Miracle Stopping Faith
Mat 13:53-58
We read about Great faith, saving faith and little faith, but have you ever heard of Miracle stopping faith?
This is what we encounter here in Nazareth when Jesus returns to His hometown.
Bozo circus elephant – Kind – sudden character change – Charge people – owner want to shoot him – on big day little man speak to elephant – calm – reason Elephant homesick an Indian elephant – man spoke Indian language. Elephant calmed.
Notice here in Mat 13:58 that
· Jesus came to His hometown.
· Back to His own people.
· The same people who rejected Him before.
Let’s go on a fast-forward trip through His life.
Mat 4:13 “…. And leaving Nazareth…..”
What happened there? Go with me to
Luk 4:16 “…. He came to Nazareth……” (He taught them)
Go to V28-30 He went His way and came to Capernaum (V31)
Go back to Mat 4:13 “leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum”
So now we know what we’re talking about if we say that He was rejected here.
This show God’s mercy – He came back to them. This will be the same to the Jews who rejects Him today.
Here is an interesting fact: Follow me through the book of Matthews;
·In Capernaum He healed a great multitude – Mat 8:1
·Healed the Lepper – Mat 8:1
·Heals the centurions servant – Mat 8:5
·Heals Peter’s mother in law – Mat 8:14
·Many were healed in – Mat 8:16
·The wind and waves obeyed Him – Mat 8:23
·He raised a girl from the dead – Mat 9:25
·He made the blind to see – Mat 9:29
·Made the mute to speak – Mat 9:32
These were all MIGHTY WORKS!
(Fulfilling what He told these people in Luk 4:18)
MIGHTY WORKS!
All this was done outside their city! Why?
Because one reason.
Matthew 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Tell me friend ; How is your faith today? Do you still believe that Jesus can save the lost, heal the sick, make the blind to see and set captives free. Do you? Do you really?
What amazes me is the fact that they knew about the Mighty work that he had done.
Look at Matthew 13:54
“They were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?”.
The question is then :
Why didn’t they have faith to work these miracles?
There is a few reasons:
1.They knew His past:
Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? “
This is the same reason why it is sometimes difficult to testify to your family, for they know you before you came to the Lord.
Jesus however had nothing to be ashamed of that’s why His blood washes you clean and makes you blameless. (Eph 1:4)
2.They didn’t have a vision;
They didn’t have a vision of what Jesus can do. How He can save your friends , your family, heal the sick etc.
Or what they could do through Jesus.
Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
There is no vision of perishing souls or eternity
3.There was no prayer;
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Prayer moves the arm of God.
Satan hates a prayer life.
4.There was no care for lost souls.
No Soul Burden like the Samaritan had.
These are all faith killers
This is Miracle Killing.
People walking through these doors want to meet the real Jesus. They need the real Jesus.
This is what they will find here at Agapè
