The Great Faith Of The Centurion In Capernaum
Matthew 8:5-13 reads,
8:5
When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, 8:6and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented."8:7
Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."8:8
The centurion answered, "Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."8:10
When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most assuredly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel. 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven, 8:12but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth." 8:13Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour.On Account Of His Faith The Non-Israelite Centurion Was Categorised With The Righteous
The centurion believed in Yah'shuah and also that Yah'shuah had great authority, including authority to command that a sick person be healed and that sick person being healed, without Yah'shuah being present with the sick person. Because the centurion believed in Yah'shuah it was reckoned to him as righteousness. He was therefore categorised in the same group of other faithful and righteous people before him, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, those who will be in the kingdom of heaven.
Believe That Yah'shuah Has Great Authority
It is therefore instructive and imperative for us to believe in Yah'shuah and that he has great authority, even as he says in Matthew 28:18-20,
28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 28:19Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."We should therefore abide in Yah'shuah's word, submitting to him fully, seeing that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him by Father Yahweh. And by so believing Yah'shuah and abiding in his word, it will be reckoned to us as righteousness, even as it was for Abraham. This will facilitate our being granted entry into the kingdom of heaven, a gift and privilege not accorded to the unbelieving and the unsubmissive.
Matthew 9:27-30 reads,
9:27
As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, "Have mercy on us, son of David!"9:28
When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"They told him, "Yes, Lord."
9:29
Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." 9:30Their eyes were opened.The opening of the eyes of the blind men shows us how POWERFUL faith is. For the blind men were established in their sight by believing that Yahweh, through his servant Yah'shuah, had power and authority to open their eyes. And that belief was reckoned to them as righteousness, and their eyes were opened.
Believe In Yahweh And Yah'shuah
We should likewise believe in Yahweh and in his Son Yah'shuah the Christ. We should also believe that Yahweh has given Yah'shuah all authority in heaven and on earth, such that Yah'shuah has power and authority to do all that he desires in heaven and on earth. Therefore, when we make him a request that is in harmony with his will, a request that does not violate his will, and believe that he has power to fulfil it, he will indeed fulfil it.
Yahweh Does Not Do Many Mighty Works Where Unbelief Reigns
Matthew 13:54-58 reads,
13:54
Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so much that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works? 13:55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 13:56Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?" 13:57They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house." 13:58He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.Where unbelief reigns, Yahweh does not do many mighty works. But where belief reigns, Yahweh does many mighty works. We should therefore believe in Yahweh and in his Son Yah'shuah that they may do many mighty works in the domains we operate in.
Praying And Fasting Facilitates The Increase Of One's Faith
Matthew 17:14-21 reads,
17:14
When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling to him, saying, 17:15"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 17:16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him."17:17
Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me." 17:18Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.17:19
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why weren't we able to cast it out?"17:20
He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 17:21But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting."Again Yah'shuah reiterates that where faith or belief reigns many mighty works are done. But where faith or belief is lacking mighty works are not done.
Performing Mighty Works Requires Sufficient Faith
The reason why Yah'shuah's disciples did not succeed in doing the mighty work that was requested of them was because they did not have sufficient faith. In other words, particular mighty works require the possession of faith or belief of a given degree.
Why Yah'shuah's Disciples Lacked Sufficient Faith
Why didn't Yah'shuah's disciples have the requisite amount of faith or belief needed to perform the mighty work requested of them?
Because they had not been praying and fasting sufficiently. In other words, to possess adequate amounts of faith or belief to perform mighty works one must be praying and fasting appropriately. For it is through prayer and fasting that one is granted the gift of sufficient faith to perform mighty works. We should therefore be praying and fasting in good measure that we may be granted the requisite faith or belief to facilitate our performing many mighty works for Yahweh and Yah'shuah.
Those Who Cause Believers In Yah'shuah To Stumble Will Be Cast Into Eternal Fire
Matthew 18:1-11 reads,
18:1
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"18:2
Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them, 18:3and said, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 18:4Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 18:5Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.18:7
"Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. 18:10See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 18:11For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.There is a great penalty to be paid by those who cause people who believe in Yah'shuah to stumble, that is to stop believing in him. Such people will be cast into the eternal fire, the Gehenna of fire.
Remedy For Dealing With Those Who Cause Believers In Yah'shuah To Stumble
Yah'shuah gives his disciples a remedy for dealing with those who cause people who believe in him to stumble. Such people through whom occasions of stumbling come must be cast out from Yah'shuah's body, the assembly of Yah'shuah's disciples. And if Yah'shuah's disciples do not heed Yah'shuah in this matter, tolerating in their midst those through whom occasions of stumbling come, then both will be cast into the eternal fire. Yes - if Yah'shuah's disciples tolerate apostasy in their midst then they cease to be Yah'shuah's disciples and will be cast into the eternal fire! We must therefore not tolerate apostasy in our midst, but should remove those bringing it about.
Matthew 21:17-22 reads,
21:17
He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. 21:18Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. 21:19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, "Let there be no fruit from you forever!"Immediately the fig tree withered away. 21:20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"
21:21
Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done. 21:22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."Faith or belief is POWERFUL. For by it the Father facilitates our performing for him mighty works.
It Is The Father Who Performs The Works
It should be remembered that it is the Father who does these works, and not the humans through whom the works are performed. For when Moses and Aaron did not glorify or sanctify Yahweh in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Yahweh deemed it unbelief on the part of both Moses and Aaron. Therefore, when in faith or belief the Father performs mighty works through us, we should give glory to the Father and sanctify him in the presence of all who witness the mighty works that he does through us. In this manner they will both believe in the Father and in his Son, Yah'shuah, and also believe their words, living according to them.
Believe Those Who Come In The Way Of Righteousness
Matthew 21:23-32 reads,
21:23
When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"21:24
Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?"They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet." 21:27They answered Jesus, and said, "We don’t know."
He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 21:29He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he repented himself, and went. 21:30He came to the second, and said likewise. He answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he didn’t go. 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?"
They said to him, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the kingdom of God before you. 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
Jehoshaphat said in 2 Chronicles 20:20 that we should believe Yahweh, that we may be established, and we should believe his prophets, that we may prosper. By the chief priests and elders of the people not believing Yahweh's prophet John they failed to be established and failed to prosper. But the tax collectors and prostitutes who believed John were surely established and prospered. For these who believed John have been granted entry into the Almighty's kingdom, while those who did not believe him have not been so granted!
Don't Believe Everyone Who Professes To Come In The Way Of Righteousness
Matthew 24:22-30 reads,
24:22
Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened.24:23
"Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. 24:24For there will arise false Christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.24:25
"Behold, I have told you beforehand. 24:26If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it. 24:27For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 24:28For wherever the carcass is, there will the vultures be gathered together. 24:29But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 24:30and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.Yah'shuah teaches his disciples not to believe everything that they hear. In other words, he teaches them not to be simple, for Proverbs 14:15 reads,
14:15
The simple believes everything,In prudence they should carefully consider their ways, including whether or not they should believe a report to the effect that the Son of Man has returned.
False Servants Of Yahweh Also Perform Signs And Wonders
Yah'shuah reminds his disciples that just as there are true servants of Yahweh there are also false servants of Yahweh. And just as true servants of Yahweh are sometimes given signs to perform, that those who witness those signs may believe that they are indeed Yahweh's servants, and believe Yahweh and his words, so also the case with false servants. For false servants of Yahweh are sometimes given signs to perform that those witnessing those signs may believe their message, whatever their false message is.
The Voice Of Signs Does Not Irrefutably Confirm Truth
In this it should be clear that the performance of signs is NOT a foolproof method of ascertaining who is or who is not a true servant of Yahweh. For just as true servants of Yahweh perform signs for the glorification and sanctification of Yahweh, so also do false servants perform signs, for their own glorification and that of their false master. Therefore, the performance of signs does not prove an issue one way or another.
How Matters Should Be Ascertained
So how should matters be proved or ascertained?
In 2 Chronicles 20:20 Jehoshaphat says,
believe in Yahweh your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.
And Yah'shuah, Yahweh's prophet, has already told his disciples what will happen beforehand, such that when the false voices and signs supporting the false voices go out, his disciples should not believe these false voices. For they should believe only Yahweh and his words through his prophets. And Yahweh's word is that Yah'shuah will come visibly and publicly, as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen even to the west. Yah'shuah has also informed his disciples of other heavenly signs that will take place immediately prior to his coming. Yah'shuah's disciples should therefore believe Yah'shuah, and should not succumb to believing false voices, irrespective of the impressive signs that they will perform.
