Faith First: See Miracles Unfold

Introduction

Have you ever waited for God to show you a sign before believing? Jesus taught exactly the opposite. He told Martha, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” – not the other way around.

In this video, I will reveal the miracle pattern Jesus consistently demonstrated throughout His ministry. We’ll examine three powerful biblical examples where faith activated divine intervention before evidence appeared. I’ll also share how this principle transformed my life when I stepped out in faith without a safety net.

Case 1: The Blind Men’s Faith Formula

Have you ever wondered why some prayers are answered while others seem to go unheard? The answer might lie in a pattern Jesus consistently demonstrated throughout His ministry—a formula for faith that could transform how we approach our spiritual needs today.

In Matthew’s gospel, we encounter a profound example that reveals the hidden mechanics of how faith operates. Two blind men approached Jesus, their voices likely trembling with desperation as they sought healing. Their physical darkness defined their existence, limiting their independence and marking them as outsiders in their community. Yet, instead of immediately granting their request, Jesus posed a question that would become the pivotal moment in their journey toward sight.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Jesus asked them. This wasn’t a casual inquiry—it was a spiritual prerequisite, highlighting something we often miss in our own prayer lives. Before Jesus performed any miracle, He required these men to activate their faith. Their participation wasn’t optional; it was essential to the entire process.

What happened next reveals the blueprint for how miracles unfold. Their response—”Yes, Lord”—appears simple on the surface but carries tremendous spiritual weight. These men had never experienced sight. They had no empirical evidence that Jesus could restore their vision. Yet they affirmed their complete confidence in His ability to transform their darkness into light. Their declaration represented pure, unadulterated faith—belief without prior evidence.

The sequence that followed deserves our careful attention. Only after they confessed their faith did Jesus touch their eyes. When He declared, “According to your faith, let it be done to you,” He revealed a spiritual principle that governs divine intervention. The Greek language used here suggests that their healing was proportional to their faith—a direct correlation between the intensity of their belief and the manifestation of their miracle.

This wasn’t merely a demonstration of Jesus’ power. It was a revelation of how that power is accessed and activated through human faith. The blind men weren’t passive recipients but active participants in their healing. Their sight wasn’t automatically granted—it was conditionally released based on their belief.

Believing is Seeing

From this encounter, a clear pattern emerges that contradicts our natural tendencies. We typically expect to see evidence before we believe, but Jesus establishes the opposite formula: belief comes first, followed by declaration, then divine action, and finally, the physical manifestation. This sequence isn’t arbitrary—it’s the consistent template for how faith operates throughout scripture.

What’s happening internally during this process is equally significant. Before their physical eyes were opened, something profound had already transformed within these men. Their internal reality—how they perceived themselves and their future—had shifted through faith before any external change occurred. This internal transformation represents the first essential component of genuine faith.

When they declared, “Yes, Lord,” they were already beginning to see themselves differently. In their minds, they were no longer defined by blindness but by the possibility of sight. Their inner vision changed before their physical vision was restored. Their belief reshaped their internal landscape, creating a foundation for the external miracle that would follow.

Case 2: The Ten Lepers’ Step of Faith

The journey within transforms us before any external changes appear. While the blind men found new vision inside themselves first, the story of the ten lepers takes this principle to an even more challenging level. What would you do if Jesus asked you to act as if your miracle had already happened while your condition remained visibly unchanged?

In Luke’s gospel, we encounter ten men suffering from leprosy—a condition that brought not just physical pain but also profound social isolation. Jewish law required these men to maintain distance from the healthy population due to the contagious nature of their disease. Imagine living with this double burden: your body slowly deteriorating while being cut off from all human touch and community.

These ten desperate souls spotted Jesus from afar and called out with everything they had: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Their plea carried the weight of years of suffering and rejection. They weren’t just asking for physical healing—they were begging for restoration to their families, communities, and identities.

Jesus’ response might seem puzzling at first. He instructed them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” There was no dramatic healing ceremony or immediate transformation—just a simple command that, on the surface, made little sense. According to Jewish purification laws, lepers were required to present themselves to priests only after they were healed. The priests served as official verifiers who could declare them clean and permit their return to society.

