✨ Great Faith: Christ’s Obedience
Romans 1:16–17 (NKJV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.”
📖 Why What You Hear Matters
The most important part of any service isn’t the worship — it’s the preaching. Why? Because of one promise:
Mark 16:20 (NKJV)
“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying signs.”
The pattern is simple:
🗣️ Word preached → 👂 You hear it → ✋ God confirms it with signs and wonders.
These aren’t natural things — they’re supernatural. A doctor or a workplace might say “this is not possible.” But through Jesus, it is. 🙌
The catch? It only works when you hear the true gospel — not just any random message. So today is about discovering exactly what to focus on. 🎯
🔁 Quick Recap: Love of God vs Love for God
Last time we looked at two men:
| Person | Type of love | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 🧎 John | Love of God (he leaned on Jesus’ chest, resting in being loved) | Lived to old age — never murdered |
| 🔥 Peter | Love for God (his own effort and zeal) | — |
👉 Takeaway: The love of God will always be greater than your love for God. Resting in His love wins. 💛
📊 The Levels of Faith
The Bible describes faith at different levels. Picture praying for a simple headache:
| Level | What it looks like | Time to heal a headache |
|---|---|---|
| 0️⃣ Zero faith | “Maybe God will heal me, maybe not.” | Never sure |
| 1️⃣ Low faith | “If I pray long enough, it’ll happen.” | 🕐 1 hour |
| ⬆️ Higher faith | “Jesus already took my sickness at the cross.” | ⏱️ 5 minutes |
| 🔝 Great faith | “I speak the word — it’s done.” | ⚡ 1 second |
💬 “If you can heal one headache in one second, then in one hour you can heal thousands of headaches.”
This isn’t about praying less — it’s about reaching more people with the same hour. And the good news: faith grows “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). One hour → half an hour → one second. 📈
🤔 The People Jesus Called “Great Faith”
Three people stand out in the Gospels:
- 🩸 The woman with the issue of blood — “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5)
- 🪖 The centurion — “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:5–10)
- 🙏 The Canaanite woman — “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15)
🧩 The Surprising Common Denominator
Here’s the shocker. These people were all non-Jewish, which means:
- ❌ They didn’t read the Bible
- ❌ They didn’t go to the temple/church
- ❌ They likely never prayed in the formal sense
- ❌ They didn’t know the laws, rules, and regulations
…and yet Jesus called their faith great. 😮
So what did they have that the religious crowd didn’t? That’s the secret we’re about to unlock. 🔓
🗝️ The Key: Romans 1:16–17
Four power-words are packed into these two verses:
| 🔑 Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Faith to faith | Faith is meant to grow, level to level |
| Gospel | “Good news” — it should make you happy, not afraid |
| THE power | A definite article — like the sun, the moon. There’s only one power, and it comes from the gospel |
| Salvation | Greek sōtēria — to heal, deliver, protect, and rescue |
⚠️ Highlight: If a message makes you feel fear, guilt, or worry, it isn’t the gospel. Gospel means good news. The real good news is what Jesus did — He took your sickness so you don’t have to carry it.
And note: it’s the righteousness of God that’s revealed — not the righteousness of man.
Romans 5:19 (NKJV)
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
You’re not righteous because of your obedience — but because of His. ✝️
🌟 The 4 Characteristics of Great Faith
Here’s what set those three people apart. 👇
1️⃣ 🏃 They Didn’t Wait for God
We often hear “just wait on God” — but real waiting is Spirit-led activity, not sitting still.
- 🩸 The bleeding woman went and touched Jesus’ garment. She didn’t wait at home.
- 🪖 The centurion said, “Don’t come — just speak the word now.” He wouldn’t wait an hour.
- 🙏 The Canaanite woman wouldn’t even wait for the cross — “I want my blessing now.”
💬 Jesus has already healed, anointed, equipped, empowered, and protected you. Stop waiting for it — go and claim it. 🎁
2️⃣ ⚡ They Knew the Power of God
They believed God’s power was bigger than their own situation:
- 🩸 “If I just touch the hem of His garment, I’ll be healed.”
- 🪖 “Just say one word, and my servant will be healed.”
- 🙏 “Even the crumbs will heal my daughter.”
