THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH
Matthew 8 v. 1 - 22 After teaching in the sermon on the mount -now we have the practial side of the Lord’s ministry
1. The Existence of the Lord’s power.
The Lord has power over:-
(a) Nature as seen in the:-
(1) creation - "without Him was not anything made that was made."
(2) tempest v. 27 " what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him."
(3) the miracles eg. water into wine John 2 v. 9 and the cursing of the fig tree Matthew 21 v. 19
(b) Sin The Lord alone can:-
forgive sin Mark 2 v. 7, cleanse sin 1 John 1 v. 9, and remove sin -" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
(c) Sickness in Matthew 8 we read of the leper, the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and the demonic
(d) Physical needs - feeding the multitude
(e) Satan - casting out demons, defeating the devil completely, continually, and convincingly
(f) Death e.g. He raised Lazarus, himself, and will raise all believers.
2. The Exertion of the Lord’s power Matthew 8 & 9
(1) The reason for his miracles
(a) his compassion v. 1 "great multitudes followed Him"
His love was impartial i.e. leper, slave, woman.
His Love was important i.e. He is the God Man i.e. revealing the nature and the heart of God.
His Love was imperative i.e. because He is God, and God is love.
His Love was impressive ch 8 v. 1 "great multitudes followed Him"
(b) his credentials v. 17 "that it might be fulfilled" i.e. He was truly the Messiah v. 4 note the lepers testimony to the priests
(c)his concern for the spread of the gospel - The greatest need of mankind was for spiritual rather than physical healing, but physical healing was an opportunity to addesss spiritual needs.
(2) The reality of his miracles
Matthew ch 8 -see the leper, the paralytic,the fever and the demon possessed cured
(a) The timing v. 1 " when he was come down from the mountain."
(b) The test v. 2 "if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
(c) The trust v. 2 "thou cans’t",
(d) The triumph v. 3 "immediately",
(e) The testimony v. 4 " go thy way shew thyself",
(3) The results of his miracles v. 18 " great multitudes followed Him"
3.The extension of the Lord’s power v 22 "follow Me" Note the scribe’s:-
(a) profession v. 19 "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.",
(b) his problem v. 20 "comforts" "the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
(c) the price v. 22 "follow Me"
(d) the principle "let the dead bury dead, follow thou Me", if you don’t follow, who will?
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go ye therefore".
