FAITH THAT WORKS THROUGH LOVE – Even During the Pandemic
John G. Lake ministered healing powerfully in the name of Jesus in the first half of the 20th century. To demonstrate the power of Christ within a believer he went to a university in Washington State and convinced them to place a deadly virus in his hand and observe it under a microscope. The virus died in his hand as they observed it. He had done this at least one time prior while ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ in South Africa. That time it was a deadly plague. The result was the same; it died in his hand.
This reminds me of Jesus entering the home of Peter to find Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever, but when Jesus laid His hand on her she was immediately healed and arose to make a meal for them.
14 Then Jesus went into Peter’s home and found Peter’s mother-in-law bedridden, severely ill with a fever. 15 The moment Jesus touched her hand she was healed! Immediately she got up and began to make dinner for them. Matthew 8:14, 15 TPT
Everywhere Jesus went people were healed. He went about doing the Father’s good will (Acts 10:38) and destroying the works of the devil in the process. Whatever the devil does, Jesus had come to undo.
The reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b TPT
It’s obvious to me that Jesus operated in perfect faith, because His faith was motivated and manifest through perfect love. We may not walk in His level of faith. Could part of the reason be that we don’t yet walk in His level of love? Paul taught the Corinthians that even if we move in a strong anointing that heals the sick and moves mountains, if our ministry is not motivated by love, there is no real profit to us. Some love their strong anointing, not for the love of those they minister to, but for the reputation they gain. There is no profit to their souls.
2b if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.
4c Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.
1 Corinthians 13:2b, 4c TPT
If a person has faith that heals the virus but condemns those who don’t walk in that level of faith, we might say that person has a strong anointing without the character of Christ.
On the day of judgment many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, don’t you remember us? Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we cast out demons and do many miracles for the sake of your name?’ But I will have to say to them, ‘Go away from me, you lawless rebels! I’ve never been joined to you!’ Matthew 7:22, 23 TPT
The Sermon on the Mount was written to a crowd with His disciples, as well as, many curious onlookers who did not know Him to any degree at all. Those who would choose to believe in Christ as Savior would have the Holy Spirit of God pour the love of God into their hearts (Romans 5:5). They would thereby become able to minister from God’s love within their spirits.
An unfortunate truth follows. Believers can still believe lies which they remain vulnerable to because of unhealed rejection experienced in childhood and/or in more recent relationships. To deal with perceived daily rejections they may unknowingly partner with demonic deceptions to protect themselves. This unrecognized partnership will lead them back into fear and performance based ministry and relationship patterns. The enemy’s deceptions will cloud their perceptions of their own motives and the motives of others around them. They won’t be able to cast out fear, because they are relying upon an anointing without perfect love. They will need help from the One Who is love.
The Holy Spirit can bring along a believer to help them connect to the love of God which still resides in their spirits, but has been covered over with lies about God, other people or themselves. Exposing those lies can prepare them to trust God’s truth to set them free to walk in the love of God which will empower ministry motivated by His love.
God’s Perfect Love
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
Galatians 5:22, 23 TPT
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. His love is perfect and includes a characteristic of love which is faith that prevails. This faith can move mountains and remove the virus for love’s sake. This is the love of God. There is no “self” in it. It’s all for others. This is the kind of love and faith that goes into the leper colony. Consider the ministry of Mother Theresa in India. Did she see lepers healed? Whether she did or not, she was willing to go. But lepers are being cleansed and healed.
Bethel Church received this testimony, of Miracles in the Glory, Nov 01, 2011, from Nigeria of a glory cloud that came over 60 lepers that were roped off, and they were all cleansed. When the cloud lifted, the crowd rushed forward to hug them. Forty of them were healed the first night. Everyone who walked through the glory cloud was healed. Cleansed in the glory; then made whole in the glory.
Is your faith to minister motivated by love or appearances? The Holy Spirit fruit of faith operates in and through believers by love.
All that matters now is living in the faith that is activated and brought to perfection by love. Galatians 5:6 TPT
Perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18 NKJV).
Faith working through love does not fear the virus, nor does it speak fear of the virus or cause strife or contention. It doesn’t separate people. Fear, judgment and/or hatred do that. If a believer does not have the faith to gather with other believers for fear of the virus; Paul would urge those with faith for gathering to make sure your faith is working through the source of love that will not slight or condemn the believer who fears gathering because of the virus (1 Corinthians 10:23, 28-33). We are all growing in grace and none of us has arrived at perfect faith or perfect love. Let’s not find fault in others to use to compare ourselves to in pride. Let’s protect the weak and encourage each other to grow in confidence in Christ; even while our Christian friend is not yet able to fight the fight of faith as well as we think they should.
If we touch someone with the virus, does our faith kill the virus and release healing into their body? If not, do we catch the virus or just remain well? We are all growing. One way we grow is to trust the love of God and pray the way He leads us, even to touch the person with the virus and expect something good to happen. Just learn the difference between His leading and being compelled by the fear of what others think.
There are not many with the faith of John G. Lake or the faith of Jesus. But faith working through love grows as we trust God’s protection as we follow Him to minister the love of God to pray for others, no matter what their condition.
I have learned something recently. When I find myself around someone with flu or virus symptoms, very shortly I will begin to feel symptoms that I may interpret to mean, “Oh no! Am I catching the same thing?” Then I remember that the incubation period for these illnesses is longer than just a short time around someone with the flu. “Oh! This is not that. It’s either fear or a spirit of affliction trying to put it on me.” I simply renounce partnering with any spirit of fear or affliction and ask Holy Spirit what His truth is. Then I move in the peace of His answer producing the faith that works through love.
Regardless of where you are in this process of growing in grace through faith and love, don’t judge those who are teaching faith in action (gathering with other believers) nor judge those who believe we should not gather until it’s deemed safe. Don’t allow the enemy to use you to cause division! Never use shame to control the choices of others. God is not in that. In fact Jesus carried all our reasons for shame to the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Thank God for the gift of faith. Grow in it and help others do the same without comparison. This is the love of God.
Should you or someone you know get the virus, faith believes God for healing or to believe for a quick recovery. Either way, don’t allow yourself to believe a lie of the devil and give fear a voice to lead you to blame God or doubt His goodness. He doesn’t put the virus on you the devil does. Jesus will destroy this work as you stand in faith. Don’t condemn yourself if it lasts longer than it does for others. God’s love, mercy and grace never end. So, praise God in every situation!
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7 NKJV
The one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.
Proverbs 1:33 TPT