How Would Jesus Describe Your Faith?

Matt. 8:5-10 - And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

"For I also 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." Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel."

• Jesus Helps The Undesirables Again 

In the first four verses of this chapter Jesus healed a leper. A leper was one who was considered an outcast in their society and now He is about to help a centurion another type of person who would have been hated by the Israelites.
 
A centurion worked for the hated Roman Empire. He was in charge of or had authority over 100 men and this is where his name "centurion" or "100" derives. He was one who had sworn allegiance to the Roman Empire and he would do exactly as he was commanded.
 
He was given the authority to put down any type of uprising by any means necessary.
 
If you have read anything about the Jewish people in Jesus' day they always had a plot in action to overthrow the hated Roman Government. One famous Jewish insurrectionist was Barabbas. Mark 15:7 - The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. NASU
 
He was the one who was released by Pilate and then they crucified Jesus. 

• The Undesirable's Faith 

You can say whatever you want about this hated Roman Centurion of Matthew 8. You can talk about how he had people beaten, arrested, thrown into prison and most likely killed.
 
But if you really want to talk about him may I suggest you talk about his GREAT faith.
 
Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel." 
 
He didn't have faith, he had GREAT faith. 

• What Made His Faith Great? 

First, he understood "authority". He had authority as he stated. He could say, "Go" and people were gone. He could say, "Jump" and they jumped. He could say, "Give that man 30 lashes" and that man received 30 lashes.
 
Second, he understood "his sinfulness". He said to Jesus, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof,…"  I am pretty sure some of the most horrific sins this man had committed came rushing into his guilty conscience.
 
He was so moved with guilt he tells the Lord that he was not worthy to have him come to his house. 

• Would You Like To Have "Great" Faith? 

First, we need to understand the authority of Jesus Christ if we are ever going to have great faith. He is who He said He was. He is the Son of God. 

He does have all authority and it says this about Him in Matt.28:18 - And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth..."

He doesn't possess some authority. He possesses all authority and not just here on earth but in Heaven as well.

Secondly,  we must comprehend our own sinfulness. The Israelites who stood there and couldn't understand how Jesus could heal a leper and help a centurion's servant didn't understand their own sins.

They were focused on the sins of others. You will never have amazing faith until you understand what Jesus did for you in regard to your sinfulness.

You will never have a great faith when all you do is look at others and how sinful they are.

If we really want to look at a sinner all we have to do is look into a mirror.

How will we arrive at having great faith?

This will happen when we truly understand Jesus' authority and our sinfulness.

Think About These:

Faith doesn't demand miracles, but it often accomplishes them.

Doubt makes mountains. Faith moves mountains.

Faith helps us walk fearlessly, run confidently, and live victoriously.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word