Such Great Faith

by Pastor Mark
May 01, 2025

 

The challenge to build our faith

Over the last two months, we have learnt the need to build our faith. Only two people were commended for their great faith as the Lord Jesus interacted with His disciples and others. Many were found still struggling with their lack of faith. We also realise how weak our faith is. These are some lessons that have challenged me to strengthen my faith further.

1. A change of character

  1. The Roman centurion was commended for having great faith (Matthew 8:5–10).
  2. His faith was reflected by the tremendous change in his character.
  3. As a centurion, he would have been a courageous and hardened soldier who had killed in battle before.
  4. But as he sought help for his sick slave, he revealed a heart filled with love and concern.
  5. He regarded his slave as dear to him and sought the Lord Jesus for His healing.
  6. He regarded the Jews and cared for them by building a synagogue for their worship.
  7. The centurion showed deep regard for the Lord Jesus as he felt unworthy of Him coming to his house.
  8. He recognised the Lord’s authority as the Lord only had to say the word and his slave would be healed.
  9. Let us be challenged to see changes in our character and life as we seek to grow our faith.

2. Strength

  1. When John the Baptizer was in prison and had doubts about the Lord Jesus, the Lord sent words of encouragement to him (Matthew 11:7–8).
  2. The Lord helped John to deal with his doubts and become stronger in faith and life.
  3. The Lord saw John not as a reed that was shaken by the wind…he was far stronger.
  4. John was not like rich people who wore soft garments…he was far tougher.
  5. Let us be challenged to build a faith that helps us to be stronger and more resilient through the challenges of life and ministry.

3. Not to overreach

  1. When the Lord Jesus appeared to the disciples as they struggled on their boat against the strong winds and waves, they were fearful as they thought He was a ghost (Matthew 14:22–33).
  2. The Lord had to reveal to them who He was.
  3. But Peter overreached by asking the Lord Jesus to command him to come.
  4. None of the other disciples asked for this to be done for them.
  5. Peter thought he had enough faith to walk on the water, but he failed.
  6. Let us guard against overreaching, as we may not have a faith strong enough to sustain us.

4. Nothing is impossible

When a distraught father sought help from the Lord Jesus concerning his demonised son, he mentioned that the Lord Jesus’s disciples could not cure him (Matthew 17:14–21). The Lord gave a strong rebuke to all that they were a “faithless and perverse generation”. The disciples were not able to deal with the problem with faith. Their unbelief caused them to be weak and ineffective in ministry. The challenge of the Lord Jesus was to have faith like a mustard seed. A little true faith has great potential and can “move” mountains, as nothing will be impossible with God.

Let us be challenged to build a greater and stronger faith that can help us overcome the difficult challenges of life and ministry.

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