A LESSON IN THE POWER
OF FAITH
Luke 7:1-10
PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON
V:1. "When Jesus had finished saying all this in the
hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum ."
A. The ministry of Jesus was never stagnant.
1. Jesus was always
on the move, from one place to another.
2. He taught the
Word at the sea side of Galilee
before going into
B. There is nothing
more profitable than discussing the Word of God to those we
meet along our
journey.
1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the
Word of God.
2. You never know
who is listening and who is carrying the Word ahead of
you.
3. God may use
the Word proclaimed by you to prepare
others to receive
the Word in
other places.
4. If God has
been good to you, you ought to make some noise about Jesus.
5. Our testimony
is important to those we meet.
C. The sea of Galilee
( Lake Gennesaret
level
1. There were at
least nine cities around the lake and 230 fishing boats at work doing
Jesus ministry.
2. The cities
drew their fresh water from the lake.
3. The sea of
Galilee was a place of commerce where large groups worked and traded
their
goods.
4. It was an
ideal place to find people to hear the Word and witness the miracles of
Jesus.
IT'S OUR PROBLEMS THAT CAUSES US TO SEEK JESUS
V:2-3. " There a centurion's servant, whom his master
valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and
sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant."
A. The centurion was a wise man.
1. He sent for
doctor Jesus to heal His servant.
2. He was a Roman
soldier who heard about Jesus.
3. He believed
that if Jesus could work miracles in the lives of others, He could
heal his
servant.
B. The New Testament
is full of stories about the miracles of Jesus.
1. We ought to be
quick to call Jesus when we have a problem.
2. The centurion
didn't have a relationship with Jesus, yet He didn't hesitate
to call on
Him.
3. The centurion
sent the elders of the Church to intercede for him.
4. The centurion
expressed faith in the healing powers of Jesus.
5. Faith in Jesus
causes Him to act on your behalf.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER GET'S THE SAVIOR ATTENTION
V:4-5. " When
they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to
have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our
synagogue."
A. The centurion was a good man.
1. He cared for
the nation Israel .
2. He was helpful
to the Jews.
2. He showed His
love by using his position to building a synagogue for the Jews.
B. The Jews thought the centurion deserved Jesus help
because of his deeds.
1. The Jews were
mistaken. No one deserves Jesus.
2. All have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
3. Even the good
we do is just a filthy rag before the Lord.
4. Jesus is not obligate
to you because of your good works.
4. It is only by
the Grace of God that we have access to Him through
His Son.
PRESENT YOURSELF HUMBLY BEFORE THE LORD
V: 6. " So Jesus went with them. He was not far from
the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't
trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof."
A. It was not the centurion's deeds that causeed Jesus to
act, but his faith.
1. The centurion
expressed his faith in Jesus by considering Jesus as his only
source of
help.
2. The centurion
expressed his faith by requesting those who had a relationship with
the Father
to call on Jesus for him.
B. The centurion had
the right attitude.
1. He humble
himself before Jesus.
2. He realized his
unworthiness.
3. He realized the
unworthiness of his household.
4. You cannot
stand before Jesus with a proud spirit.
5. The Lord hates
the proud.
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS OVER YOUR SITUATION
V:7. " That is why I did not even consider myself
worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. "
A. The centurion had another quality in his faith that the
Jews didn't have.
1. He knew in His
heart that Jesus didn't have to be present for
his servant to be healed.
2. It is the mind
of Jesus directed at you, that is the solution to your problem.
B. The power of Jesus is not His physical touch, but His
spiritual touch.
1. A relationship
with Jesus is the first step in solving your problem.
2. Your prayers in
faith is the solution to your problem.
3. The centurion's
action is the truth of the scripture.
a. If anyone is sick,
let him call the elders to pray for him
and he will
recover.
b.
Intercessory prayer is powerful and recommended by the Lord.
A PHYSICAL EXAMPLE OF A SPIRITUAL REALITY
V: 8. " 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."
A. The centurion used a physical example to describe a
spiritual reality.
1. Jesus has all
power over heaven and earth.
2. Jesus is the
sole authority over all his creation.
B. Everything moves on the Word of Jesus.
1. Nothing happens
without the knowledge of Jesus.
2. Everything that
happens is by the will of Jesus.
3. It is by the
Grace of God that we are included in the will of Jesus.
FAITH IS THE KEY TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
V: 9. " When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him,
and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not
found such great faith even in Israel ."
A. Even though the centurion had never met Jesus, he had
complete faith in Jesus.
1. It was the faith
of the centurion that established his relationship with Jesus
2. It was the faith
of the centurion that justified him before the Father in heaven.
3. It was the faith
of the centurion that caused Jesus to heal his servant.
B. Jesus used the sickness of the centurion's servant to
show His disciples what faith
really is and
what faith in Him accomplishes.
1. Faith draws you
to Jesus.
2. Faith
establishes your relationship with Jesus.
3. Faith causes
Jesus to act on your behalf.
FAITH IN JESUS WORKS MIRACLES
V:10. " Then the men who had been sent returned to the
house and found the servant
well."
A. Jesus will use
your situation to be a testimony to someone else.
1. A number of
people were blessed by the centurion faith.
2. The centurion
was blessed.
3. The
centurion's servant was blessed,
4. The Jews the
centurion sent to Jesus were blessed.
5. Those who
followed Jesus were blessed.
6. All were
blessed with the knowledge that faith in Jesus solves problems.
YOUR PROBLEMS ARE DESIGNED TO GROW YOUR FAITH
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
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