The Blessing of Having Great Faith

Luke 7:9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Scripture tells us that there are at least 4 kinds of faith.

1. Dead faith - a faith that really does not believe... It all talk, but is dead in that it expresses no corresponding actions.  James said faith without works is dead. (James 2:14)
2. Small or Little faith - Little faith… Matthew 8:26, 14:31, “Oh ye of little faith” (KJV). This is the faith that puts a limitation on what the Lord can do. Fear hinders faith.
3. Common Faith - Faith that we were born with. To each man was given a measure of faith
4. Great Faith - Faith that understands the authority of God (as expressed through the Lord Jesus) and understands the power that comes from the Word of God.

Life changing, world  altering faith.

That can do what his word says that he can do.  Great faith is the kind of faith that gets great results.

When you place your faith ( your trust) in the word of God ( and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ), then you have great faith.

The reason many people have never experienced a legitimate move of God in their life is because they don't have this kind of Faith.

-Great faith is when you understand that God can do anything that he says he can do.

-Great faith is when you trust the word of God over the word of God over your circumstance.

David had great faith when he slew Goliath with a stone and a sling shot

Abraham had great faith when he believed the promise of God to give him a son at 100 years old.

Job had great faith when he said in sickness that all my appointed days, I'm going to wait until my change comes.

In our text, (vs 9) a centurion (a leading Roman soldier) has a servant in his house who is ill.  So he sends for Jesus- but while Jesus is on his way- He sends word, and says: I'm not worthy to have you come to my house, but if you would say the word, my servant would be healed.  The 

Bible says, Jesus marveled at him...  The word marveled comes from the Greek .”thaumazo. It means to “wonder, marvel, be astonished.” The only other time in the gospels where Jesus “marveled” at someone was in Mark 6:6 where it says, “And He wondered at their unbelief.” When Jesus came to His hometown of Nazareth He could do very few miracles because of their unbelief. ( sometimes we can tie up Gods hands because if our unbelief).

Sandra and I have lived in about 5 different houses together.  I remember the first house that Sandra and I moved into.  I had never owned a brand new house( a newly constructed home).  However, Sandra and I were first starting out together, and I was assigned with the task of finding us a place to stay.  A new subdivision had opened up and I said in front of my mother: I'm not even going to try, because I know that I would not qualify for that house (unbelief).  But my mother said: Why don't you Go? Because, You never know what God has for you.

Now this was a brand new subdivision with newly constructed homes.  Not only did I get the house, but the lady said that I could move in before I obtained financing.

 (Sometimes our unbelief can tie God's hands up).

As a result, Jesus “wondered” or “marveled” at their unbelief. He marveled at the unbelief of Israel. However, in our current text Jesus marveled at the faith of a Roman Centurion, a Gentile. When it comes to Jesus’ assessment of Israel, He marveled at their lack of faith. His marveling carried a negative connotation. However, when it came to Jesus’ assessment of his centurion, He marveled at His great faith. His marveling carried a positive connotation. That is what sets this story apart from all the rest. 

We learn three things about great faith from this centurion

Three things that great faith recognized

1. Great faith comes from recognizing who Jesus is.                                       When the centurion had trouble, he called for Jesus. Luke 7:3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Great faith is based on our trust in the Lord Jesus.   The Bible says, God has given him authority over all things: Matt 28:18 Jesus said: All authority (Power), has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

When you recognize the power in the name of Jesus, then you have great faith.

About 14 years ago, a friend of the family got sick with colon cancer.  We heard that colon cancer was one of the worst cancers that you can get, so we didn't know if she was going to make it, however, we visited the hospital and called on the name of Jesus.

The centurion had great faith because he recognized the authority of Jesus.  Matt 28:18 Jesus said: All authority (Power), has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

2. Great faith recognizes the authority of the Lord Jesus.

That God has given Jesus absolute authority over all things.  There is not a situation that you can face that Jesus cannot control.   

Because he has authority...  Jesus has authority over nature.  He took two fish and five loaves of bread and fed 5000 people.  

He called a multitude fish out of the sea to jump into the net of Peter.

He told a storm to cease and go home. 

The centurion realized this.   

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

3.Great faith comes from recognizing the authority of God's Word.

Luke 7:6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

When Jesus heard this, he marveled, because this man was one who knew who he was, what he could do, and believes what he says.