The previous message examined expressions of Negotiated Faith. Continuing the series on biblical expressions of faith in God, this message looks at ‘RELATIONAL FAITH’. It illustrates how people in diverse relationships have used their own faith to bring deliverance to others and to the ultimate faith relation with God in the Spirit by the gift of Salvation.
This Part examines the Centurion’s Faith in the ‘word’ that heals his servant, a father’s faith in Jesus that delivers his demon-possessed son and Cornelius’ devout faith in God that gains Salvation to his household. It also provides guidance on enhancing ‘relational faith’ including ways to claim deliverance from bondage for others namely overcoming “unbelief”, having “mustard seed” Faith and Authority of word, Prayer and Fasting and the gift of salvation.
1. THE CENTURION’S FAITH HEALS HIS SERVANT
A Centurion had a servant that was very sick with palsy and ready to die. When he heard of Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews who knew of his good works to entreat Jesus on behalf of his servant to heal him (Matthew 8:5-6; Luke 7:1-3). How did the Centurion express his faith for his servant’s healing?
When Jesus offered to come with the elders to his home to heal the servant the Centurion said he did not consider himself worthy that Jesus should come under his roof; neither did he feel worthy to go to meet Jesus. So he asked Jesus to “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed”(Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:6-8).
He compared the authority in “the word” of Jesus to himself having soldiers under him that would obey his orders (Matthew 8:9; Luke 7:8). Jesus marvelled at his analogy and said “… I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel”. He then told him, “go thy way…as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee”. The Centurion’s servant was healed in the same hour (Matthew 8:10&13; Luke 7:9-10).
This faith would manifest in situations where one desires Godly intervention to heal someone close to you, and you hear of a minister of God and you believe in the power of God’s word as oppose to physical contact with the person, the institution or doctrines built around that minister.
2. A MAN’S FAITH DELIVERS HIS DEMON-POSSESSED SON