Believe The Gospel Of The Kingdom Of Yahweh
Mark 1:14-15 reads,
1:14
Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 1:15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the gospel."To be established and to prosper, even as the tax collectors and prostitutes who repented at the preaching of John the Baptist, one must believe the gospel of the kingdom of the Almighty.
The Power Of Faith In The Lives Of Jairus And The Woman With A Haemorrhage
Mark 5:21-43 reads,
5:21
When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. 5:22Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 5:23and begged him much, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live."5:24
He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 5:25A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years, 5:26and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, 5:27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. 5:28For she said, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well." 5:29Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.5:30
Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"5:31
His disciples said to him, "You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’"5:32
He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 5:33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease."5:35
While he was still speaking, they came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"5:36
But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don’t be afraid, only believe." 5:37He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 5:38He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 5:39When he had entered in, he said to them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep."5:40
They laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child and her mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. 5:41Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha cumi;" which means, being interpreted, "Young lady, I tell you, get up." 5:42Immediately the young lady rose up, and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. 5:43He charged them much that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.These two cases, that of the woman with the haemorrhage, and that of Jairus' daughter, demonstrate the POWER of faith or belief. For when the sick woman believed that she would be cured upon touching Yah'shuah's clothes, even though she had not made herself known to Yah'shuah, and Yah'shuah was not aware of the matter prior to its happening, it was indeed done! And also, when Jairus believed that Yah'shuah would indeed raise his daughter from death back to life, it was indeed done!
It appears that there are spiritual laws that operate with respect to faith or belief. Such that those who believe in Yahweh and in Yah'shuah see the fulfilment of their requests when they make those requests in faith or belief, and in a manner in harmony with Yahweh's will. Faith in Yah'shuah facilitates the performance of many mighty works, including healing the sick and raising the dead to life.
Unbelief Thwarts The Performance Of Yahweh's Mighty Works
Mark 6:1-6 reads,
6:1
He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 6:2When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 6:3Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?" They were offended by him.6:4
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house." 6:5He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them. 6:6He marveled because of their unbelief.It appears to me that the few sick folk whom Yah'shuah healed in his own country were those who believed, seeing that the majority did not believe in him.
All Things Are Possible To Him Who Believes
Mark 9:17-29 reads,
9:17
One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 9:18and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able."9:19
He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me."9:20
They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.9:21
He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?"He said, "From childhood. 9:22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."
9:23
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."9:24
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"9:25
When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him!"9:26
Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, "He is dead." 9:27But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.9:28
When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn’t we cast it out?" 9:29He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."Yah'shuah's words in 9:23 note that ALL THINGS are possible to him who believes. This is the POWER of faith or belief.
Those With Insufficient Belief Should Ask For Help With Their Unbelief
The reaction of the father of the child in 9:24 should also be noted. He recognised his unbelief, but did not want to remain in it. He therefore asked Yah'shuah to help his unbelief, for he believed sufficiently that Yah'shuah had power to help those who do not believe to believe.
We should therefore ask Yahweh, through his Son Yah'shuah, to help our unbelief. This they do by giving us the gift of faith or belief, that we may both believe them and believe in them. To so make this request we must believe sufficiently that both Yahweh and Yah'shuah have sufficient power and authority to help our unbelief by giving us the gift of belief.
Those Who Cause Believers In Yah'shuah To Stumble
Mark 9:42-48 reads,
9:42
Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 9:43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, 9:44‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 9:45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched — 9:46‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 9:47If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, 9:48‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’Mark 11:12-14, 19-24 reads,
11:12
The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. 11:13Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 11:14Jesus told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his disciples heard it.11:19
When evening came, he went out of the city. 11:20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 11:21Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away."11:22
Jesus answering said to them, "Have faith in God. 11:23For most assuredly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says happens; he shall have whatever he says. 11:24Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.Yah'shuah here taught his disciples the source of power facilitating the performance of various works - the Almighty. For it is the Almighty that they should believe in or have faith in. For the Almighty is the most powerful entity anywhere, and none can deliver out of his hand, nor can any hinder what he purposes to do, even as he mentioned in Isaiah 43:13.
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