Over the last two weeks, we’ve learned that fear is a sign that our love relationship with Jesus is not complete. We have also seen that fear brings punishment, and we’ve learned that the cure for fear is faith. Faith in the Lover of our souls. But what, really, IS faith?
I believe that the answer to this question is multi-faceted. If you read the Hebrews 11 you see numerous examples and definitions of faith (Click here for lessons on Faith from Hebrews 11), but one definition that recently struck me broad-sided comes from Jesus’ ministry here on Earth.
Jesus and his disciples had just entered Capernaum when they were approached by a centurion. A centurion was not a Jew, but rather a roman commanding officer in charge of up to 80 roman soldiers. This was not someone who you would expect to even believe in Jesus, but he did believe, as is illustrated by the fact that he brought the problem to Jesus’ attention: “‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.'” (Matt 8:6)
But this roman officer further expresses his belief in Jesus by his response to Jesus’ offer to go and heal his servant: “Lord, I do not deserve 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 this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matt 8:7-9)
What is the centurion saying here? He’s saying that he is familiar enough with authority to know that when you have authority over someone or something, all you have to do to control what or who you have authority over is to speak! He’s saying that because Jesus has authority over illness, all he needs to do is speak and the servant will be healed, and in so doing, he acknowledged Jesus’ authority over all things!
Note Jesus’ response: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matt 8:10) Jesus is taking the centurion’s acknowledgement of His authority as a statement of faith!
And the result? “And his servant was healed at that very hour.” (Matt 8:13b)
We often find ourselves in similar situations today. These may be big things such as illness, debt, or loss of jobs, homes, or families. Or these things may be smaller things, such as sending us help when we are overwhelmed or in over our heads, or providing time to accomplish everything, even when there is humanly no time at all. It doesn’t matter how big or small the situation. What matters is simply this: Do we truly believe that God has the authority over our problems, whatever they may be?
We must remember several Biblical Truths. The first is that God sees the beginning from the end, the end from the beginning. Whatever it is we are going through, He knew from the beginnings of time that we would go through it. And where He knows what problems we will find ourselves in, He has also prepared a way out: “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Cor 10:13 NIV)
Secondly, we must remember that God IS all powerful! He DOES have authority over everything on this Earth! “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Col 2:9-11 NIV)
Finally, we must remember that God has promised to supply ALL of our needs: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19 NIV)
So if God has promised to meet all of our needs, if God is the authority over every power and authority, if God has promised to provide a way out, then why shouldn’t we, like the centurion of Capernaum, also stand up and say: “You are a God who has authority over this problem! Just say the word, and the problem will be resolved!”
For when we do, then Jesus can also say of us: “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith …Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” (Matt 8:10, 13a)
In so doing, we will be expressing faith, for faith is the acknowledgement that God has authority over all things!
Now that’s a great definition, but what do you do when you are in a very frightening situation, and when you try to take a stand in faith, it appears that God is asleep? Join us next Saturday for FREEDOM FROM FEAR, Part 4: When God Appears to be Asleep …
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
(To access the entire “Freedom From Fear” mini-series, please click here.)