30 Days of Truth
Day 20 – faith connects
Acts 5:15-16 KJV
[15] Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. [16] There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
The Apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit and had received the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
As believers, we have that same power inside of us!
People had such faith for healing that they believed that if Peter’s shadow would touch them, they would be healed.
Does this mean that Peter’s shadow had some healing ability?
I don’t believe so.
Neither do I believe that “prayer cloths” or “anointing oil” have any inherent spiritual healing ability.
Yet in several places in scripture, we see examples like these, of people making a “connection” by faith.
There are religious movements today that seek to take away some of these “points of connection” that people use to express their faith.
While sound doctrine must be taught so that people understand that these things are not “required” to receive anything from God, we must be careful not to shipwreck their faith by taking away their ability to “express” their faith or make a “faith connection”.
Let me give you an example:
There is a growing movement that teaches people that “Jesus” is not “Yeshua’s” real name, so we must stop using the name “Jesus” and pray only in the name of Yeshua.
The name of Jesus, which is the Latin form of the Greek name Lēsous, is the name by which many have learned to call our Lord and Saviour. It is the name that is a “connection point” for their faith.
If you tell them that they are wrong to pray in Jesus’ name or that Jesus isn’t the real name of their Saviour, you destroy a connection point for their faith.
It isn’t as simple as someone changing the meaning of a word in their mind.
The name of Jesus is rooted in their soul, and it is Spirit.
If they had learned Yeshua from the beginning, Yeshua would have been a dominating connection point of their faith.
We must not shipwreck someone’s faith!
If we seed “doubt” instead of “faith”, and tear down the connection points of faith, their faith can become shipwrecked.
These points of connection are not necessarily required for our faith to operate, but they are required to the extent that we “believe” they are required.
The release of our faith must pass through the filter of our mind and our beliefs can definitely get in the way of our faith operating the way that it should.
This is why we must renew our minds daily in the Word of God.
We must not let the problems of our daily living, and our negative experiences block the expression of our faith.
This begs the question; do we allow those who are ignorant of the truth to continue in empty or ritualistic expressions of faith?
We MUST teach the truth.
We CANNOT waver on truth.
Nevertheless, we must have discernment and rightly divide the Word of God.
It is important to show people that their faith is more than these expressions, without pulling the foundation of their faith out from under them.
I pray in the name of Jesus.
I don’t know Him by any other name.