Great Faith

Have you ever wondered, why our Lord, Jesus Christ admonished the first disciples regularly for the lack of faith more than any sin. Is it because he chose righteous people who are struggling with their faith? No, He said I came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance.  Even when the Pharisees caught his disciples breaking traditional rules and accused them of not fasting, instead of reproving them, he came to their defence. Why did he focus more on their faith?

Hebrews 11 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Yes, we can do much  many times but without faith, it is impossible to please God. The Bible adds that all things we do without faith are sin. Do you see how important faith is? In fact, there is a whole chapter Hebrew 11 is dedicated to the heroes of faith that have existed since the beginning of the earth; from Abel, the son of Adam, to the last prophet. These heroes of faith were commended mainly not for their good works and suffering they endured but the faith that preceded it.

So what is faith? Faith is full persuasion that alters the way we think, plan, aspire and live. When we believed in Jesus, the faith we have in Him influenced the way we think, speak, value, associate and live. Faith is a substance and evidence that shows what we trust in and how much? Belief not only in the ability but the willingness of the one or things we trust. Whatever you have faith towards you depend and rely on it, therefore, you esteem it highly.

It such a great feeling when you know that someone trust you or believes in you. It shows how much you weigh before them. I do not mean physically. It imposes on the trustee a responsibility to live up to it. When Abraham believed in the Lord, he gave God a high credit. Trusting and fully persuaded in him he risked his wealth, servants, family, and even his and his wife's life to obey what God has asked him to do. Thus, God, in turn, credited Abraham with righteousness, protection favour, wealth, family and security that last forever.  And out of his faith in God came the birth of all blessings.

The level of our faith can vary depending on our understanding and knowledge of God. How can you believe whom you do not know? Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. Whoever you listen to more you will trust more.The more we know God, the more we are aware his ways and perceive him well. Because the way we perceive can affect the way, we believe. Jesus said be careful how you hear.

The next two stories demonstrate exactly the essence of great faith because the subjects of our study had a different understanding of God than the people of God, who were the Israelite, at that time. Though their knowledge of the Bible is not mentioned, their revelation of God and faith seems to surpass of the people of God left our Lord, Jesus Christ in awe, which is priceless.

The two Gentiles who are less likely to be students of the scriptures. Yet, they show great faith and left God in awe; the story of the Syrophoenician woman and the centurion. Both needed healing, not for themselves but someone they care for. By the law according to the word of God they were not entitled to it. (for Jesus came to the lost house of Israel). That did not deter them from moving forward to receive what they needed in their terms. So what was the essence of their faith? Let us see the story.

The Syrophoenician
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he come. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

The Centurion

Jesus went away from there and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting [a]at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began [b]to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not [c]good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; [d]but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed [e]at once.

So what is great faith?

Great faith assumes God possesses the same level of goodness and ability we humans do. If you observe the commendation by our Lord Jesus, he commended them for their answer. What was in their answer that revealed their faith and made the creator of the universe marvel? They both gave our Lord Jesus Christ the same ability and goodness they were exercising.

The centurion believed that our Lord Jesus Christ possesses the same ability and power he possesses and exercises. The centurion was saying if I can do and accomplish things by giving instruction from anywhere so Jesus can do much more. That is why he gave the examples of ordering his soldiers and asked Jesus to just say the word.

The same with the Spyrophoenician woman; she thought Jesus would have the same amount of goodness she and her culture possess. Her story also reveals to us that great faith is giving God the same goodness and willingness we possess. That is why she replied to him even the dogs eat the crumbs off the children; stating if she or her society is good enough to allow that would be good enough to allow to be good to those who are not entitled to it. That is why he marvelled at her answer.

They did not bring out the best they did to exhibit great faith but the least. We should not be saints to display great faith and accomplish great deeds. We do not even know if these are believers. We only have to believe God is good and willing as much more than we are.

According to the law, she was asking Jesus to disobey his call and the Father commandments. A daring request but she knew the heart of God better than the Jews, who were lost in the do and don'ts of the law. She knew all God's laws were not meant to keep for sake of keeping, but a means of love, protection and our welfare. It was given out to promote love and not stifle it. That is why she was not discouraged because she knew God is good and willing to meet her need despite her pending qualification, as a gentile, which was to be dispensed in a few years later.

If you are yet to be convinced, that great faith is achieved by assuming God to possess at least the same level of goodness, ability willingness that we and our society do, let us further see the teaching of Jesus on faith. Jesus must have taught this great faith- for it is imperative to the father (since we cannot please him without it). In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 7, Jesus teaches us this principle.

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Would a paramedic ask the sick person if he contributes to NHS or has a medical insurance before he treats him? Do we allow people to live outside because they are not working? Did not their disadvantage makes us compassionate and help them. Are not the needy in our society allocated with resources? Therefore give God at least a goodness we possess. We being evil we know how to care for our society and our loved ones. Would a God that is love can be kind, good and able, enough to give us what we need when we need it? When you believe this no distance and no resistance would deter you from receiving the things you require to live the decent life God ordained for you.

I wonder why the world cannot fathom why a loving God allows so much suffering. They are right to ask so? If HE is able, willing and good, how come? When Jesus was on earth He healed the sick, fed the hungry delivered the tormented. Jesus passed the torch to us and creation groans for the revelation of the sons of God. We are the light of the world. Without our light the world is grabbling in the dark.

For those who are struggling in faith give God the least amount of goodness and willingness, you showed to others knowingly and unknowingly. And ask God to meet you at your level. This is great faith. In other point, do not let the do and do not’s of God's law cloud the goodness, graciousness and mercy of God. The most blinded people in seeing Christ were the Pharisees who knew the Bible inside out. That is why more of the ordinary people believed in him than the section of the Pharisees. Even bewilderingly it is those who are outside of the faith showed great faith. So let us study the Bible to know Him.

The greatness of your faith can be revealed by the persistence, determination and the answers you give despite the contrary voices. Do not worry if it is God's will or not. If it is a need, it is God's will. So do not stop banging on heaven's door. God has an ear and heaven is listening admiring your faith. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses David all the prophets are marvelling at the dent you made on heaven's doors and windows so far.  You've made a great dent. If it took longer or God seems to ignore you, it is because for the testimony of your great faith that is marked by unrelenting request. Maybe God knows you have it in you the flair that breaks the windows of heaven. Maybe God wanted for a change the faith of his children to gate-crash heaven and took what they desire. Or as usual, he is thinking bigger than you thought and expanding you at the same time. Maybe the saints in heaven are saying send him or her away. He or she is disturbing heaven and cramping our style. Perhaps you are going viral in Heaven. There are many heavenly could of witnesses and fans, who did it before you, cheering you on not to give up. Knowing your persistence is only increasing the quality and amount of your breakthrough. Soon or later all heaven will cheer you and be relieved to see you run with the answers to your prayers and the highest commendation God can give you. What a great faith!