But here’s what makes this moment extraordinary: When Jesus gave this instruction, their skin still bore every mark of leprosy. There were still visible lesions. Their condition remained unchanged. Yet Jesus asked them to walk to the temple and present themselves as if they were already healed.

This placed the lepers at a crucial crossroads. Following Jesus’ instruction meant potentially facing ridicule, rejection, or even punishment from the priests who might view their presence as a violation of purification laws. Every step toward the temple was a step of audacious faith—a physical declaration that they believed Jesus’ words over their current reality.

The scripture tells us something remarkable: “And as they went, they were cleansed.” Not before they set out. Not while they were considering whether to obey. But specifically in the midst of their obedient action. Their healing manifested while they were physically demonstrating their faith through movement.

This reveals a profound spiritual principle: faith requires corresponding action. It’s not enough to merely believe in your heart or confess with your mouth—true faith compels you to move your body and take tangible steps that align with what you believe God has promised, even when all physical evidence contradicts it.

Consider what would have happened had these men waited for proof before acting. “First, show us the healing, Jesus, then we’ll go to the priests.” Had they taken this approach—the seeing-is-believing approach that comes so naturally to us—they might have remained in their diseased condition indefinitely.

Their healing wasn’t just about physical restoration but social reintegration. By presenting themselves to the priests, they weren’t merely seeking verification of healing; they were taking steps toward rejoining their families, resuming their place in society, and reclaiming their identities as full community members.

Case 3: Martha’s at Lazarus’ Tomb

Faith that heals is powerful, but faith that resurrects reveals God’s ultimate glory. When Martha stood at her brother’s tomb, Jesus didn’t just challenge her to believe despite the circumstances—He asked her to believe in the face of death itself, a situation in which hope had not just dimmed but completely expired.

The timing of Jesus’ arrival in Bethany carries profound significance. By the time Jesus reached Lazarus’ tomb, his friend had been dead for four days—a critical threshold in Jewish understanding. According to Jewish belief of that time, the soul lingered near the body for three days, potentially able to return. But by day four, that possibility vanished as decomposition began. Jesus deliberately arrived when the situation was beyond all human hope.

Martha’s interaction with Jesus reveals our struggle between intellectual faith and genuine faith. When she first meets Jesus on the road, Martha makes a statement that shows both faith and limitation: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She believed in Jesus’ power to heal the sick, but apparently not His power over death itself.

The critical moment came when Jesus instructed them to remove the stone covering Lazarus’ tomb. Martha’s immediate objection exposes the limits of her faith: “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Here we see the tension between what she claimed to believe about Jesus and her reaction when faced with the physical reality of death. Her concerns were entirely practical—the decomposition process had begun, and opening the tomb would release the unmistakable odor of death.

This is where Jesus delivers what might be the most critical statement about faith in the entire Bible. Responding to Martha’s hesitation, he says, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” This declaration completely inverts our natural way of thinking. We typically want evidence before belief—seeing before believing. But Jesus establishes the opposite pattern: believing must precede seeing.

The four-day timeframe wasn’t accidental—it was intentional. By waiting until resurrection was the only option, Jesus created circumstances where faith would be stretched to its absolute limit. Martha wasn’t just being asked to believe in healing or divine intervention in a difficult situation; she was being asked to believe in life after a confirmed, undeniable death had occurred.

This reveals something profound about the nature of true faith. Faith isn’t just accepting what seems reasonable or probable; it’s trusting God’s promises even when physical evidence contradicts them entirely. Martha’s journey from “If you had been here” to removing the stone despite her concerns shows the progression from intellectual acknowledgment to active trust.

When Martha and the others finally acted on their faith by removing the stone—despite every rational objection—they positioned themselves to witness the impossible. Jesus’ prayer and verbal declaration, “Lazarus, come out!” demonstrates the third component of real faith: verbal declaration that aligns with what you believe. Jesus didn’t whisper a tentative request; He declared with authority what He knew would happen.

The miracle that followed—Lazarus walking out still bound in grave clothes—served as the ultimate validation of Jesus’ principle: “Believing is seeing.” Those who chose to believe first witnessed God’s glory in its fullest expression. Had they insisted on evidence before belief, the stone would have remained in place, and the miracle would have remained unrealized.

