WHAT IS “GREAT FAITH?”

LUKE 7:6-10: “Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: What is the essence of “Great Faith?” Faith is one of those Biblical truths that many misunderstand. Most of us can quote Hebrews 11:6 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” However, what is faith in our everyday life? How do we live by faith?

Many teach that faith is a force. It is viewed as something that we possess and must be put into action to receive the blessings and promises of God. This definition of faith centers on a very narrow understanding of a couple of verses from the teachings of Jesus. The verses most commonly associated with this view of faith are found in the Gospel of Mark.

“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mar 11:22-24)

Faith is reduced from these verses to a formula. This formula is – “Believe, activate your faith by Speaking what you have believed, and then you will Receive.” The account of the Centurion and Jesus can also be added to this misunderstanding when one looks at one small portion of the Centurion’s discourse with Jesus.

“But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

However, this is a very limited understanding of faith. This understanding and application of faith focuses more on what the person does than on what God does. This above statement by the Centurion is not why Jesus marveled at his faith. It was not that the Centurion had discovered the formula for receiving the blessings of God. Rather, it was that the Centurion had –

DISCOVERED THE ONE WHO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL BLESSINGS!

Even the verses from Mark show us that the focus is not on what we do but on WHO HE IS!

“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.”

We are never called to have faith in faith or faith in a formula. Our walk with Jesus is not one of a contractual nature. Our walk with Jesus is meant to be a personal relationship centered on love. The Centurion, unlike the Jewish nation that Jesus had come to proclaim the Kingdom of God to, understood who Jesus was. He embraced Jesus as the Son of God and doing so knew that whatever Jesus said would be done by His Father in heaven. He did not need to see Jesus or have any proof of who Jesus was. The Centurion believed that Jesus was God’s Son and that was enough for him!

The Centurion believed in what he hoped for and received what he could not see – because He saw Jesus through the eyes of faith!

Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, had come to His own and His own had received Him not. Yet, this Gentile, a Centurion, who saw himself as unworthy of having Jesus even step foot in his home, believed with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Without seeing – he believed. The Centurion’s faith was not in anything that he did to receive God’s favor. 

The Centurion’s faith was in Christ alone!

I believe in praying the Word of God. I believe we should maintain a positive confession of our faith. Yet, I do not manipulate God or open the windows of His blessings by my works of faith. My faith is not in what I do – but in what Jesus has already done for me! Like salvation, every blessing of God that I receive is by grace through faith – in Christ alone!

“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal 3:5)

The focal point of faith is Christ alone. It is His nature, His love, His sacrifice on the cross, and His faithfulness. In every area of need, I need to run to Him. My hope is anchored in His righteousness, not my own. I can fully trust His Word because He is Lord and He is faithful. Like the Centurion, I know that whatever He says will come to pass because – HE IS!

Peter was a man who once trusted in his actions. He tried to move mountains in his strength until he found that the source of true strength was not in what he did but in whom He believed. Peter writes in His first Epistle,

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1Pe 1:17-21)

“So that your faith and hope are in God!”

This is great faith! This is the faith that Jesus acknowledged in the heart of the Centurion. This is the faith I need! Lord, help me to place my faith in You alone. Let my faith and hope be anchored fully in You!

My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousnessI dare not trust the sweetest frameBut wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid rock I standAll other ground is sinking sandAll other ground is sinking sand

In Jesus’ Name!