Luke 7:6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
We all know the story of the Roman centurion who amazed Jesus by his faith. He caused Jesus to state that no person in the whole of Israel had that level of faith which he exercised.
Having more knowledge and understanding of the Bible does help increase faith, but interestingly, faith is not necessarily proportionate to one’s knowledge and understanding. One can have little knowledge and understanding of Scripture, yet exercise great faith. It is the absence of doubt that brings great faith. Jesus gave the example of a mustard seed. It is not the smallest seed, but different to normal seeds because it has no pocket of air within it. Air symbolises doubt (Satan is called the Prince of Air), and thus, if we do not doubt, via faith we can do the unimaginable. Not all can have such faith.
Yesterday, as part of a ministry, I went to help distribute NTs at a fair. Before going, I prayed and asked the Lord if I would meet any sheep there, or only goats. Even though we distribute thousands of scriptures daily, I was told I would meet only 2 who would be the Lord’s disciples.
After going there, I met these 2, and I was sure they were the ones the Lord spoke of. One was a young sister who did not take a copy, for she had one and was reading it daily; then I asked her if she studied it or just read it. I was explaining to her a basic level of how to study it. She had come with a large number of family members, and all of them had moved ahead, leaving her mother, who did not leave her side. She was not concerned about them, nor about her mother, who was trying to pull her but was conscientiously hearing me.
The second person was a brother who had lost one eye and was hard to see with the other. When someone from the ministry offered him a copy of the NT, he told that person he could not read and moved ahead. I immediately asked my colleague why he did not pray for his sight. Then I prayed that the Lord would make the man turn and come back, and instantly he did. I then spoke with him and asked if he would desire to read if he could see. So I made him hold a copy in his hand and pray that he may see to read the NT. While he prayed, we prayed over him. We could see him utterly pleading with the Lord that he desires to read, so to make him able to see better.
The scripture, many are called, but few are chosen, is very true. Many call themselves Christians, but very few truly are. Knowing the ratio between sheep and goats and knowing the state till now, I cannot imagine the later days when things will be opposite; there will be more true Christians than namesake ones. It will fulfil the scripture wherein if someone tries to mislead, that person will be immediately made to shut up.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You, Lord, are Truth and in You is Light. Lord, we pray we understand it is only when we hold on to the Truth that we will manifest great faith. Lord, we pray we clear our doubts by fellowshipping with each other and with Your Spirit so that we have great faith and manifest Your glory for Your Kingdom to come in this world…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Zechariah 13:
3 And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: