A Messiah of Faith
Text: Matt. 8:1-17
Introduction
1. Illustration: One night, I had a wondrous dream; One set of footprints there was seen. The footprints of my precious Lord, But mine were not along the shore. But then some stranger prints appeared, And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?" "Those prints are large and round and neat, But, Lord, they are too big for feet." "My child," He said in somber tones. "For miles I carried you alone. I challenged you to walk in faith, But you refused and made me wait. You disobeyed, you would not grow, The walk-of-faith you would not know. So I got tired and fed up, And there I dropped you on your butt, Because in life, there comes a time, When one must fight, and one must climb, When one must rise and take a stand, Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
2. One of the most important concepts that a Christian must learn is faith.
a. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
b. Faith is more than believing God exists; that is only the first step of faith.
c. Faith requires acting on what we believe.
3. There are three aspects of faith that I would like us to consider this morning.
a. The audacity of faith
b. The confidence of faith
c. The effect of faith
4. Read Matt. 8:1-17
Proposition: If we want to be people of faith we need to put our faith to work.
Transition: We must understand...
I. The Audacity of Faith (1-4)
A. A Man With Leprosy Approached
1. This morning we will examine three different healing narratives. The first one deals with a man whose desperation led him to be audacious in his faith.
2. Matthew tells us that, "Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him..." and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
a. Leprosy was an unattractive skin disease for which the Bible had prescribed quarantine from the rest of society.
b. Lepers were thus outcasts from society, and most healthy people preferred to ignore them (The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
c. If found to be leprous, the diseased individual was to be isolated from the rest of the community and was required to wear torn clothes, cover the lower part of his or her face, and cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew, 340).
d. For this leper even to approach Jesus was audacious!
3. However, this lepers take his audacious faith one step further because he "knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
a. Bowing down before another person was a great act of respect for the others dignity, especially for a Jewish person.
b. Moreover, this leper not only shows physical signs of respect toward Jesus; he acknowledges that Jesus has the right to decide whether to grant the request.
c. To acknowledge that God has the right to grant or refuse a request is not lack of faith; it is the ultimate act of dependence on God’s compassion and takes great trust and commitment for a desperate person.
d. Sometimes we pray passively, almost unconcerned as to whether God hears a particular prayer or not; the leper did not have this luxury. Jesus was his only choice!
4. Jesus, touched in his own spirit by this man’s audacious faith, does something unheard of in his society. "Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared."
a. Jesus’ willingness, not his touch, was all that was needed for the healing to take place, but Jesus’ touch was probably the first human touch he had experience since his illness began (Turner, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Matthew, 124).
b. Jewish law forbade touching lepers and quarantined lepers from regular society.
c. Leviticus 13:45-46 (NLT)
45 “Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
46 As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.
d. Some ruled that the defilement of leprosy was one of the greatest defilements, for a leper could communicate it even by entering a house.
e. Yet by touching Jesus does not actually undermine the law of Moses, but fulfills its purpose by providing cleansing.
5. What Jesus does next is almost as surprising. He says, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
a. This healing would be viewed as no small miracle; later Jewish teachers regarded leprosy as akin to death and cleansing a leper as akin to raising the dead.
b. Yet not only does Jesus refuse to take advantage of the opportunity for publicity, he attempts to suppress it.
c. At times, Jesus found it necessary to withdraw from the scene when his popularity due to his miracles reached near-riot proportions (Turner, 124).
d. Although miracles will attest the authenticity of his gospel message about the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus does not want crowds clamoring for the miracles alone.
e. However, I want to contend with you this morning that it was this man’s audacious faith that made this miracle possible.
B. Audacious Faith
1. Illustration: General Robert E. Lee has been called "Audacity Personified," because he was willing to take risks on the battlefield.
2. People of faith are audacious because we are risk takers.
a. Abraham took the risk of leaving his family and home at the age of 75 because he believed God.
b. Moses took the risk of abandoning the easy life as a son of Pharaoh to be associated with God’s people.
c. Joshua took the risk of leading a rebellious people into a land filled with giants, obstacles, and fortresses because of the promise of God.
3. People of faith are audacious because we are dependent on God.
a. We realize that without God nothing is possible, but with Him everything is possible.
b. We realize that all of our efforts are not enough with God.
c. We realize that God rewards those who are willing to step out in faith.
4. People of faith are audacious because we stand on the promises of God.
a. We know that he will be with us always.
b. We know that he will never leave us or forsake us.
c. We know that he will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory.
d. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Transition: Not only is faith audacious, but it is also convinced.
II. The Conviction of Faith (5-13)
A. Just Say the Word
1. The next story of faith happened, "When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him..."
a. Centurions commanded a “century,” but in practice this consisted of sixty to eighty troops, not one hundred. They were the backbone of the Roman army, in charge of discipline (The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
b. This was a man that was used to people obeying his commands, and the fact that he would come to Jesus and beg for help shows the depth of his faith.
2. He pleads with Jesus, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
a. While this soldier’s concern about a servant may seem unusual, the Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Roman soldiers had many servants who actually trained and fought with them.
b. So this servant may have been his personal attendant with whom he felt a close bond.
c. The fact that this high ranking officer addresses Jesus as "Lord" is highly significant.
d. This title is a Greek term which refers to "one who exercises supernatural authority over mankind" (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).
e. Even if it is just he is just being polite, it would still be remarkable for an occupying Roman officer to say this to an insignificant member of a subject race (France, 312).
f. This would be like a Nazi officer asking a Jew for help!