⚠️ Highlight: If you think your good character unlocks God’s power and your sin blocks it, you’re secretly saying your character is more powerful than God. 😬
But these three all failed the rules — the bleeding woman wasn’t even allowed in public — and still got healed. They trusted His power, not their own worthiness.
“My unworthiness doesn’t stop Your power, because Your power is greater than my unworthiness.” 🙌
3️⃣ ❤️ They Knew the Heart of God
Do you really know how God feels about you? Ask yourself:
- Does God want you to stay sick for a long time? 🤒
- Does He hand out pain and poverty to “train” you? 💔
Matthew 7:11 (NKJV)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
⚠️ Highlight: Even an imperfect earthly father wants good things for his kids. So if you believe God gives you sickness and sorrow to teach you a lesson — you’re indirectly saying God is worse than your worldly father. 😔
These three people fought for their healing as though God were their good Father — because they knew His heart. 💖
4️⃣ ✝️ They Knew the Gospel of God (Not the Rules)
The Bible holds two trees 🌳:
| 🌳 Tree | What it produces |
|---|---|
| Knowledge of good & evil | Death — endless “do this, don’t do that” |
| Tree of life | Jesus Himself ❤️ |
When you open the Bible, are you hunting for what’s good and what’s bad — or are you searching for the Person of Jesus?
These three never studied the law. They simply heard about Jesus:
- 🩸 “When she heard about Jesus…” — Mark 5:27
- 🪖 “When the centurion heard about Jesus…” — Luke 7:3
- 🙏 “A woman heard about Him…” — Mark 7:25
💬 Sometimes we know too much Bible — but forget who wrote it. We know too much about prayer — but forget who we’re praying to.
That’s exactly why, in Revelation, Jesus stands outside a busy church — singing, praying, preaching — and knocks. You can have all the activity… without Him at the center. 🚪
📖 Scripture from the Slides (Every Verse)
Every scripture from the Great Faith slides, in full (NKJV), with slide highlights — orange default, green key themes, gold law emphasis.
Foundation
Romans 5:17 (NKJV)
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:19 (NKJV)
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
🪖 The Centurion
Matthew 8:5–10 (NKJV)
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’
Matthew 8:13 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.
🙏 The Canaanite Woman
Matthew 15:22–28 (NKJV)
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’
1️⃣ They Didn’t Wait for God
- 🩸 Woman with the Issue of Blood
- 🪖 Centurion
- 🙏 Canaanite
Mark 5:27–29 (NKJV)
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
Matthew 8:7 (NKJV)
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Matthew 15:22 (NKJV)
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’
2️⃣ They Knew the Power of God
- 💥 God’s Power Is Greater Than My Sin
- 🍞 Even Crumbs Are Enough
- ⚡ One Word Is Enough
- 👗 Even if I touch the hem of the garment
Romans 5:20 (NKJV)
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
Matthew 8:8 (NKJV)
The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.’
3️⃣ They Knew the Heart of God
- ❤️ They Knew His Heart Is Fatherly
- 🤒 Fatherly Heart Wants to Heal
- ⚡ Fatherly Heart Responds Immediately
- 👑 Fatherly Heart Wants His Children to Take Authority
- 🎁 Fatherly Heart Wants His Children to Claim Their Blessing
Matthew 7:11 (NKJV)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
4️⃣ They Knew the Gospel
- ✝️ They heard about Jesus
- 📖 Righteousness of God Revealed
- ⚖️ Law is not of faith — Galatians 3:12
- ✍️ Know the Author
Mark 5:27 (NKJV)
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
Luke 7:3 (NKJV)
So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
Mark 7:25 (NKJV)
For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.
Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10 (NKJV)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Galatians 3:12 (NKJV)
Yet the law is not of faith, but “The man who does them shall live by them.”
🎯 The Takeaway
The four marks of great faith:
- 🏃 They didn’t wait — they went and claimed it
- ⚡ They knew His power — greater than their flaws
- ❤️ They knew His heart — a good Father, not a harsh one
- ✝️ They knew the gospel — Jesus at the center, not rules
Keep Jesus — the gospel — at the center of every prayer, every song, every step. That’s the power unto salvation. And as you focus on Him, your faith grows “from faith to faith.” 📈
So the next time you pray, don’t aim for one hour. Aim for one second. ⚡
Have great faith. 🙏✨
🎧 Based on a Sunday message from Romans 1:16–17. Share it with someone who needs to grow their faith today. 💛