your faith has made you well

I am not sure where to begin. Life has been so ridiculous - so busy. I feel like this is the first moment that I can truly breathe.  I have wanted to do some writing but have had not a free moment in the last couple of weeks. I have completed the prayer study I was leading at church, and finished an art project that was hanging over me, and my basement is at least at a place of toleration for the moment - and all of those things were just the most pressing - I still have piles of laundry backed up among many other household things that have been on hold... but that can all wait another day.

I guess the most pressing thing I have on my mind is this verse... Matthew 13: 53 - 58

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?" Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?" And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

  Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.


What does that mean? Here are a bunch of other verses that talk about faith and healing/miracles.

18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”


 28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”
 “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”


13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

 50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

I have read a book by Dutch Sheets, called Intercessory Prayer... its a good book... but I must say since writing it several years ago he seems to have fallen off the deep end and has been puffed up in the knowledge and gifts that God has given him. But that all aside for this one moment... in a couple of chapters he contends that God has set up the earth in such a way that He releases His power through us.  That He might not work in some situations because there is not enough prayer or faith surrounding the situation. Because He has made us His representatives here and therefore desires to work and extend his power through us. He writes a more compelling argument than I have time to get into now - but I think I have the basic gist.
So as I have been reflecting on that - all of the verses that I listed above started popping into my head. I glazed past them for many years now - they are not something I have pondered much - or if discussing them in the past - they have been explained away with less than compelling answers. Now as I read them I am wondering... why didn't Jesus say things like "God's power has made you well", or "The power of God has been displayed in your midst" or something like that. No he put the ball in our court - saying that their faith in Him is what made them well ... but this seems to fly in the face of all the 'God is sovereign' arguments - that we play no part in salvation or sanctification. (before any reader gets too worried - I still believe God is sovereign!) I am just thinking out loud and wondering what it all means... and praying through it.

I have been wondering why in none of the churches I have ever attended have I seen a miracle - or really heard of any? Why have I seen so little power in people's lives to overcome sin? Why do so few people hear from the Lord? Why so few people get saved in our midst? Why is there so little true repentance when confronted with sin? Is there a spiritual oppression over the northeast? Are we steeped in fear? Are these kinds of things just not welcomed into non-charismatic environments? Or is our faith too small?

Where is God's power?

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
 - 2 Tim: 1:7