Little Faith verses Great Faith

Little Faith in God’s Provision - “Little faith will save Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Matthew 6:30

…Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Matt. 16:8-10

Little Faith in God’s Protection - 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.  Matt. 8:26

Little Faith in God’s Power - …Peter answered him…Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.   And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?… worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.  Matt. 14:29-33

“Then said Christian to his fellow, “Now I call to remembrance, that which was told me of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of the man was Little-faith, but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere.  The thing was this: — At the entering in at this passage, there comes down from Broadway Gate, a lane called Dead Man’s Lane; so called because of the murders that are commonly done there; and this Little-faith going on pilgrimage, as we do now, chanced to sit down there, and slept. Now there happened, at that time, to come down the lane, from Broad-way Gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names were Faint-heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, three brothers, and they espying Little-faith, where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now the good man was just awake from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they came up all to him, and with threatening language bid him stand. At this Little-faith looked as white as a clout, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faint-heart, ‘Deliver thy purse;’ But he making no haste to do it (for he was loath to lose his money,) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, ‘Thieves, thieves!’ With that Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck Little-faith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground, where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death. All this while the thieves stood by. But, at last, they hearing that some were upon the road, and fearing lest it should be one Great-grace, that dwells in the city of Good-confidence, they betook themselves to their heels, and left this good man to shift for himself.  Pilgrims Progress

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”  Romans 4:20-21

“Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot do great things for God. Poor Little-faith could not have fought “Apollyon...Poor Little-faith could not have slain “Giant Despair...Little faith will go to heaven most certainly, but it often has to hide itself...and loses all but its jewels. Little-faith says, “It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;” but Great-faith remembers the promise, Little-faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee...and she fords the stream at once...If you love darkness, and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing, covet earnestly this best gift, “great faith.” Spurgeon

“...The reason why Sardis had some in it whose works were not perfect before God, it was, because they did not hold fast by faith the word that they had formerly heard and received (Revelation 3:1-3).  Bunyun

“Great faith” - great by comparison, large in time and quanity.  What made this faith so great? Compare the two passages dealing with the Centurion and the woman of Canaan.  Luke 7:1-9; Matt. 8:5-13 * Centurion

Mark 7:24-30; Matt. 15:22-28 *Woman of Canaan

From these passages, what does the Lord see as Great faith?

1. Their understanding of great faith was for someone else.

2. Their understanding of great faith was followed by worship

3. Their understanding of great faith lead them to being a servant: Matthew 15

4. Their understanding of great faith produced a spirit of humility (authority structure): Luke 7

5. Their understanding of great faith brought restoration.

Having Great Faith Leads to Being A Servant:  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1 Cor 7:21-22

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.   1 Cor 9:19

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?  Phile. 1:16

Having Great Faith Sees Godly Authority: But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.   Matt 20:25-28

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.  For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.  
2 Cor. 10:8-11

Having Great Faith Produces True Humility: Matt. 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

James 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1Pet. 5:5-6  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: