Centurion Faith

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.  “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

What made the Centurion’s faith so great? 

The level of trust he showed toward Jesus.  All Jesus had to do was say the word.

The subtleties here are important…

The Centurion had choices in seeking help for his servant, but he chose to go to Jesus.

We have lots of choices in what we do, but we should go to Jesus first.  We should pray and listen to what the Lord wants us to do.

You may be able to do a lot about the circumstances around you, but if you act without trusting Jesus you’ve left faith and are walking in the flesh.

The Centurion knew he was powerless and went to Jesus.  What power do you have apart from Jesus Christ?  None.

I pray that our Heavenly Father give you insight and wisdom concerning this teaching, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.   

Faith part 4

 “…the righteous shall live by his faith.” – Habakkuk 2:4

Faith is more slippery than we realize. 

We all tend to live life from the outside in rather than the inside out because it's just "natural".  But, we’re the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  We’re supposed to live by faith in HIM. 

Here’s a quick test. 

Which of the following statements is a statement expressing faith?

a)   The blood of Jesus Christ has removed that cancer.

b)   I hope the blood of Jesus Christ will remove that cancer.

c)    If it’s God’s will the blood of Jesus Christ will remove that cancer.

The answer is “a”. 

I’ve used the phrase “the blood of Jesus Christ” on purpose.  And, I’ve used that phrase because it’s a ridiculous thought that somehow “the blood of Jesus Christ” miraculously takes away ALL the sin of the world but can’t cure cancer.  Chemo therapy can cure cancer, but the blood of Jesus Christ can’t?!?!?  I’ve smelled manure with a more pleasant aroma than that sack of…

Here’s the short list of walking in faith:

1)    Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ for everything.

2)    Faith is in the “now”.

3)    Faith speaks the answer.

4)    Faith prays, believes, and receives before seeing with the eyes.

5)    Faith comes by the Word of God.

6)    Faith is a rest.

7)    Faith never lets go.

I pray the Lord give you wisdom and strength to act on His word, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Faith Part 3

Romans 4:13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless…

Abraham became “heir of the world” the moment he believed God.  He and Sarah had one physical child, and that one physical child put in motion the fulfillment of the promise. 

Abraham has yet to receive the total fulfillment of the promise.  The fulfillment of that promise is still underway as new believers come to Christ. 

Abraham’s faith has had eternal consequences beyond even his physical life. Some of you will catch the implications of that last statement.

Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace…

Who makes the promises come?  Jesus Christ

I would want to ask the question “what makes the promises come?”, but faith in Jesus Christ isn’t about a “what”.  Trust is only as good as the person you’re trusting, and the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely worthy of our trust. 

and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."

How does one guy of one specific ethnic group become the father of many “nations”?  By our faith in Jesus Christ.  Genetically, Abraham could only have a child of his same ethnicity, but spiritual children are different and those "laws" don't apply to us.

He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

God says we’re Abraham’s kids and that’s good enough for me.

RO 4:18 Against all hope…

You know that hope is expectation, right?  Well, what did everyone around Abraham expect from him?  They expected him to die.  And, because he had no heir, they expected that when he died that they would have a big payday coming! 

The world, the flesh, and the devil expect that the promises God has given you will just dry up and die.  Does your hope line up with God’s promises or the world’s expectations?   It’s your choice.

Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

What do you expect?  Abraham expected God to back up HIS promise.  The world expected death, but Abraham trusted God and expected life. 

The world’s expectations do not matter at all if we have faith in God and expect that HE delivers on His promises.

¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

Abraham was no fool.  He knew that men his age and women Sarah’s age didn’t have kids, but he was FULLY persuaded that God was powerful to deliver the promise.  So…

HERE IS THE KEY! 

Abraham believed God above the physical.  Abraham didn’t care what the physical situation was his belief system was in proper order:

Spirit

  Soul

    Body       

He made his mind line up with God, and he expected God to deliver the natural results. 

You and I have been promised a resurrection, but we don’t yet have the physical manifestation of that promise.  We Christians believe in our hearts that we are going to be resurrected, because God has promised us.

This same faith in Jesus Christ, for the specific individual promise of resurrection, is how faith works in all circumstances for all promises.

So...

1. True faith outlasts a lifetime
2. Faith in Jesus Christ makes the promises come to us.
3. If our hope is in God the world’s expectations don’t matter
4. God is powerful to deliver His promises
5. Spirit first – above both body and soul

I pray that you get a hold of this message in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen.