How to Have “Greater Faith”
Becca Card
I always find inspiration when I read the story of the Centurion’s faith in Matthew 8:5-11. No one starts the faith walk with “great faith” however, we all have been given a “measure of faith” that can grow as we gain revelation knowledge, believe, speak, and act on Yahweh’s Word.
Romans 12:3 (ESV) – For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
It is interesting to see that faith is “measurable” and can be increased to reach the fullest potential of “great faith.” Yahshua measured people’s faith when ministering to them. He would make statements like, “according to your faith be it done to you”, indicating that some people had greater faith than others. He also located the faith level of Peter in Matthew 14:31 when he said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.”
Peter tried to walk in the level of faith that Yahshua was operating in but was not quite ready to believe beyond the five-sense realm longer than a few minutes. The phrase “little faith” here actually means “faith that didn’t last long enough, or short faith.”
Yahshua not only measures our faith when we are wanting to receive from Yahweh, but He looks for faith when we approach Him as proved from the story of the paralytic who was lowered through a roof by his friends, “When He saw their faith”, Luke 5:20. Faith that can receive from Yahweh is so vital that Yahshua will be looking for it when He returns. “Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth when He comes.” Luke 18:8
There are four keys to develop “great faith” that we can see clearly in the life of the centurion who amazed Yahshua with his faith.
Recognition of the Lordship of Christ
Matthew 8:5-6 – When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 – “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”
I remember someone saying that “if Yahshua isn’t Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” A full surrender to Yahshua giving Him total reign over our lives is the first step to developing great faith.
Humility
Matthew 8:8 – But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Humility is a “proper estimation of self.” Pride is an “overestimation of self.” This centurion knew that he was not “deserving” of Yahweh’s help because of who he was or what he had done, but all that Yahweh does for us is done as a “free gift.”
Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
Understanding Yahweh’s Will
Matthew 8:7 – And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
We must be convinced of Yahweh’s will and pray in faith.
1 John 5:14-15 – And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Understanding the Nature of Faith
Matthew 8:8 – But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
“Say the Word only and my servant shall be healed.” Real faith requires no proof or evidence from the five senses; but believes with the heart. Faith is a “sixth sense” that is independent of the five physical senses. The man with great faith said in effect, “If you say it, it’s done.” He went his way believing his servant was healed before he ever saw him.
Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 8:13 – And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. In Matthew 8:10 – We read the astounding words of Yahshua affirming the level of faith of this Roman, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him.
May We All Grow in Faith!
