Faith Needs this to Work
Lately, we have been examining faith. We have investigated what is faith and whether everyone has faith in God. But today let’s answer this question: how does faith work?
In other words, let’s explain how faith works.
We have already established that our faith towards God is resident in the hearts of Believers and not in Unsaved people. And many examples in the Bible explain this.
Our faith in God could only operate and grow in an environment of love. The love of God.
Therefore, we hear Apostle Paul as he informs us,
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth [anything], nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6).
So, if we are Jews or Gentiles that means nothing only our faith in Jesus Christ matters and it only functions “by love” (Galatians 5:6).
How Does Faith Work for this Man With Leprosy?
Many Christians and far more Unbelievers misunderstand the operation of faith. Mainly because they are confusing the prerequisite to receive from God with how faith works.
Let’s scrutinize three examples to highlight this principle.
As we peruse these examples, see if you could identify what is common among all three incidents?
First, Jesus heals a man of his leprosy.
“When [Jesus] was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him” (Matthew 8:1).
“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).
“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:3).
“And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (Matthew 8:4).
What About the Centurion Explains How Faith Works?
Who heals this “leper”? Jesus did. This sick man believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; therefore, he came by faith “and worshipped him” for his healing (Matthew 8:2).
He had faith in God through Jesus Christ. And this secured his healing from leprosy.
Second, who heals the “Centurion’s” “servant”?
“And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,” (Matthew 8:5).
“Saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented” (Matthew 8:6).
“Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:7).
Why did he receive healing?
Did this sick “servant” receive healing because of his faith or his employer’s faith?
When we understand how faith works, we possess the answers to these questions.
How Does Faith Work for this Soldier With Great Faith?
This Centurion understands the principle of Agency and authority. He was a commander with authority over one hundred soldiers. And he was under authority too.
“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” (Matthew 8:8).
“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 it” (Matthew 8:9).
He understands also that Jesus has authority with God because He sent him.
Faith in Jesus Christ transcends distance. Distance is not an issue!
He knew how faith works. And he had faith in God by Jesus. Jesus explains this below.
“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” (Matthew 8:10).
The Centurion had “great faith” but that couldn’t heal his employee. He had to meet with Jesus. Why? (Matthew 8:10).
How Does Faith Work for these Sick People?
“And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).
“Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matthew 8:1).
Above, note when the “servant” received healing and it should illuminate you of how faith works.
As a result, when we recognize how faith works, we are cognizant that it wasn’t the faith of the Centurion that healed his employee. He required faith in God to receive from Jesus for his worker.
But his faith didn’t heal his “servant”.
Finally, faith works by love. Faith in God surpasses words.
“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever” (Matthew 8:14).
“And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them” (Matthew 8:15).
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t employ words to express our faith in God. But when we understand how faith works, we shall realize that there are no restrictions.
Neither distance nor time or words influence our faith in God.
“When the even was come, they brought unto [Jesus] many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:” (Matthew 8:16).
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17).
CONCLUSION
Who Demonstrates How Faith Works?
We looked at the healing of the man with leprosy. From it, we realize that his faith didn’t heal him. He needs faith in the Lord to obtain it. Additionally, his narrative explains how faith works.
Why was it important for the leper to meet with Jesus Christ?
We could explain that “Lepers” shouldn’t be with the general population. They lived apart from the general population.
They live in isolation. But this leper expressed his faith by coming among the people.
The leper believed that Jesus would heal him and he wouldn’t have to return to living in isolation. He took a great risk in coming forward.
The people could have stoned him to death.
If it were his faith that healed him of leprosy then he could have stayed home and believed in Jesus Christ and received his healing there.
But his coming to Jesus Christ demonstrates for Unbelievers and Christians how faith works.
Next, the visit of the Centurion to Jesus Christ also exposes how faith works.
If it were the Centurion’s faith that healed his employee, why did he have to come to see Jesus in the first place? Couldn’t he stayed by his bedside and believe in Jesus there for his worker’s healing?
Why was it also necessary for the Centurion to meet with Jesus Christ?
In closing, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of fever without her faith in God. She didn’t speak a word to him. She may have been sleeping because of the fever.
However, it was the faith of others why she got her healing according to another Apostle of Jesus Christ.
Additionally, Jesus didn’t say a word to her either. Yet this incident also demonstrates how faith works.
Jesus Must be Present
It’s very apparent why Peter’s mother-in-law couldn’t visit Jesus. She was sick in bed. Nevertheless, it’s of equal importance, as it was with the “leper” and the Centurion’s servant, to comprehend why she too had to meet with Jesus Christ.
Friends and brethren, we have started on a quest to learn, how does faith work? However, we found that it functions by love when Jesus is present.
The Bible explains: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
So, we need faith in God to receive anything from Him. However, it’s the faith of the “Instrument” that He’s using which amply explains and demonstrates how faith works.
This was the reason the “leper”, the Centurion, and Peter’s mother-in-law had an encounter with Jesus Christ.
Finally, who better demonstrates how faith works, the person-in-need, or the “Instrument” of faith that God uses?
How does faith work for you?
If you desire the details on this then read “Living Soul: In The Image of God”.
