The Shield of Faith, Part 5

What does this look like in action? Let’s look at two stories in the gospels where people used the shield of faith to ward off physical death by fighting sicknesses the devil sent to destroy lives.

The Roman Centurion

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 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. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 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! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 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. …

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” ((Matthew 8:5-13; 23-27)

The centurion understood that the Kingdom of God is a government. He understood how governments worked. The way soldiers are released in the natural is by commands. He knew Jesus didn’t have to come to his house. All Jesus had to do was to speak the word, and the power to heal his servant would be released. Jesus marveled at the fact the centurion understood what Jesus was doing and had faith in Him. The faith acted as a shield to keep the servant from dying and unleashing the healing he needed.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 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. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”  But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:25-34).

Nothing is permanent in the eyes of God. It doesn’t matter how long we have had things like illness. He can heal anything. Our unhealed issues never go away by themselves; time doesn’t heal wounds; Jesus does. This story shows us that faith can repair, deliver, restore, and set us free from the fiery darts, the wicked weapons, the evil schemes of the devil. Even when all seems lost, it can be restored in one act of faith in Jesus.