Case 4. Modern Application: Brother Joseph’s Testimony

Ancient faith stories inspire us, but do these principles work in today’s complex world? When Brother Joseph Olarewaju felt God directing him to pursue graduate studies in a foreign country with only one year’s funding secured, he stood at a critical crossroads. Everything logical screamed, “Wait until you have complete provision,” yet something more profound—a whisper of faith—urged him forward despite having no concrete plan beyond that first year.

This wasn’t just a minor decision with easily reversible consequences. The stakes were extraordinarily high. Friends and family voiced legitimate concerns about being stranded abroad without resources, far from his support network. From a purely practical perspective, their caution made perfect sense. Why risk financial disaster and potentially derailed academic ambitions when waiting seemed the wiser choice?

Yet Brother Joseph found himself drawn to a few specific promises from Scripture: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” from Hebrews 13:5 is the first undeniable word. The second is specific to the need, where God promises to be his “Jehovah Jireh,” who will meet all his needs in the foreign land. The third promise was given to him much later, at the airport, after his Christian brethren dropped him at the airport, and he boarded the plane alone. Sitting on the plane, He heard the Lord say: “I am your “Jehovah Shammah” I the Lord will be there with you. These weren’t merely encouraging verses he happened to stumble upon—they became the foundation for the faith journey of an African village boy. Despite having zero tangible evidence of how God would provide beyond that initial year, these promises resonated deeply in his spirit.

What’s fascinating about Brother Joseph’s approach is how he applied the faith principles we’ve explored. He didn’t simply read God’s promise once and then leap blindly. Instead, he cultivated deep belief through consistent, daily meditation on Scripture, personal worship, and prayer. The internal transformation began as these promises gradually became more real to him than his external circumstances.

Brother Joseph didn’t stop with internal belief, though. He moved to verbal declaration, actively thanking God in advance for a provision he had yet to see. Each day, he spoke and acted about his future as though God’s provision had already been accomplished. This wasn’t wishful thinking or empty positive confession—it was the deliberate alignment of his words with what he believed God had promised.

The moment of truth arrived when Brother Joseph had to demonstrate corresponding action. Despite not guaranteeing sustainability beyond the first year, he purchased a one-way ticket to his destination. This wasn’t reckless abandonment of responsibility but rather a deliberate step of faith demonstrating his complete trust in God’s provision.

What happened next defies conventional explanation. After taking this decisive step of faith, Brother Joseph experienced a series of what can only be described as divine interventions. Unexpected scholarships materialized. Research opportunities emerged that provided not just financial support but also academic advancement. Divine connections appeared at precise moments when guidance or resources were needed.

The pattern we’ve traced through Scripture proved just as effective in modern times. Brother Joseph didn’t receive these provisions before stepping out in faith—they came after he acted on his beliefs. Had he insisted on seeing evidence first, he would have remained stuck, waiting indefinitely for a certainty that faith doesn’t require.

Reflecting on Brother Joseph’s experience, Dr. Olarewaju emphasizes that faith is an active force requiring three elements: internal transformation, verbal declaration, and corresponding action. “These aren’t separate components but interconnected aspects of the same powerful principle,” he explains. When we align our internal beliefs, spoken words, and physical actions with God’s promises, we create the optimal conditions for supernatural provision.”

Your Faith Activation Plan: From Principle to Practice

The supernatural provision in Brother Joseph’s life wasn’t a coincidence—it followed a specific pattern available to every believer. But here’s the challenging truth: most Christians are unwittingly operating with a type of faith that Jesus never endorsed. What if everything you thought you knew about how faith works has been entirely backward all along?

Dr. Olarewaju profoundly distinguishes between two fundamentally different approaches to faith. On one hand, there’s what he calls “Sense Faith,” a conditional belief system that demands tangible evidence before trust is established. This is the kind of faith demonstrated by the crowd in John 6, who boldly demanded, “What sign will you give that we may see it and believe you?” Their approach was straightforward: show us first, then we’ll believe.

This “seeing is believing” mindset might seem reasonable, even prudent by worldly standards. But Dr. Olarawaju explains that this approach creates a spiritual deadlock—you’ll never experience supernatural provision because you’re waiting for evidence that can only manifest after you believe. It’s like trying to harvest crops from seeds you refuse to plant until you see fruit first.

