New Testament accounts of healing in the ministry of Jesus and his early followers, we find many such statements as these.

All the promises of God are conditioned upon faith. There is no other way to receive anything from God. James states this fact in the plainest possible language.

James 1:6-7 "Let him ASK IN FAITH NOTHING WAVERING. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. LET NOT THAT MAN THINK HE SHALL RECEIVE ANYTHING OF THE LORD."

Faith is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY before one can receive ANYTHING from God.

Many have a mistaken idea today, that since many are exercising the gifts of healing and miracles, all that is need is to get into one of these meetings where the gifts are being exercised, and that they will be healed, without necessity of faith on their part. They think that the gift of healing will take the place of their own faith in God. This is unscriptural! The gift of healing WILL NOT take the place of your own faith in God.

There is no doubt that Christ exercised ALL the gifts of the Spirit, including healings and miracles. Yet, when He went to Nazareth, Mark 6:5 "He could there do NO MIGHTY WORK, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick fold, and healed them."

Matthew 13:58 "And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." The gifts of healing possessed by the Lord Himself, did not bring healing, independent of their faith. Neither will the gift of healing exercised by men of God today bring healing to you unless you have faith.

Paul met a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet. Paul said to the man with a loud voice, "Stand upright on thy feet." Acts 14:10. The man was healed immediately, and leaped and walked! Notice that according to Acts 14:9 that before Paul commanded him to stand upon his feet, he PERCEIVED THAT HE HAD FAITH TO BE HEALED. Although Paul exercised the gifts of healing and miracles, he recognized that they were insufficient in themselves, without faith on the part of the person in need of healing, to bring about the desired result. When Christ healed the woman of Mark 5:25; He did not say, "Daughter, my gift hath made thee whole," but rather "THY FAITH hath made thee whole." To the blind, He did not say, "According to my gift," but "According to YOUR FAITH so be it unto you." To the impotent man, Paul didnt say, "Alright, fellow, get a card and get in line. Ive got the gift of healing."

Rather, Paul looked the situation over first and discerned that the man had faith to be health!

How marvelous a privilege today to be able to attend meetings where Gods anointed men are bringing deliverance in that name of Jesus! But this in itself is not enough. If Christ Himself were conducting the meetings and laying His hands upon the sick today. He would no doubt say to them as in the days of old, "THY FAITH HAS MADE THEE WHOLE!"

Many confess that they do not have much faith and wonder if it isnt impossible for them to be healed through some other persons faith. I have had many to say to me, "I do not have any faith, but can’t I be healed through your faint?" The Scripture states that, James 5:16 "The prayer of a righteous man availeth much." But GODS GUARANTEE is to those who themselves have faith! If a person received healing without himself having faith, it would certainly be the exception, and not the rule laid down in Gods Word.

You might be healed through anothers faith, but how would you keep that healing? Faith is necessary, not only to receive healing, but to retain it, for Satan is not easily defeated. Almost without exception when a person has been healed, he will immediately be attacked by Satan, in an attempt to snatch from him the gift which God has given. Thus it can be readily seen that if your healing depended upon anothers faith, Satan would only have to wait until the other person was not present to find you utterly defenseless, and take your healing from you. This is the reason many are suffering today from diseased from which they had once been healed. Do not be discouraged if your faith is low. The next chapter is written with YOU in mind. It will build your faith, if you follow its instructions. Read it prayerfully and obediently, and not that as you do the flame of your faith will burn brighter and brighter.