Making the Connection

//Kenneth E. Hagin

(Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from a message Kenneth E. Hagin preached on March 28, 1972, during a Faith Seminar in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)

When studying the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, a lot of folks misunderstand some of the principles of faith that would help them receive from God. They erroneously believe that Jesus healed everybody He came in contact with to prove His Deity. However, Scripture does not teach that Jesus always healed everybody everywhere He went.

On certain occasions, the Bible does record that when the multitudes followed Jesus, He healed them all (Matt. 12:15; Luke 6:19). But Scripture also lists times when only a few people were healed. For instance, in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, the Word says, “He could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them” (Mark 6:5).

Only One Healed

The Book of Mark tells the story of how one woman in the midst of a multitude got healed. This woman suffered with an issue of blood for many years. When she heard of Jesus, she made her way through the people and touched the hem of His garment. And when she touched Jesus, she was made whole (Mark 5:25–29).

Jesus immediately stopped and asked His disciples, “. . . Who touched my clothes?” (v. 30).

His disciples replied, “. . . Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” (v. 31).

Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd of people, and many were trying to touch Him. I’m sure some people touched Jesus out of curiosity as He walked by them. But nothing happened when they touched Him.

There’s no doubt that others touched Jesus accidently. As people were pushing and shoving to get near Jesus, it’s likely that some bumped into Him. Yet the power of God wasn’t activated by an accidental touch.

Although a multitude surrounded Jesus and many people touched Him, the healing power of God was transmitted to just one person. What was different when this woman touched Jesus? The answer is found in verse 34. Jesus said to the woman, “. . . Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. . . .”

Faith made the connection and caused the power of God to manifest.

The Paralytic Man

In Luke chapter 5, we again see only one person in the midst of a multitude being healed. Jesus was in a house where scribes, Pharisees, and doctors of the law had gathered. It says in verse 17 that “. . . the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Yet not one of these religious leaders was healed. This proves that God’s power alone won’t heal someone.

As Jesus was teaching, four men carrying a paralyzed man tried to get into the house. They couldn’t get near Jesus because of the multitude, so they carried the man up to the rooftop and broke through the roof to lower him into Jesus’ presence. And when Jesus saw their faith, He acted.

Corresponding Actions

Some may wonder how we can see faith. Well, we can’t really see faith, but we can see the results of it. In his letter to the Church, James said, “. . . faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). This may be a little blind to some. Verse 18 in that chapter in the Weymouth translation says, “. . . ‘You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from CORRESPONDING ACTIONS and I will prove mine to you by my actions.’ ”

Jesus saw the actions of the four men. He saw that they had carried their paralyzed friend to the house He was in. He saw them break a hole in the roof and lower their friend down. The paralyzed man then demonstrated faith when Jesus said to him, “. . . Arise, and take up thy couch . . .” (Luke 5:24). The man immediately got up from his cot, healed by the power of God (v. 25).

Some Christians have the mistaken idea that if they are around the power of God, they will be healed automatically. But God’s power doesn’t work by itself. Faith has to be mixed with it. And until faith is exercised, the power of God is not activated.

Both the woman with the issue of blood and the paralyzed man made the connection. Their faith and their corresponding actions caused God’s power to manifest in their lives. The same principle applies to us today. Our faith and our corresponding actions are the catalyst that activates the power of God on our behalf.

To learn more about connecting to God’s power, visit our online bookstore at www.rhema.org/store to purchase Craig W. Hagin’s book The Power of God.

FAITH NUGGET

Faith and Confession

There is no faith without confession. Confession is faith’s way of expressing itself. Faith, then, grows with our confession. As believers, we reveal our position— spiritually and naturally— through our confession, and we set the boundaries of our lives. We won’t receive beyond what we say.

If we say we can’t, then we can’t. We get nothing. But if we say we can, then we can.

Most Christians are weak even though they are earnest because they have never been bold enough to declare who they are in Christ.

How do we do this?

First, we must realize how God looks at us, and confess it.

Second, we must boldly confess what the Word declares we are in Christ.

As we do this, our faith will abound. Our consistent confession of who we are and what we have in Christ will build a solid, positive faith life.