Faith That Amazed Jesus: Living Hebrews 11 in Real Time

Faith is not blind optimism or positive thinking. It is confident assurance in the unseen reality of God’s word. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Those who lived by faith throughout Scripture were not dreamers; they were realists who believed that God’s word defined what was truly real.

In Matthew 8, we meet a Roman centurion whose faith captured Jesus’ attention. This Gentile soldier, accustomed to authority and command, believed that Jesus’ spoken word was enough to heal his servant. He had no covenant heritage, no temple access, and no visible proof—yet he had faith. His story embodies everything Hebrews 11 teaches.

When Jesus heard his confession, He marveled and said, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Imagine that. The Son of God, who created galaxies and commands angels, was amazed; not by power, wealth, or achievement but by faith.

Big Idea 1: Faith Rests on God’s Word, Not Visible Evidence

Faith anchors the heart to what God has said. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “the assurance of things hoped for,” using a word that speaks of essence and reality, not appearance. Faith treats God’s promise as present substance. The future becomes concrete because the Speaker is trustworthy. Hebrews 11:3 then ties this conviction to creation itself. God framed the worlds by His word, so what is seen arose from what is unseen. The centurion stands in that same stream. He trusted the creative authority of Christ’s word to bring about what did not yet exist in his experience—healing for his servant.

The centurion’s confession, “Only say the word,” shows a mind shaped by authority and a heart settled on the character of Christ. He did not require proximity, signs, or ritual. He treated Jesus’ word as sufficient cause. This is the posture Hebrews commends. Faith does not stare at circumstances; it listens to revelation. Sight can be unreliable, senses can mislead, and emotions can fluctuate. Titus 1:2 reminds us that God cannot lie. Faith gives more weight to that truth than to any competing evidence.

Scripture supplies many parallels. Moses valued “the reproach of Christ” above Egypt’s treasures because he looked to the reward. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego chose obedience to an unseen God over visible pressure from a powerful king. Noah labored for years based on a warning about events not yet seen. These lives illustrate conviction, the outward expression of inward assurance. The centurion joined this company when he treated the Lord’s word as reality, then acted accordingly.

Cultivating this kind of faith requires steady practice.

Fill the mind with Scripture, since faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Pray the promises back to God, since prayer aligns desire with revelation. Obey promptly in small assignments, since obedience strengthens assurance. Confess doubt to the Lord with honesty, then choose to stand on what He has said. This is not a presumption. Presumption invents outcomes. Faith embraces what God has spoken and rests there.

Big Idea 2: Faith Flows from Humility, Not Entitlement

The centurion’s opening line sets the tone: “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.” Humility cleared the soil for faith to take root. He did not barter status, merit, or past service. He approached Christ with reverence and dependence. Hebrews 11:6 teaches that those who come to God believe that He is, and that He rewards those who seek Him. Humility believes both truths at once. God is holy and sovereign; therefore, I bow. God is generous and good, therefore I ask.

His explanation about authority deepens the picture. “I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.” He recognized how true authority operates. Commands do not need volume or spectacle; they require legitimacy. Jesus bears divine authority. Disease, distance, and timing submit to His word. This insight explains the shape of mature faith. Faith is not a force of will. Faith is submission to the rightful King. Once the heart yields to His authority, trust becomes the reasonable response.

This humility corrects a common error.

People drift toward a works mindset, especially in religious settings. First-century Judaism had often turned obedience into a system of self-effort. Scripture presents another order. We are saved by grace through faith, which is the gift of God. Works follow as the fruit of faith, not as a ladder to earn favor. The centurion models this order. He does not trade on performance. He trusts a Person. The result is rest, not strain.

Humility grows through regular practices. Confession keeps the heart soft. Repentance keeps the conscience clear. Fasting quiets self-reliance and sharpens dependence. Secret service, the kind no one applauds, trains the soul to seek the Father’s reward alone. Gratitude reframes trials as arenas for trust. These rhythms do not earn answers. They posture the heart to receive with open hands what the Lord delights to give.

Big Idea 3: Faith Receives God’s Approval and Reveals His Kingdom

Hebrews 11:2 states that the ancients gained approval through faith. The centurion receives the same witness from the Lord. Jesus marvels, then declares that many will come from east and west to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom. This approval is not a trophy. It is the King’s public affirmation that genuine trust has appeared, and it signals the wide reach of the gospel. A Gentile soldier becomes a signpost to the nations. Faith unlocks a seat at the table of promise.

God’s approval appears in varied ways through Scripture. Sometimes it comes as direct testimony, as with Enoch. Othertimes it arrives through providence, as with Joseph’s rise in Egypt. Sometimes it is an inner witness, the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit, that we are children of God. Othertimes it brings visible outcomes, as with the servant’s healing. Sometimes it withholds immediate results, as with those who “died in faith” and still welcomed the promises from a distance. Approval is certain for those who trust Him. The form and timing remain in His wise hands.

The kingdom revelation in this scene deserves careful attention. Jesus connects the centurion’s faith to the patriarchal banquet. This frames faith as the true family line. Heritage, ethnicity, and proximity to religious privilege do not secure a place at the table. Faith unites people to the promise. Hebrews 11 makes the same point again and again. God recognizes the person who takes Him at His word.

The centurion’s trust becomes a preview of the global church, a table filled with people from the nations who believe.

Living this out gives the world a picture of the kingdom. Faith expresses itself through obedience that fits the promise believed. Generosity displays confidence in God’s provision. Integrity under pressure displays confidence in God’s justice. Perseverance in suffering displays confidence in God’s reward. Witness and hospitality display confidence in God’s mission. Noah’s long obedience built an ark. The centurion’s decisive confidence welcomed a word. Your obedience will take its own faithful shape, rooted in the same assurance and conviction.

Conclusion

Faith is not merely believing that God can act, but it is trusting that what He has said will be accomplished. The centurion lived what Hebrews 11 describes: assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.

Faith does not begin with miracles; it starts with surrender. It believes before the evidence appears and obeys before the outcome is visible. When you take God at His word, you move from doubt to confidence, from fear to peace, and from uncertainty to assurance.

Jesus marveled at one man’s faith. If the Son of God were to marvel at something in your life, may it be this—your unwavering trust in His word.

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Ask yourself: Where is God calling me to trust His word over my circumstances?
Take time this week to identify one area of your life where you need to live by faith, not sight.
Pray: “Lord, increase my faith. Teach me to rest in Your word, to trust Your timing, and to live with the assurance that You are faithful.”

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the example of the centurion whose faith amazed Jesus. Strengthen our hearts to believe Your word even when we cannot see the outcome. Teach us to walk in humility, rest in Your promises, and trust Your timing. May our faith reflect Your character and reveal Your kingdom to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If this message challenged you, share it with someone who needs encouragement to trust again.

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Blessings,

Chad 

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