HOW STRONG FAITH?
LUKE 7:1-8 When He had completed His discourse in the hearing Of the people, He went to Capernaum. And a certain Centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, Was sick and about to die. And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come And save the life of his slave. And when they had come To Jesus, they earnestly entreated Him, saying, “He is Worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our Nation, and it was he who built our synagogue.” Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was Already not far from the house, the centurion sent Friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself Further,, for I am not worthy for You to come under My roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself Worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my Servant will be healed. For I too, am a man under Authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “`Go!’ and he goes; and to another, `Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, `Do this’! and he does it.”
OK, how many saw the FAITH in the centurion? This man KNEW that Jesus was more than just a man, more than just a prophet, or a preacher, but that Jesus was beyond understanding by mere man. The centurion was a man who commanded others, he had slaves and housemaids and who knows what else this man was in charge of, he was somebody important from what we read in the Bible. Yet, what else do we see here in these verses? Did we not read that because he was so important he never thought of himself as that important; he HUMBLED himself in the eyes of his servants, his soldiers and his family. He admitted that he felt he was UNWORTHY to approach Jesus with his problem. And then, and then, he spoke the message that Jesus waited to hear, he said, “` Just say the Word, and I know he will be healed!” With this Jesus said; LUKE 7:9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, And turned and said to the multitude that was Following Him, “I SAY TO YOU, NOT EVEN IN ISRAEL HAVE I FOUND SUCH GREAT FAITH.”
After that the people went to the centurions home and found that the slave was in good health. I will tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I thought I had great faith, but sometimes when I read in scriptures of the faith that others had I question mine. I have prayed for others in my life as a believer, and I have seen some get healed, and most have not; one of them is my very own Wife. I have prayed for her, over her, and with her, and yet she still suffers greatly. Is this due to a lack of faith on my behalf; I would like to think not; after all: MATTHEW 17:20 And He said to them, “BECAUSE OF THE LITTLENESS OF YOUR FAITH; FOR TRULY I SAY TO YOU, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS A MUSTARD SEED, YOU SHALL SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, `MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE, AND IT SHALL MOVE; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU.”
Now I know that some of you will come back to me and quote the next verse to me that says “This kind does not come out except by Prayer and Fasting.” I know that already, so hold fast to that thought. I also know that by the Faith of a few close friends healing can take place. LUKE 5:18 & 20 And behold, some men were carrying on a bed a man Who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him In, and to set him down in front of Him (Jesus). And not finding anyway to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, right in the center, in front of Jesus. And seeing their Faith, He said, “FRIEND, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU.”
Now, we read further that the paralytic was healed by Jesus, after He was confronted by the scribes and Pharisees Jesus released the man from his disabilities. FAITH of a few close friends united as one entity in total agreement on any given thing, isn’t this what the Bible tells us? MATTHEW 18:20 “FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE HAVE GATHERED IN MY NAME, THERE I AM IN THEIR MIDST.”
So, if I have faith the size of a mustard seed, and I gather together with many others with the same mind and same request and healing still doesn’t happen what then?
“I BELIEVE AND I STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD!” You see, I live by FAITH and not by sight or what mankind might say, I cannot mix match my allegiance in that manner, but I must hold fast to that which had been given me and taught me by the Hands of God over the past twenty nine years. He is my ROCK AND SALVATION, He is MY DELIVERER, He is my HEALER, He is my ALL IN ALL, and besides all of that He can not LIE. So I can hold Him to His Word and His Promises. It is in FAITH that I stand. FAITH IN THE LIVING JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD IN WHOM I SERVE!!!
How about You? How is your faith?
PRAY THIS PRAYER My Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You this day To come to my heart and teach me FAITH. Cleanse me of unbelief that I may also Know this Truth of You. That I may also Know the outcome of my Prayers. Help Me to understand what I now do not. Show me how to live by Faith. I ask this in the Mighty Name Of Jesus Christ AMEN!