The Faith Jesus Complimented
Matthew 8:5-13 (NKJV)
1. This Faith Is A . . Pleading Faith. 8:5-7
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."
7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
A. The . . Presentation of the Pleading Faith. v 5-6a
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed,
B. The . . Pain of the Pleading Faith. v 6b
“. . . at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."
C. The . . Promise of the Pleading Faith. v 7
7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Illustration
I am asking you to plead with God for the amount of money He would help you give to our Home Mission
Offering. Read the story about a church planter named Shaun Pillay for the North American Mission Board in the insert.
Application
The Faith Jesus Complimented:
Is A Pleading Faith.
2. This Faith Is A . . Projected Faith. 8:8-9
8 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.
9 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."
A. The . . Humility of the Projected Faith. 8:8
8 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.
B. The . . Honor of the Projected Faith. 8:9
9 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."
Application
The Faith Jesus Complimented: Is A Projected Faith.
3. This Faith Is A . . Pleasing Faith. 8:10-12
10 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!
11 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.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
A. Pleasing Faith Is . . Rewarded. 8:8
10 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!
11 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.
Illustration PLEASING GOD How do we Please God?
1. By exalting Jesus Christ, His Son (Matt 3:17; Col 1:15-19)
2. By proclaiming the message of the cross (I Cor 1:18-2:5)
3. By believing in God and his promises (Heb 11:6)
4. By asking for wisdom. James 1:5-8)
5. By staying away from sexual sin (Eph 5:3,4,10; 1 Thes 4:1-8)
6. By sharing the gospel with unbelievers (I Cor 9:14-27, 10:31-33)
7. By giving to others in time of need (Phil 4:10-20; Heb 13:16)
8. By submitting to authority (Rom 8:7-8, Col 3:20; 1 John 3:22)
9. By praising God for all things (Ps 69:30-31; Heb 13:15-16)
B. Non Pleasing Faith Is . . Rejected. 8:8
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Illustration Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Application
The Faith Jesus Complimented:
Is A Pleasing Faith.
4. This Faith Is A . . Patterning Kind of Faith. 8:13
13 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.
A. A Patterning Faith in . . Belief. v 13a
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way;
and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."
B. A Patterning Faith in . . Behavior. v 13b
“. . . And his servant was healed that same hour.”
Illustration
Hudson Taylor the missionary to China had definite convictions about how God's work should be done.
1. We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength.
2. We can make careful plans and ask God to bless them.
3. We can begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes."
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 243.
Application
The Faith Jesus Complimented:
Is A Patterning Kind of Faith.