Imitate the Faithful

Apart from the Word of God itself and prayer, nothing can do more for you than watching and imitating a real man of faith. I found that out in a big way many years ago when I was a student at Oral Roberts University. As co-pilot on the airplane that transported him and his staff to his healing meetings, I had the opportunity to study Oral Roberts up close. I followed him around. I heard him preach. I watched him lay hands on the sick.

Remember your leaders and superiors in authority,[for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living…and imitate their faith.

– Hebrews 13:7

I’ll never forget the day I had the opportunity to put some of what I’d learned from him into action. I’d just been to a few of his meetings. Spiritually, I was still as green as a gourd. But I’d been assigned to help the people in the invalid room get ready for Brother Roberts to lay hands on them. I was standing there for the first time surrounded by every kind of sickness and disease you can imagine. And when Brother Roberts came in, instead of laying hands on the people himself, he caught me by the coat sleeve and said, “You’re going to do the praying. You’re going to lay hands on them.”

I know all the blood must have drained out of my face because I’d never prayed for anything like that in my life. I might have considered praying for a headache or maybe a serious hangnail, but that’s it!

The first lady we came to had cancer of the stomach. She weighed less than 80 pounds. She was just the picture of death. I walked over toward her and before I could open my mouth, I heard a voice from behind me say, “In the Name of Jesus, take up your bed and walk.” She instantly spit that cancer out on the floor. Then she jumped off that bed and screamed, “I’m healed,” and started running around the room.

Let me tell you, that moment changed me. When I stepped up to the next person and raised my hands, I could see the healing coming. I’d seen Jesus heal through Brother Roberts, so in my mind’s eye, I could see Him healing through me.

You can do the same thing. Find someone who’s operating in more faith and power than you are and learn from him. Watch Jesus in them and then copy Him. Sooner or later, others will start seeing Jesus in you.

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-15