TEXT: Matthew 8:8-10 KJVS
[8] The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
[9] For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth.
[10] When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
We looked at feeding your faith with God’s word yesterday as to increasing it. Let me quickly add that you read, study and intake the word in line with direction of where you want to build your faith. For instance, focus more on healing scriptures when you are building faith on divine Health and Healings, etc.
2. Exercise your faith by putting it into practice.
Adequate knowledge of who and what you are dealing with is a key factor in putting your faith to work. The raw material of effective faith is God’s eternal word that cannot fail because He Himself is backing up the word. Acting on the word is trusting on God’s ability. ( Ps. 138:2 ) Though your senses may not trust the word, your spirit should respond blindly to it. Only that you should be diligent enough to understand the working concept of the word. That is why you need to start out your faith from where you are per time. The previous record of your faith exploits will act as a boost for the new venture of faith. He that was faithful before will not fail now because the situation requires more resources. The faith that worked when the project was small will also work for the big ones if you remove your gaze from the projects and fix it always on Him. David told Saul that God that gave him victory over lion and bear would cause gigantic Goliath to come down. The situations are actually different but the operators are the same – God and your faith. Acting on faith is risky but quite safe and productive at the end. The project of any form that didn’t shake your mind may not bring promotion to you in life. Many of us are still small because we failed to respond to faith projects in our lives.
Do not believe beyond your faith so that you won’t crash land. If you have never trusted God for your faith to produce N500,000, then be cautious in using it for N5,000,000. Grow in your faith when you have mastered how He works it out for you.
From our main text, the Centurion understood perfectly how authorities flow. He knew Jesus is the head of all powers – positive and negative. As far as he was concerned, Jesus’ physical presence was immaterial. His word carried the same power as His person. The barrier of unworthiness of his house according to Jewish culture would not deprived his servant getting healed. He knew His word carried power. And his servant was healed the self same hour. Jesus commended his faith as so great even before the servant was confirmed healed. Faith is a deal done immediately you thrusted out your belief. Do not doubt even when you have not seen physical changes, there is a time lag between when you believed and when you receive! Your activities should not negate your believes as you wait to see manifestations, the end of your faith.
Mark 11:22-23 KJVS
[22] And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
[23] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Keep acting and waiting for your answer to manifest. Know that God does not cancel what He said even if the situation does not look like it, but He upgrades your instructions to fit into current situations.
NB: Review the assignment I gave you yesterday and check where you have faulted faith in the journey. Trace your steps back by faith.