By contrast, “Real Faith” or “revelation faith” operates on an entirely different principle. This faith is characterized by an unwavering internal knowing—a deep-seated conviction that transcends what your physical senses report. It’s not blind faith or wishful thinking but rather a spiritual perception that becomes more real than your circumstances. Jesus consistently honored this faith, which activates the supernatural.

What makes Real Faith so powerful is its ability to stand firm regardless of contrary evidence. While Sense Faith crumbles when circumstances turn negative, Real Faith remains unshakeable because it’s anchored in God’s unchanging promises rather than fluctuating situations. This explains why two people facing identical circumstances can experience entirely different outcomes—one operates in Sense Faith, perpetually waiting for conditions to improve, while the other activates Real Faith and witnesses transformation.

The good news is that Real Faith can be cultivated through what Dr. Olarewaju calls the “faith activation principle.” This process bridges the gap between merely hoping for change and experiencing miracles. To activate this principle in your own life, follow these four practical steps:

First, pick a specific promise from Scripture that speaks directly to your situation. This isn’t random selection but intentional identification of God’s word regarding your needs. This becomes the foundation upon which your faith will stand.

Second, meditate daily on that promise. This isn’t passive reading but active engagement with God’s word until it becomes more real to you than your circumstances. Dr. Olarewaju emphasizes dedicating time to this, allowing the promise to reshape your internal reality before any external change occurs.

Third, declare that promise boldly. Verbal declaration isn’t just positive thinking—it’s aligning your words with your belief. As Romans 10:9 reminds us, declaration is essential: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Your words express the faith taking root within you.

Fourth, act in alignment with what you believe. Take tangible steps to demonstrate your conviction, even when circumstances haven’t changed. This corresponding action completes the faith circuit, as we saw with the blind men, the lepers, and Martha at Lazarus’ tomb.

Dr. Olarewaju acknowledges that maintaining this kind of faith when circumstances contradict your beliefs presents significant challenges. Doubts will inevitably arise, but he encourages believers to confront these doubts directly, emphasizing that faith strengthens with exercise—like a muscle that develops through resistance. Even when external evidence contradicts your beliefs, maintaining your declaration of faith remains vital for witnessing God’s power at work.

Conclusion

Throughout our journey, we’ve witnessed a powerful truth: faith isn’t passive waiting; your active participation releases God’s power. When you align your beliefs, words, and actions with divine promises, you create the perfect conditions for miracles to manifest.

As Dr. Joseph Olarewaju teaches, faith is an active force that shapes our reality. It empowers us to act confidently even before we see physical evidence of our breakthrough. This isn’t blind optimism but spiritual wisdom rooted in scripture.

The rewards of this dynamic faith are extraordinary. As you implement the four-step faith activation plan we’ve discussed, you’ll experience what 1 Peter 1:8 describes as “unspeakable joy”—a profound gladness that transcends circumstances. You’ll know Isaiah’s promise of renewed strength, soaring on wings like eagles when challenges arise. And most precious of all, you’ll receive that peace which surpasses all understanding, holding your heart steady through life’s storms.

Remember what Jesus taught in Mark 11:24—believing while praying leads to receiving. The choice to believe first—before seeing evidence—is now yours. Will you embrace the principle that unlocks God’s glory in your life?

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of faith and anticipation. We thank You for the powerful truth revealed to us: that our faith is not mere waiting, but an active force that aligns us with Your divine promises. Lord, help us to believe wholeheartedly in Your power and goodness, even before we see the evidence of Your work. Guide our words, actions, and beliefs so they harmonize with Your will, creating the perfect conditions for Your miracles to manifest in our lives.

As we embrace the principle of “believing is seeing,” fill us with unspeakable joy, renewed strength, and that precious peace which surpasses all understanding. Strengthen our faith so that we may soar on wings like eagles, rise above our challenges, and remain steadfast through life’s storms. We hold onto the promise of Mark 11:24, trusting that as we pray with belief, we will receive.

Lord, let this dynamic faith transform our reality, bringing forth Your glory in ways we have yet to imagine. We declare today that we believe in Your ability to bring about change, breakthroughs, and miracles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.