GREAT FAITH

Two people received the great faith commendation in scripture. And it was directly from the mouth of Jesus Himself. Some things were common about these two people.

1. Both were cases of intercession. They were using their faith to save others. The Centurion came to intercede for his servant who was being tormented by the devil. While the woman came to intercede for her daughter who was also being tormented by the devil.

2. Both of them were motivated by great love for their wards.

3. In both instances Jesus recognized their faith through their spoken words. 

THE CENTURION

"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 CYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH: be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." (Matthew 15:28).

Jesus actually recognized her great faith in what she said. We get that complete picture from the gospel of Mark. 

"And he said unto her, FOR THIS SAYING go your way; the devil is gone out of your daughter." (Mark 7:29).

4. What was peculiar about their faith? 

Their faith was anchored absolutely on the supreme POWER and AUTHORITY of the SPOKEN WORD of Christ.

FROM THE CENTURION

"The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: but SPEAK THE WORD ONLY, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under AUTHORITY, having soldiers under me: and I SAY to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it." (Matthew 8:8-9).

THE CYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN

"But Jesus answered and said, It is not meet to take the CHILDREN'S BREAD, and to cast it to dogs.

AND SHE SAID, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of THE CRUMBS which fall from their masters' table." (Matthew 15:26-27).

O this woman's faith is great indeed. Jesus was, in fact, telling her that her daughter wasn't qualified to be healed. But she latched on to the spoken words of Christ and drew virtue to heal her daughter. She helped Jesus to fulfill His ministry without violating the covenant. Look at the substance of what she said.

"Lord, by the power and authority of your own spoken word, there is also now enough virtue in the crumbs of the bread to heal my daughter. Let her eat the crumbs then. Don't deny her the crumbs."

She wasn't in an identity or status contest with the children. She only wanted healing for her daughter. Jesus couldn't deny that there is power in the crumbs, neither could He deny her daughter the crumbs.  

5. There was no talk about sin and forgiveness here for both sick people. Their faith in Jesus Christ also took care of their sin. They recognized that because Christ was authorized by God; He was powerful enough to forgive and heal at the same time. Sometimes an endless cry for forgiveness of sin is a sign of unbelief. And it is because we don't know the scope of Christ's authority. Listen to what He said at the healing of the paralytic man.

"But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to FORGIVE SINS, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house." (Matthew 9:6).

Why did Jesus address forgiveness directly in this instance? He recognized that the root of the paralytic man's sickness was condemnation from sin. Even though he believed Jesus could heal him he was afraid that his sin might hinder him. Otherwise"Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house" should have been enough without first telling him that his sin has been forgiven. When God speaks peace to His children He has also taken care of their sin.

WHAT THEN IS GREAT FAITH?

It is the faith that BELIEVES IN and DECLARES the absolute power and authority in the word to deliver the miracle desired. Once the word of God is located, great faith declares that it is enough to deliver the victory needed. Great faith believes and declares that there is no sin, no circumstance and no authority powerful enough to stop the word of Christ from coming to pass.