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Sunday Message for the Bilingual Brethren - 17 May 2020 : “Such great faith”

Text: Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
17 May 2020

VIDEO MESSAGE 17 May 2020
BI-LINGUAL BRETHREN

Text: Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

Title: “Such great faith”

INTRODUCTION

1. Faith is an important truth we must seek to understand as fully as possible

2. Without Faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

3. God wants us to have Faith

a) A Genuine Faith

b) A Good Faith

c) A Growing Faith

d) A Great Faith

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

1. This Book was written by one of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ

2. He wrote his Gospel to help people find Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

3. He wrote a number of things to help his readers to grow their faith

a) Instructions as to how anyone can find grow his faith

b) Inspirational stories that will help us find hope in the growth of our faith

4. Matthew wrote honestly (candidly)

a) He noted that the Lord Jesus pointed out the fact that His disciples were
people of “little faith” (Matthew 6:30)

b) He included himself as one of those who had “little faith”

i) It was humbling to write these words

ii) But those words were true

iii) Though he and his friends were called Disciples, they found it hard
to grow their faith

c) Matthew wrote to help anyone who wants to grow his faith

d) It is possible to grow a faith that the Lord would commend

ISRAEL IN THE FIRST CENTURY

1. The Roman Empire

a) Rome ruled the world

b) Their ruler was called “Caesar”

2. Israel

a) It was ruled by Rome

b) Rome had appointed a king to rule the land

c) Rome had many soldiers in Israel

i) To protect the land

ii) To protect Roman interest

d) A Centurion was a Roman Officer

i) He was in charge of 100 soldiers

ii) He had a lot of authority

iii) Some soldiers were bad and bullied people

iv) This Centurion was very different

THE PROBLEM THE CENTURION HAD

1. He had a sick servant

2. This was a young boy

3. He was desperately sick

4. He wanted to ask Jesus to heal his servant-boy who was dear to him (Luke 7:2)

A FURTHER PROBLEM

1. Jews do not go to the homes of Gentiles

2. Jesus was a famous Teacher and Healer

3. The Centurion was a Gentile

4. How would he be able to ask Jesus to come and heal his sick servant?

5. The Centurion did not have an answer

THE REPUTATION OF THE CENTURION

1. He had won the respect of many, including the elders

2. These Elders came to Jesus and spoke well of the Centurion

a) That he was deserving of help (Luke 7:4)

b) He loved the nation (Luke 7:5)

c) He helped to build a synagogue (Luke 7:5)

d) They begged Jesus to help the Centurion

3. These were friends whom the centurion had sent to see Jesus (Luke 7:3-5)

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. The heart of the Lord Jesus

a) Kind

b) Compassionate

c) Of course, He would help

d) Even if the Centurion was a Gentile Roman officer

2. He made His way to the house of the Roman Centurion

a) When the Roman Officer learned that Jesus was coming to His house

b) He was “horrified”

c) How could he receive Jesus into his house?

d) He felt totally unworthy (Luke 7:6; Matthew 8:8)
(No matter what the elders had said about him)

3. The Centurion spoke to Jesus

a) Yes, his servant who was dear to him was very ill

b) He was appreciative that Jesus was planning to come to his house

c) But there was no need for Jesus to come to his house at all

4. He explained why he said that

a) He was a centurion who gave orders to his men

b) His orders were fully obeyed

c) Jesus had even greater authority

d) All Jesus needed to do was to give a word and his servant would be healed

“Only speak a word, and my servant would be healed” (Matthew 8:8)

e) This was his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

THE HIGH COMMENDATION OF THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION

1. Jesus spoke highly of the Centurion and his faith

a) “Assuredly, I say to you.
I have not found such great faith”

b) “Not even in Israel” (Matthew 8:10)

2. The Quality of Faith of the Centurion

a) It was not dependent on:

i) His race

ii) His background

iii) His past

b) It was outstanding because:

i) He had a heart that was kind and good

ii) He had understood the Lord Jesus very well

iii) He had a very humble spirit

iv) He recognized his personal unworthiness though others spoke well of him

THE CHALLENGE TO GROW OUR FAITH

1. It begins with a Genuine Faith

2. It continues with a growing Knowledge of who Jesus is

a) He was Powerful

b) His word was enough to heal

3. It developed till it was commended as “such great faith”