Matthew 8:8, 10 (NKJV) The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed…. When Jesus heard it, He marvelled and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
From the above verses, we learn that the way to please God is through faith and what is great faith. The Centurion understood that his words of instruction carry power because of the vested authority given to him. Likewise, Jesus, having the authority as the Son of God, has power in His Word. Therefore, all the Centurion asked was for Jesus to say the Word. Jesus didn’t need to be in his home and for him to witness the miracle because the Centurion had faith in the authority of Jesus’ Word!
Faith is established when the Word of God is spoken and we take His Word for it. God and His Word are one. Therefore, He backs up every Word He has spoken and watches over it to perform it in your life. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so faith will continue to grow as we listen to His Word because it gives substance to our faith. Things are done when Jesus speaks. We believe He will make good what He has spoken, even though we have not seen it yet.
Faith is the essence of trusting the Lord with all our hearts, leaning not on our understanding, but in all our ways acknowledging that He will make the path straight after He has spoken to you. Faith believes God is whatever the Word says He is. Faith believes He is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him, but the key is to diligently seek him. We cannot have faith in God apart from God’s written Word, which reveals His will, and God speaks to us personally.
We need to develop our “faith” muscle by exercising faith in the little things and believing in God for great things. Faith is found in the heart, or spirit man, and not in the mind, but the renewal of the mind will make faith in God easier. A mind that is not renewed with the Word hinders our faith in God.
Situations and circumstances always seem impossible whenever God asks us to do something. Thus, we need faith to trust in Him. When we have sought the Lord, and He has spoken to us, it gives substance to our faith, and we can be sure that we have received what He has promised us. Once faith is obtained from the Word, God’s grace will be present in our hearts to hold on until the promise comes to pass. We need faith and patience.
Sermon Series: Growing Your Faith in God (Part 2)
何谓信心
马太福音8:8,10 百夫长回答说，主啊，你到我舍下，我不敢当；只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好了。耶稣听见就希奇，对跟从的人说：“我实在告诉你们，这么大的信心，就是在以色列中，我也没有遇见过！
从上面的经文中，我们得知取悦上帝的方式是通过信心，那么何谓伟大的信心？百夫长明白自己发出的命令具有能力，是因为他所既得的权力。同样，耶稣,拥有作为神的儿子的权柄，祂的话语有能力。因此，百夫长所要求耶稣的只是话语。耶稣不需要去到他家里，让他见证奇迹，因为百夫长对耶稣的话语的权柄有信心！
当上帝的话语被说出，我们也接受他的话语时，信心就被建立了。上帝和祂的话语是一体的。因此，祂支持祂说过的每一句话，并守护它，让它实现在你的生命中。信道来自于听上帝的话语，所以当我们听祂的话语时，信心就会不断成长，因为这给我们的信心以实质。耶稣说了，事就成了。我们相信祂会实现祂所说的话，即使我们还没有看见。
信心是我们全心信任上帝的要素，不是依靠我们的理解，而是以我们所有的方式承认，祂在对你说话之后，就会修直你的道路。信心就是相信上帝圣经说祂是什么，祂就是什么。信心相信祂赏赐那些努力寻求祂的人，但关键是必须努力寻求他。离开了上帝已经写就的揭示祂旨意的话语，我们就无法对上帝有信心，且上帝亲自对我们说话。
我们需要在小事上操练信心，并在大事上信靠神，以此来发展壮大我们的“信心”肌肉。信心是在心里（灵人），而不是在头脑里，不过头脑的更新会让我们对神更容易有信心。一个没有被神话语更新的头脑会阻碍基督徒对神的信心。
但凡上帝要求我们做什么时，情况和环境总是貌似不可能。因此，我们需要有信心来信任他。当我们寻求了主，祂也向我们说了话，我们的信心就有了实底，我们可以确信我们已经领受了祂所应许我们的。一旦你从神的话语中获得信心，神的恩典就会彰显在你心里，让你坚持到应许实现。我们需要信心和耐心。
讲章系列：在神里面让信心生发成长 （第二部份）
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