Jesus marveled at the centurions faith.
Apr 27, 2015 1:27:00 GMT -6
Post by Ron on Apr 27, 2015 1:27:00 GMT -6
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. -- Matthew 8:5-13
I would like to point out verse ten.
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! -- Matthew 8:10
It says that Jesus marveled at the centurions faith. Only twice, in the Bible, does it say that Jesus marveled. There other can be found in Mark 6:4-6 when Jesus was rejected at Nazareth.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. -- Mark 6:4-6
Here it says that Jesus marveled because of their unbelief. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to get to heaven and have fellowship with God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. -- Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation is a gift of God. It is not obtained by works, but if one truly has faith in Christ their works will show it. We are not saved by good works, we are saved to do good works. James 2:14-17 is a good example.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. -- James 2:14-17
Hebrews 11:24-26 states that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. -- Hebrews 11:24-26
God's promise to Abraham was granted through faith.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all -- Romans 4:13-16
Hebrews 11 gives an excellent description of faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. -- Hebrews 11:1-3
We obtain faith from the Word of God (the Bible.)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -- Romans 10:17
Faith is important because, without it, it is impossible to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. -- Hebrews 11:6
We use the Word of God (the Bible) to guide us through this life.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. -- 2 Corinthians 5:7
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -- Psalm 119:105
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” -- Romans 1:16-17
Great things can be done when we have faith.
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” -- Matthew 21:18-22
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. -- Luke 17:5-6
We are to use spiritual gifts by faith.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; -- Romans 12:6
Faith in Christ is able to heal.
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. -- James 5:15
In Acts 14 Paul noticed that a lame man had faith to be healed.
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. 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. -- Acts 14:8-10
In Matthew 15 a woman kept asking Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, because of the woman's faith her daughter was healed.
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. -- Matthew 15:22-28
In Matthew 9 two blind men were healed according to their faith.
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” -- Matthew 9:27-29
We cannot doubt our faith in Christ. If we doubt, we bring trouble on ourselves. In Matthew 14 Peter doubted and he began to sink.
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” -- Matthew 14:28-31
James 1 says that a man who doubts is double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -- James 1:5-8
Faith can help us resist temptation.
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. -- Ephesians 6:16
If we have faith we will be like the wise steward in Matthew 25.
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ -- Matthew 25:21
I would like to point out verse ten.
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! -- Matthew 8:10
It says that Jesus marveled at the centurions faith. Only twice, in the Bible, does it say that Jesus marveled. There other can be found in Mark 6:4-6 when Jesus was rejected at Nazareth.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. -- Mark 6:4-6
Here it says that Jesus marveled because of their unbelief. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to get to heaven and have fellowship with God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. -- Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation is a gift of God. It is not obtained by works, but if one truly has faith in Christ their works will show it. We are not saved by good works, we are saved to do good works. James 2:14-17 is a good example.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. -- James 2:14-17
Hebrews 11:24-26 states that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. -- Hebrews 11:24-26
God's promise to Abraham was granted through faith.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all -- Romans 4:13-16
Hebrews 11 gives an excellent description of faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. -- Hebrews 11:1-3
We obtain faith from the Word of God (the Bible.)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -- Romans 10:17
Faith is important because, without it, it is impossible to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. -- Hebrews 11:6
We use the Word of God (the Bible) to guide us through this life.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. -- 2 Corinthians 5:7
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -- Psalm 119:105
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” -- Romans 1:16-17
Great things can be done when we have faith.
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” -- Matthew 21:18-22
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. -- Luke 17:5-6
We are to use spiritual gifts by faith.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; -- Romans 12:6
Faith in Christ is able to heal.
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. -- James 5:15
In Acts 14 Paul noticed that a lame man had faith to be healed.
And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. 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. -- Acts 14:8-10
In Matthew 15 a woman kept asking Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, because of the woman's faith her daughter was healed.
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. -- Matthew 15:22-28
In Matthew 9 two blind men were healed according to their faith.
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” -- Matthew 9:27-29
We cannot doubt our faith in Christ. If we doubt, we bring trouble on ourselves. In Matthew 14 Peter doubted and he began to sink.
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” -- Matthew 14:28-31
James 1 says that a man who doubts is double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -- James 1:5-8
Faith can help us resist temptation.
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. -- Ephesians 6:16
If we have faith we will be like the wise steward in Matthew 25.
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ -- Matthew 25:21