Miraculous Healing at Lystra
By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | August 10, 2025
Open your Bibles to Acts 14:8-18. And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who, stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. Let’s pray: Father, thank You for this Lord’s Day and Shana’s salvation. Thank You for loving us despite our shortcomings. Help others accept You as Savior. Bless our guests and this message. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
On August 10, 2025, Senior Pastor Bill Rains delivers the 11th sermon in his “Miracles in Acts” series at Mission Baptist Church, focusing on the miraculous healing of a lame man in Lystra (Acts 14:8-18). After escaping persecution in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas preach in Lystra, where a man, crippled from birth, listens attentively. Paul, perceiving his faith, commands, Stand upright on thy feet, and the man leaps up, healed. The crowd, steeped in pagan beliefs, mistakes Paul and Barnabas for gods—calling Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius—and prepares to offer sacrifices. The apostles, heartbroken, tear their clothes and proclaim, We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God. Pastor Rains, reflecting on Shana’s recent salvation, emphasizes humanity’s need for a miracle, the power of faith, the danger of deception, and the necessity of preaching truth, urging all to trust Jesus for salvation.
A Picture of All Humanity
The lame man, crippled from birth, represents humanity’s spiritual condition. Pastor Rains compares him to the lame man in Acts 3, noting both depict our fallen state due to Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world) and personal sins (Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God). Unable to walk with God without a miracle, we’re all spiritually crippled. Pastor Rains shares his own journey, recalling skeptics who said he couldn’t plant a church at 27, yet God enabled him, proving we need divine intervention to overcome our sinful nature and live for Christ.
The Power of Faith
The lame man’s healing highlights faith’s power. He listened to Paul’s preaching, and Paul perceived his faith to be healed (Acts 14:9, perceiving that he had faith to be healed). Pastor Rains stresses that faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God). Unlike many who ignore preaching, this man’s attention allowed the Holy Spirit to work, leading to his miracle. Pastor Rains encourages unwavering faith, citing Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me, and urges believers to trust God for spiritual and, at times, physical miracles, as he has witnessed.
People’s Deception
The crowd’s reaction—mistaking Paul and Barnabas for gods—reveals deception. They saw the miracle but attributed it to false gods, planning sacrifices (Acts 14:13, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates). Pastor Rains laments that many are deceived, thinking good deeds or false religions lead to heaven. He challenges beliefs in works-based salvation or idolatry, emphasizing that only faith in Christ saves. The apostles’ distress mirrors Pastor Rains’ grief that more don’t recognize their need for Jesus, urging the congregation to reject deception and embrace the truth of Christ alone.
The Preaching of Truth
Paul and Barnabas countered deception by preaching truth: turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea (Acts 14:15). Pastor Rains underscores that true preachers refuse worship, knowing they’re sinners saved by grace (Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other). He shares his life’s purpose: helping people know they’re going to heaven. Citing a layman who led others to Christ, he encourages all believers to share the gospel unashamedly (Matthew 10:32-33, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father). Pastor Rains pleads for the unsaved to trust Jesus, promising eternal life.
