Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29)
Today I saw this verse in my Bible study and it was shortly after we took a phone call from Liberia, Africa. The beloved pastor that we work with has a daughter in her 30's who has been dealing with a serious illness concern. She feels that she must get treatment, yet in that part of the world there is no work and little to no finances available for such things.
I have been ministering to her to believe Jesus for the healing. I really do not know what their level of faith is over there. We have visited that church in Liberia and have wondered if they have the faith for such things. When we were there and praying over them, we saw the Lord do several healing miracles. Holy Spirit told me to go in faith and I believe our faith opened the door to heal them. Jesus responded to our faith.
Here's the thing that brings us back to Thomas' story. It's about believing in Jesus' ability to help us, even before we see it come to pass. That's faith in action...
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)
Calling on the Lord for healing us is the first step. Trusting that He heard us and has already provided it is another step. Asking for wisdom in anything we need to do is yet another step that we should take. Things like, "What is my part, or what action should I take?"
Then we go into the thanking Jesus mode and continue to do so until we see it happen. Now the devil will try to come and discourage us, but we have to keep going forward in faith and receive our healing by faith until it manifests in the natural realm.
I have been dealing with some things I have yet to see the breakthrough on, so my job is to keep thanking Jesus until I see further breakthroughs. We can't speak doubt, and though it will try to come, we can take authority and not come into agreement with it.
If it's not good, it's not coming from God. It is His will to heal us so asking Him and in faith believing we receive it will be all we can do - Jesus will do the rest.
I am hear to encourage you because I have seen Him deliver and heal me again and again and He will never give up on us or run out of love or patience! What a beautiful Father God, Savior, Lord and Healer we have! Walking with Him is a pleasure even in the midst of some of our greatest challenges. Let's all be reminded and encouraged today and in the days to come. He is Jehovah Rapha! Hallelujah!
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