(October 20, 2023) Angeline Selvakumari encourages us to achieve great accomplishments for God…

Jesus knew that attaining extraordinary faith is not possible through ordinary means – that’s why He promised the Holy Spirit, who will empower us to display our strength (faith).

Acts 1:8 states, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.’ This gift of God gives you strength to be His witness, displaying your faith in every situation! On examining the lives of Jesus’ disciples, we observe a significant difference before and after they experienced the Holy Spirit. Peter, for example, had denied Jesus three times before a small number of people, but was enabled to boldly preach the good news to thousands.

Courageous faith
Where did Peter find this courage? The Holy Spirit’s enabling power as he moved in faith!

It must have been just another ordinary day in the lives of Peter, John, and a disabled man (whom we’ll call Tom). All three of them were following daily routines… Peter and John going to the temple to worship the Lord, Tom setting out to seek his source of income.

None of them knew what God had planned… I don’t think they realised that it would be a life-changing day.

Extraordinary faith
The disciples went to the temple as a regular practice. On one such day they came across Tom, who sat at the temple gate, carried there by people so that he could ask for alms. Tom, now around 40 years old, hadn’t walk from birth and was well known to the Jews in the vicinity. Hundreds must have walked by, looking at this man, some giving him money, some ignoring him.

The sad thing is that Tom spent years sitting outside the temple. If you were to ask him, maybe he could tell you customs and traditions of the temple, names and family details of people who went there. He probably knew all the temple leaders, and all the songs sang inside. He must have heard so many sermons, yet he was still sitting outside. No one would  take him inside.

Does it sound familiar? Some of us are like this. We know who God is, having heard so many messages about His miraculous deeds and awesome power, and sang many songs. But we are still standing outside His presence, unable to have a personal encounter with God. Some of us are singing about our past glory. We used to be like this, we used to be that, but what about now? Where is our walk with Christ? Are you inside or outside His presence? If you are, may this message bring you close to God’s presence.

As for Tom, on that day when he was asking for money as usual – his general plea to everyone walking by – Peter suddenly fixed on him and said, ‘Look at us.’ What made him do this? It doesn’t seem that Tom was asking Peter and John anything out of the ordinary.

Peter wanted Tom’s full attention because he knew something important was going to happen in all their lives. Peter was about to put his faith into action; therefore, he demanded Tom’s full attention.

When the Holy Spirit comes, He gives us the power to do extraordinary/great exploits for our Lord. Peter and John’s ‘faith in action’ began to work. And God is expecting our faith to be an extraordinary faith.

1. Extraordinary faith requires extraordinary vision
We need to be able to see beyond what is visible!

Peter saw Tom beyond his physical condition. Here was a beggar with no financial status, and had to depend on someone for his daily responsibilities. Peter could have just given him a few coins and moved on in a hurry to worship the Lord, but he decided to spend time with this man.

Do we have time for the people around us, or are we too busy running around doing our own work? Some of us are so focused on our personal, professional… even spiritual… lives that we fail to see the needs of others immediately around us!

Peter stopped just for one person. I think he must have learned this from the example of his Master who had stopped for –

• One man sitting on the sycamore tree (Luke 19:4).
• One woman who’d been bleeding for 12 years (Matthew 9:22).
• One man, mentally disturbed near Decapolis (Mark 5:8).
• One woman at a well (John 4:6).
• One mother, sad bereaved (Luke 7:13).

So Peter would have known the importance of ministering to even one person! When was the last time we stopped for someone to give them love, care, attention?

Peter was able to see beyond Tom’s physical need, to the need for his spiritual deliverance. Are we able to see beyond people’s physical situations? Many times, we’re judgmental, deciding who needs Jesus and who doesn’t. Even when choosing to share our witness, we can be choosy… wrongly deciding based on outward appearance whether a person needs Jesus or not.

If we want to exercise our extraordinary faith, we need to start seeing with extraordinary vision – beyond what we can see with our naked eyes.

Tom wasn’t expecting a miracle, nor were the disciples planning a healing service; it so happened when Peter and John were willing to exercise their extraordinary faith. Are you willing to exercise your extraordinary faith and put faith into action?

‘Fixing our eyes’ to look deeper is imperative, especially if you are a church leader! We often hear phrases like ‘He (or she) won’t listen’ or ‘Who can speak to him (or her).’ When was the last time you saw your church members around you ‘deeper’ beyond who they are, where they came from, and what they look like? Take some time to look deeper!

