Great FAITH

The spiritual realm has ears, and can hear what you are living...

The centurion got the attention of Jesus by a sound that He heard... what was that sound ???

Luke 7:9 NKJV

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!"

What did Jesus hear that identified this person having great faith ?

Not just ordinary faith.. but GREAT faith .. meaning vast quantities, having much..

When we think of great, what comes to mind ? Something large, stands out, not regular nor small.. compared to most its size is larger, contains more…

Jesus identified great faith by what he heard… not saw.

Luke 7:6-8 NKJV

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. [7] Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. [8] 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."

We know Faith is the substance of the things unseen the evidence of things hoped for… the centurions great faith was displayed although unseen.. He demonstrated it by His actions ..

Hebrews 11:1-2 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Jesus heard it yet we see it by what He did….

Let’s take a look at what the centurion did to get great faith..

Great Faith loves … the nation and Gods people..

Luke 7:5 NKJV

"for he loves our nation….

When you love something or someone you invest..

Love will motivate you towards something…

Galatians 5:6 NKJV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Was the centurion a Jew ? Probably not.. yet We can see from this passage He loved them…

His faith was great because he loved.. he was motivated by love.. you cannot build or grow faith without love…

Love is the key factor if you want much faith, great faith like this centurion.

We can tell he was a man of love because his servant was dear to him..

Not just a paid helper… someone who had become valuable to his family and life..

Love is not selfish …. The evidence of love is in

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NKJV

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; [5] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; [6] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Love is the greatest

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

2. Great faith requires sacrificial Investment.

Luke 12:34 NKJV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Money is a big indicator to what you really love…

The centurion invested His money into building a meeting place for the people of God..

3. Great faith knows who Jesus is, what He does, and calls on Him for immediate action.

Luke 7:2-3 NKJV

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. [3] So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.

Faith is evident by acting on what one hears… how would the centurion know to get Jesus when his servant is sick ??

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It’s how the woman with the issue of blood was healed .. she heard of the people being healed in the market place by touching the hem of Jesus garment..

The centurion had heard even possibly seen these miracles…

4. Great faith has friends and a connection to the masters house.. he will know the elders or who is in charge, and acknowledge those in leadership.

Luke 7:3-5 NKJV

So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, [5] "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."

Do we know the people who can put you in touch with Jesus ??

Knowing about someone is different to having access to someone..

Jesus carried healing power… the centurion is not a Jew, yet has access to this healing power through being connected to the right people..

Are you connected to the right people…

Faith will surround you with people who can give you access… faith will draw the right people you need for Jesus to do His miracles..

Unbelief will repel the people you need…

5. Great faith functions under authority.

John 1:12-13 NKJV

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: [13] who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

When you come under authority to God, He gives you the power to be a child of God… that power comes from understanding the chain of command… a child of God is no orphan..

An orphan is one who has no parent.. no covering … does not belong to anyone.. the only power they can rely on is themselves..

When you belong and acknowledge someone greater, you have back up.. They offer you their name, and influence that they have…

God gives them power to be a child of God… not the right but the power..

Luke 7:6 NKJV

6. Great faith requires a level of Trust and belief in those whom God has given you to expand..

The centurions great faith relied on the ability to give instruction on his behalf..

The centurion send not servant, not a worker … if it was paid help, then of course there’s an expectation of execution of instructions… a faithful paid helper will follow through.. but the bible says the friends of the centurion were sent..

Having trustworthy friends is key to great faith.. having the ability to trust in someone is gold..

It takes time to develop trust.. so great faith takes time..

Faithfulness and trust is a time tested quality..

Especially in these end times the bible said

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, [4] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Finding people that you can send on your behalf, speak your words and not their own is precious…

Peter when released from prison went to his own company

7. Great faith does not depend on a feeling or works…

Luke 7:7 NKJV

Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Worthy : Strong's Definition

From ἵκω hikō (ἱκάνω or ἱκνέομαι; akin to G2240; to arrive);

competent (as if coming in season) that is ample (in amount) or fit (in character): - able + content enough good great large long (while) many meet much security sore sufficient worthy.

A complexity of thinking about one’s self in light of someone else’s position..

It contains elements of not having done enough such as religious activity to meet an acceptable standard..

Ephesians 1:6 KJV

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

His blood makes us worthy not our works..

Great faith will overide your feeling of unworthiness by focusing on the one who does the works… taking your eyes off your self and onto Him the author and finisher of our faith..

Hebrews 12:2 KJ21

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Feelings will undermine your great faith if you let them… only you have the power to deny your feelings the right to rob you..

8. Great faith must be heard...

Luke 7:9 KJ21

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned about and said unto the people who followed Him, "I say unto you, I have not found so great a faith, no, not in Israel."

Matthew 8:6,10 NKJV

saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." [10] When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Can Jesus hear your faith ?? He felt power go out of Him when the woman touched the hem of His garment… He did not hear faith from her… but He did hear faith in the centurion …

Your faith makes a sound that brings the Masters attention to your need..

The sound in the spiritual realm was a combination of all these 8 points…

not just the sound of a prayer, cry, shout, wail… it’s the life you lead that sounds the loudest.

His love
His investment
His knowledge of what Jesus did and can do
His friendship with leaders in the church
His understanding and functioning under authority
His trust in his friends
His denial of feelings to get what he needed.
His faith was heard and seen by these great attitudes..

Great FAITH

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