(by Dr. Larry Ollison)

I am often asked the question, "Why do you talk about faith so much?"

Well, the reason I try to study and talk about faith so much is because Jesus did. And, I want to be like Him. Let me explain.

When the winds of the sea were great and the disciples were afraid, Jesus rebuked the winds and there was a great calm. But if you will notice in Matthew 8:26, just before He calmed the sea, He remarked about the size of their faith.

When the four men brought their paralytic friend to Jesus and let him down through the roof, Jesus healed him. But if you'll notice in Matthew 9:2, Jesus first saw their faith, and then He healed him.

In Matthew 17:19 the disciples of Jesus were confused and wondered why they were not able to cast out a demon and Jesus was able to. Jesus told them it was because of their unbelief and then He began to teach them about faith. And then He told them that with faith all things are possible.

When the woman who had been sick for years touched the hem of Jesus clothing, Jesus turned and said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

In Luke 17:5, the apostles saw that faith was important to Jesus and they knew they needed more so they asked Jesus to increase their faith. These men lived with Jesus and they knew Him well. Obviously, faith was an important item.

Once when Paul was speaking, he saw a man who needed healing in his body. The Bible says in Acts 14:9,10 that "Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, 'Stand up straight on your feet!' And he leaped and walked." Did you catch that? Paul observed this man to see if he had the faith to be healed before he spoke to him.

In Mark 11:22, Jesus said, "Have faith in God." Then He goes on to explain what having faith in God produces. He said, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

Jesus and the apostles constantly talked about faith. In Hebrews 4:2 an astonishing statement is made. The Bible here tells about two groups of people. Both groups heard the gospel, the good news. One group profited from hearing the gospel and one group did not. The Bible goes on to say that the second group that heard the gospel did not profit from it as a result of not mixing the gospel with faith. This one statement alone in the Bible should be enough to make any Christian want to be strong in faith.