Barnabas saw something deep and special in Saul (Paul) and John Mark (Acts 9:27; 15:37). May God give us the vision to see people beyond their physical outward appearances and look deep into their spiritual needs.

2. Extraordinary faith produces extraordinary courage!
Most of us prefer to play it safe and stick to our routines, staying within our comfort zones, especially as we get older.

Some of us become less adventurous… I include myself in this category. Whereas I used to engage in many crazy and adventurous activities, such as going on scary rides and roller coasters, enjoying the thrill of the unexpected, as time went on my perspective changed. I started questioning why I should take unnecessary risks and what would happen if something went wrong. Like me, many of us prefer to stay on the safe side.

Peter could have simply ignored Tom or walked by busily talking to John, as many of us would do, especially when we don’t have spare change. But he took a bold step and said, ‘Silver and gold I have none, but what I have I will give you.’

This wasn’t just an act of courage, it was extraordinary! Peter was imparting his faith into the man. This incident is similar to Acts 14:8-19, where Paul heals a lame man. However, the difference is that the man Paul healed had ‘faith for healing,’ whereas scripture doesn’t mention whether the man Peter healed had faith. Nevertheless, Peter and John courageously imparted their faith into his life!

God has called us to impart faith in the lives of those around us. But are we? Most of the time, we’re happy to share our faith with those who already have faith, but are hesitant when it comes to imparting faith to those of other faiths or those who have no faith at all.

Dear friends, it is time for us to impart our faith into the lives of those around us. Let’s invest in sowing faith in someone’s life.

Peter had the courage to exercise his unshakable faith. He didn’t doubt for a minute what would happen if the man weren’t healed. With confidence, he boldly said: ‘Rise up and walk.’ Tom understandably didn’t apprehend this command and the next verse says, Peter took him by the hand and helped him stand up. That’s when the man realised that he could indeed get up and walk.

Today, there are people waiting for us to lift them up, holding their hand. They are so close to coming into the presence of God but are still waiting outside the gate.

Peter and John were not hindered by Tom, but rather saw him as someone who enabled them to courageously preach the gospel with authority, demonstrating the power of God.

It is important for Christians not to isolate themselves in their walk of faith. Don’t play it safe! While it is good to have time alone with God, it is equally important to invest time, effort, and resources on others. Speak life with extraordinary courage into the lives of those around you, and those who cross your path.

3. Extraordinary faith brings extraordinary challenges!
Faith in action leads to extraordinary vision and courage, which in turn brings extraordinary challenges.

The Christian path is filled with numerous challenges, and nowhere in scripture does it claim to be a bed of roses. We must deny ourselves and carry our cross (Matthew 10:38).

• After experiencing a life-changing miracle, Peter and John were not celebrated or honored, but imprisoned, severely threatened, and commanded not to teach about Jesus.
• But nothing could stop them! (read more in Acts).
• Dear friends, Satan will bring every possible obstacle to hinder us from fulfilling God’s intended purpose for our lives. However, no power of man or hell can ever stop God’s divine plan for us.
• Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. When we exercise our faith action-wise, we may face more problems and challenges, but we must hold onto our faith.
• We should not look back or step back, but keep marching forward.

Acts 14:22 reminds us that we will face tribulations before entering heaven; during these troubled days, we need to strengthen our resolve and continue activating faith.

Active faith
Living a godly life does not exempt us from suffering. Throughout history, men and women of faith have experienced trials and troubles. Problems are a part of life for both Christians and non-Christians. But it does not mean that you are a bad or evil person.

The difference lies in the fact that when a child of God experiences trials, we can be assured that God is aware and that we are safe in His hands. Psalm 34:19NLT reassures that ‘The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.’ 

No matter how hopeless your situation may seem, you are not alone. God cares for you and is with you in the midst of struggles. Exercise your extraordinary faith today.

Daniel 11:32b(NKJV) reminds us that God has not called us to an ordinary life – ‘… the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.’

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Pastor Angeline Selvakumari is Chief Editor Echo of His Call, India’s Spiritual Newspaper, and Dr S Sam Selva Raj’s daughter. In furthering Echo of His Call ministries, established 1969, Dr Sam is daily broadcasting 5-minute messages in Hindi, Tamil and English on YouTube, trusting the Lord to provide for the costs. Link: sam@echoofhiscall.org  
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