THE FAITH THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

10/8/2023

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God." (Mark 11:22)

Jesus is someone that you can hardly surprise. Come to think of it, how can you surprise God? Yet the Bible says that Jesus was surprised first by the unbelief He encountered in His hometown  (Mark 6:6) and by the faith of the centurion who pleaded with Him to heal his servant. 

Mind you, Jesus had dealt with unbelief and faith on many occasions but his encounter with folks in his country and the centurion was beyond His expectation.

Matthew 8:5-13 says, “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.” “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied. The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.”

So what dimension of faith was this? Why was it different from others who Jesus acknowledged as having faith (i.e. the woman with the issue of blood)? This dimension of faith is in the realm of authority. The centurion said to Jesus, “But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 

In other words, this kind of faith was based on authority. To the centurion, every being, sickness, circumstance and devil was under Jesus' authority. And when it comes to authority, physical contact is unnecessary; just give the Word and it shall be a law. Better still, when authority speaks, everyone complies. The beautiful thing about authority is that you don’t have to agree or like what you are told to do before you comply. The moment the instruction is given, your only response is to comply. So when He said to Jesus, “Just say the Word and my servant will be healed” he knew, that no sickness or devil could say no to their Lord. 

So what was the difference between the Centurion an the woman with the issue of blood? The woman with the issue of blood saw Jesus as a healer but this man saw Jesus as Lord of lords. And that got Jesus’s attention. Because the general knowledge of Jesus was that He was a healer, prophet and teacher. But  this man saw Jesus as one who was more than a healer, prophet, and teacher but as Lord, a person exercising absolute ownership rights [Ayayayay] Hallelujah! 

When Jesus heard he Centurion, He was amazed and said “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” 

This kind of faith changes everything. Faith in the Lord (the authority of Jesus over all beings and things) will change any situation. Why have faith for a healer when you have the Lord? 

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” Revelation 22:23

“Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.” John 1:3  And the list is endless.

Saints, this kind of faith says Jesus is more than a healer, provider, protector, and savior. This kind of faith declares that Jesus Christ is the LORD. And with this kind of faith, you can change anything. Child of God, the next time you are confronted with any situation, just look at the LORD and laugh! And whatever command He whispers to your hearing, speak it forth! And the rest will be history.

Shout Glory!!

Faith-Filled Confession

I am more than a man. I possess the faith and the Spirit of Jesus. He is more than a savior, healer, teacher, provider, and protector. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And I see every problem through His eyes. Glory!

ONE YEAR READING PLAN: Isaiah 37-38; Philippians 3