“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23.
What is faith? Again we go to the dictionary to get a definition. “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth.
Certainly Jesus exhibited that kind of faith when He said “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34. David said in Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
Again Jesus said, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak, And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” John 12:49-50.
You recall the story of the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She determined that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment she would be well. When she did that and was healed, Jesus said to her, “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well.” Matt. 9:22
I recall a time years ago when I was experiencing some anxiety and I prayed for the faith of this dear woman who only wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. I continued in prayer for quite awhile continuing to tell the Lord I was reaching out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing. I was persistent in my prayer until I felt a calmness come over me – healing in answer to my prayer of faith.
Matthew 9:27-30 records another story of faith. Two blind men came to Jesus asking to be healed. Jesus asked if they believed (had faith) He was able to do it. They gave an immediate affirmative. Verse 29 says, “Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’” The next verse goes on to say their eyes were opened.
Then there was the centurion whose beloved servant was sick unto death. He had heard of Jesus and sent elders of the Jews to Jesus pleading for Him to come heal his servant. The Jews begged Jesus earnestly telling Him how much the centurion loves the Jewish nation and how he had financed the building of a synagogue. Not far from the centurion’s house, he sent friends out to meet Jesus telling Him not to trouble Himself with coming to his house because he was not worthy for Jesus to enter his abode. He described how he was also a man of authority and when he commanded, it was done. He had faith in the authority of Jesus. Jesus’ response to this humble centurion was, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” Luke 7:9. You can read the entire story in verses 1 through 10.
Luke 17:11-19 tells the story of the ten lepers who asked Jesus to heal them. As you recall, only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
“We must cherish and cultivate the faith of which prophets and apostles have testified—the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and waits for deliverance in His appointed time and way. “ Prophets and Kings, pg. 387
My Father and My God, May I exercise the faith of Jesus today, believing His Word and relying on His promises. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.
