Leckieville Freewill Baptist Church

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Faith

10/05/08 Bro. Bill Moseley

When Jesus came to Capernaum, a man with great authority, a centurion, came to Him with a request for his servant that was very sick of the palsy, very ill. Jesus replied that he would come and heal the servant. In other words, He would come to the centurion’s home and pay them a visit. The centurion told Jesus that he wasn’t worthy to have the Lord in his home. He said “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.“ “When Jesus heard it, he marveled, 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)

This is the faith Jesus looks for in us. Paul defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This centurion had heard of Jesus, maybe even witnessed His miracles. No doubt he had faith that Jesus could heal his servant and approached Jesus with his request. This is faith. This is the hope the centurion had within himself and the request was the evidence.

Paul, in another passage says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Paul feared for the church at Corinth. He feared that many had been deceived. So many had shown themselves to be ignorant of the nature of Christ and His church. It was time to examine the foundation of their hope of their salvation and eternal life. Were they still on the foundation that had been set before them in the beginning, or had they had left the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of God through Him, are the distinguishing characteristics of a true Christian.

“Prove your own selves.” The proof of their faith would involve an examination of their own hearts and lives; a comparison of their own views and feelings on things with the word of God; their standing under various duties and responsibilities of life; their ability to endure affliction or combat errors; and above all, their work toward the conversion of the world.