3. Jesus, realizing the man’s faith says, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed."
a. The man shows faith not only by acknowledging his own unworthiness but also by recognizing that Jesus’ power is so great that this request is small to him.
b. It shows not only his respect for Jesus, but also his acknowledgment that it was unacceptable for a Jew to enter the house of a Gentile (Turner, 124-125).
c. Most of the centurion’s contemporaries would have balked at such faith; even Jewish people considered long-distance miracles especially difficult and rare, the domain of only the most powerful holy men.
4. This Roman officer further demonstrates his faith by saying, "I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
a. The centurion reasons from what he knows: he himself can issue commands and receive obedience because he is under authority, that is, backed by the full authority of the Roman Empire, which he represents to his troops.
b. In the same way, the authority of Israel’s God backs Jesus, and a mere command from his lips banishes powers in subjection under him, such as sickness.
c. This man knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word and it would be done.
d. He was convinced!
5. Matthew tells us, "When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!"
a. The centurion understands that in Jesus is the hoped-for Deliverer, whom Israel as a nation should have recognized.
b. Hence, Jesus’ statement both singles out the centurion for exemplary faith and criticizes Israel for its lack of faith (Wilkins, 342).
6. Jesus then turns to the Roman officer and says, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour."
a. He told the man to go home because lit. "because you believed, it has happened."
b. At this time his servant was healed, not by touch as in the case of the leper, but from a distance.
c. The timing and distance are noted by Matthew to underline the supernatural authority of Jesus (Turner, 125).
B. Convinced
1. Illustration: I used to know a young lady who said about herself, "I’m not conceited; I’m convinced!"
2. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
3. People of faith are convinced because of the power of God.
a. We know that there is nothing our God cannot do.
b. We know that there is nothing so great our God cannot overcome it.
c. We know that even though we may not be able to see it, feel it, or taste our God is able.
4. People of faith are convinced because we believe in the power of His Word.
a. If Scripture tells us it is possible it is.
b. If Scripture tells us we can trust Him we do.
c. If Scripture tells us He won’t fail He won’t.
d. If Scripture tells us He’ll do it He will.
5. People of faith are convinced because of the power of prayer.
a. We know that God hears us when we pray.
b. We know that God answers when we pray.
c. We know that God acts when we pray.
Transition: Because of the audaciousness of faith and the conviction of faith, we see...
III. The Effect of Faith (14-17)
A. When Jesus Touched Her Hand
1. What does acting upon our faith bring us? Results!
2. Peter was one that dropped everything to follow Jesus. It was an act of faith on Peter’s part. So when his mother-in-law became sick Peter knew exactly what to do.
3. Matthew tells us, "When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever."
a. Matthew doesn’t specifically tell us, but I think it is safe to assume that Peter invited Jesus over for dinner hoping he could help a sick relative.
b. Matthew’s expression "sick in bed with a fever" indicates that Peter’s mother-in-law is in the throes of a severe illness, perhaps malaria, because fever was considered a disease, not a symptom (Wilkins, 344).
c. There is something that we must pay close attention to here. In the first case it was the leper who took the initiative, and in the second case it was the centurion who took the initiative, but here it was Jesus who took the initiative (Turner, 125).
d. Why? Because Peter was one of his followers. It shows that Jesus will go beyond the call of duty for those that follow him.
4. As a result, "Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him."
a. Here we see something where Jesus touch not only heals, but it transforms.
b. Jesus first ministers to Peter’s wife’s mother and she in turn ministers to him. This structure may make emphatic the model for discipleship: after Jesus transforms a person, the person serves him.
c. The straightforward implication is that the woman serves Jesus a meal.
d. However, Matthew’s use of diakoneo, which means "to serve" has significance beyond simple meal preparation.
e. The woman’s actions indicate instantaneous gratitude for being healed, a strikingly significant motivation for all discipleship to Jesus (Wilkins, 345).
f. The touch of Jesus transforms the situation from one which he served her to one which she served him (Turner, 126).
5. Furthermore, Jesus shows us the power that faith has when we put it to use. Verse 16 says, "That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick."
a. Many of Jesus’ contemporaries sought to chase away demons by means of incantations, pain compliance techniques like smelly roots, or invocation of higher spirits to get rid of lower ones
b. Jesus instead expelled demons simply by his word.
c. Jesus’ authority is further stressed by the statement that he healed "all" who were sick.
d. John 14:12-14 (NLT)
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
B. Results of Faith
1. Illustration: "Faith enables us to understand what God does. Faith enables us to see what others cannot see. As a result, faith enables us to do what others cannot do." SOURCE: Warren Wiersbe
2. The effect of faith is that we are empowered.
a. Empowered to believe the incomprehensible.
b. Empowered to see the invisible.
c. Empowered to receive the impossible.
3. The effect of faith is that we are encouraged.
a. Encouraged that we can overcome.
b. Encouraged that we can be victorious.
c. Encouraged that with faith we can accomplish anything.
d. Romans 8:37 (NLT)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
4. The effect of faith is that we are enthused.
a. Enthused because we know that nothing we do for the Lord is in vain.
b. Enthused because we know that God will always make a way.
c. Enthused because we know we know that nothing can stand in our way.
d. Romans 8:31 (NLT)
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Conclusion
1. By faith we can have the audacity to step out and believe God for a miracle.
2. By faith we can have the confidence that our God will not fail us.
3. By faith we can see the invisible and receive the impossible.
4. What do you need the faith to receive today?
5. Are you ready to be audacious and take a risk of faith?
