In the last gem we saw what it means to live from "faith to faith", the process of continual growth as God daily imparts to us His power and grace. Today we will look more closely at Faith. What is it? How do we exercise it?

How important do you think it is to have faith? Let's see what the Bible says.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

Doesn't this text show how very essential faith is! Indeed it's impossible for us to please God without it.
When we come to Jesus asking for help, God will answer our prayer according to our faith.

...According to your faith be it unto you. - Matthew 9:29

So we must conclude that faith is essential.

Now if faith is so important, shouldn't it be vital for us to understand what it is, and how we are to use it? Yes, so let's dig into God's word to find the answers.

There is a beautiful story in Matthew chapter 8. of a man who comes to Jesus and presents a request. Jesus marvels at what the man said, and declared that in all of Israel (a nation who professed to follow Christ) He had not found so great faith as this! Let's read these verses and find out just what is this "great faith".

Note: (a centurion is a Roman military officer who commands a hundred men)

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest 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 goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].
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 8:5-10

Do you think Jesus answered the request of the centurion who had this great faith? Yes! As we read in verse 13:

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. - Matthew 8:13

What an amazing story! What did the centurion do that showed his "great faith"? How can we exercise this same faith in our own lives?

Well, take another look at the verses above, note the words of the centurion. First he said "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof". This is the first step, the centurion could have been a very proud man with all his authority to order soldiers etc.., but no, he had learnt the blessed lesson of humility.

Now what did he say next? "speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed".
What did the centurion expect would heal his servant? - it was "the word only". He had full confidence that if Jesus would only speak the words, then his servant would be healed. He expected the word, and depended on the word only to accomplish what it said. When the words of Jesus came back to him "so be it done unto thee" did he look to anything else to heal his servant? No, but with full assurance that the word would accomplish what it said, he went on his way, and his servant was healed exactly at that moment.

Jesus calls this, "great faith"!

So now, dear reader, what is faith? It is to completely and entirely depend on God's word to and God's word alone to accomplish what it says.

How then can we make this practical to our lives?

Take time every day to read God's word. In it you will find an abundant supply of promises, perfectly suited to give us power, peace and victory over sin. Read the wonderful promises of forgiveness and power in 1 John, and indeed throughout all the Bible, and as you read these promises, kneel and pray to God in humility, sincerely asking Him to fulfil them in your life. Then rise from your knees with full assurance of faith that God's powerful word will accomplish what it says. Don't depend on your feelings, which can often lead us astray, but depend wholly on the sure word of God.

As we do this, and exercise our faith in God's promises, our faith will grow. Just like the muscles in our body grow with use, so our faith will grow and expand. God will fulfil His promises, and we will continue from "from faith to faith".

Faith can be summed up like this: God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!

Let's finish with this beautiful quotation.

As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command, may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. - Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 333