Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

17 June 2025

Reading From Acts 3

“When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”—Acts 3:12-16

Peter did not heal the lame man begging by the Gate Beautiful, Jesus did. But because Jesus was no longer physically present and Peter was, the attention of the onlookers was drawn to the apostle rather than to Jehovah Rapha, our Divine Healer. The ministry of Jesus continued upon the Earth and continues today in an unbroken chain that stretches through the generations since the Lord ascended into Heaven. Jesus continues His ministry through His sons and daughters as they yield to Him in faith by the power of the Spirit.

It is vital to recognize that divine healing comes not from any power possessed by the one who prays for the sick, but rather by grace at their level of faith and surrender to the will of Jesus. Romans 12:6 shows us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,then prophesy in accordance with your faith.” All throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus, He could heal or not heal based on people’s faith or lack thereof.

If we have faith even the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains with God’s strength. But it’s important to remember that the Lord wants that mustard seed to grow. Also keep in mind that there are times when as we pray that God’s will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, His plan in that moment might be for spiritual, emotional, mental or relational healing and that physical healing for that particular person will come at the resurrection. We must pray for His will to be done and trust His plan.

What are we to do? If our faith is lacking, should we just give up? No! We ought to pray and ask God to strengthen what faith we have and increase it just as the man with the epileptic son in Mark 9:24 cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Our faith becomes stronger and grows as we dare to trust God and stand upon His promises through hard times. Praying for more faith is like praying for patience. Be prepared to go through a season of testing, but be encouraged! As Philippians 1:6 reveals, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

“Lord Jesus, please strengthen and increase my faith and trust in You. Remove doubt from my heart and mind. Guide me by Your Spirit into all truth that I would know Your promises and stand firmly upon them. I give You alone the glory and honor because I know that it is You alone who heals me spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and in every way. Thank You that You have promised to walk with me to the end when my faith will be made sight and my healing be made complete on the Day of Your Second Coming. In the powerful Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things, Amen.”

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.—James 5:14-16