O Ye of Little Faith

“And he saith unto them, why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

There is no one who wants to have little faith. We want to have faith that can move mountains as Jesus said in Matthew chapter 17, verse 20. However, in Matthew chapter 8, verse 26, we have Jesus rebuking the winds and the sea. Can we rebuke the winds and the sea? The answer is yes, if we have faith. The whole chapter of Matthew eight is about the authority of the Lord to heal, cast out demons and still the winds and waves. If you have not read chapter eight of Matthew, I would encourage you to do so. If your faith is little, then read the word of God to enlarge your faith.

“So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

You might say that if you lack faith, you are not reading or hearing the word of God. It is the word that gives us the foundation to live out our life. It is the anchor that holds us in place to the promises of God. Those promises will last forever as it states in Isaiah chapter 40, verse 8, “The grass withered, the flower faded: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” Many people simply marveled and questioned about what Jesus did, but they could not believe. Can we believe or have faith in what Jesus did. Can we do what Jesus did? The answer is yes, if you have faith. Jesus gave us the power to pray in His name and ask Him for anything, and He will do it.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

Listen to what the centurion said, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed,” [see Matthew 8:8]. Wow! That servant was healed. The centurion understood the meaning of authority since he had soldiers under his authority. Authority is the belief that God has absolute power and that He is the source of all power. Through Jesus name, we have the right or responsibility to do something by exercising authority through prayer and asking for anything such as healing.

We tend to limit ourselves when it comes to our faith in God. We have reasons for not acting in faith and this limits us from doing what God wants us to do. Sometimes even I forget that He has given the authority to rebuke pain, disease, and depression. Jesus healed, cast out demons, and rebuke the wind and sea. He is our example, and He did what the Father told him to do. We as His children should follow in the same course and become doers of the word.

We hear the word to gain faith. When faith has built up within our hearts, we begin to act it out.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

The centurion was acting out his faith by saying ‘just speak the word,” and my servant shall be healed. How did he know that his servant would be healed? He must have heard about the acts of Jesus and believed that He is the son of God. The word of God is full of prophecies and promises. One of the prophecies concerned with sickness stated, “He himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses,” [see Matthew 8:17]. This verse was prophesied by Isaiah. It was fulfilled through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus healed all who were sick. The disciples went about doing the same as Jesus did.

Today, the elders are called to pray, anoint with oil in the name of the Lord, for the healing of sickness [see James 5:14]. Now, look at the next verse that states, “the prayer of faith shall save the sick,” [James 5:15]. The prayer of faith is what will save the sick. If no one comes to pray for you, you can pray yourself for healing of your own sicknesses. Remember that Jesus himself bore your sickness so, you do not have to bear it any longer. Speak the word and you shall be healed. This is what the centurion did, and Jesus was so surprised at what He heard that He said,

“Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matthew 8:10

Jesus was astonished at the faith of the centurion. Will He be astonished at your faith or will you hear “O ye of little faith.” It is time to act out your faith in the name of Jesus. I have heard how the prayers of people have even saved them from impending storms. We have authority in the name of Jesus to rebuke sicknesses and the wind in the storm. Act in faith and see it come to past in the name of Jesus.