For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Hebrews 4:2
What does it mean to mix the Gospel with faith?
We see the answer in Acts 12 ...
When Herod put Peter in prison, Scripture records that the Church got together and prayed fervently. God sent an angel to Peter as he slept between two guards.
‘Arise,’ said the angel — and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists and legs. So Peter got up and followed the angel into the city even though Scripture tells us he thought it was nothing more than a vision. Walking through the streets of the city, however, he realized it was no dream.
Now, had Peter not stood up and stepped out, had he not started moving, but instead said, ‘This is a neat thought, an interesting insight,’ had he not mixed the angel’s command with faith — even though the chains were off and the door was opened, he would have remained in jail.
What about us? God gives a promise to us, and we say, ‘It’s a vision. It sheds some esoteric light on theology — but it can’t really mean I can step out. So I’ll just stay in my prison, wait for my execution, and be comforted with this thought.’ No! Get up! Step out! Go for it! And you might discover it’s reality. Listen folks, the Word being mixed with faith means we stand up and start moving ...
You pray for your teenage son, ‘Lord, revive him. Bless him. Help him.’ Get up and expect him to do well. Start treating him like he is doing well, and you’ll find the promise is true. But if you stay in your cell, theorizing and saying, ‘I need to study deeper on this matter,’ you’ll never enter the Land of Promise regarding your situation.
How much faith does it take? Look at the believers in Acts 12 ...
Knock. Knock. Knock. ‘It’s Peter.’
‘No, it can’t be Peter. Lord, we pray that You would free Peter.’
Knock. Knock. Knock. ‘It’s Peter.’
‘No, it can’t be Peter. Lord, we pray You would free Peter ...’
How much faith did they have? About a mustard seed’s worth. But Jesus said that’s all it takes to move a mountain. I’m convinced that if you have only enough faith to pray, that’s enough to start things happening, to start doors opening. It doesn’t take much. The promises, the blessings, the good things of God happen when you take the Word and mix it with faith.
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