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AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD

Text: Luke 7:11-30
23 November 2008

(I) THE EXEMPLARY FAITH OF THE CENTURION

1. The Centurion’s faith stood out.

a) Displayed great humility and great unworthiness ( Luke 7:6-7 )

b) Great faith in the words of Jesus ( Luke 7:7-8 )

2. The Lord Jesus commended the great faith of the Centurion

“…’I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’ ” Luke 7:9

3. The least likely person to see Lord’s glory and yet he did

a) He was a Gentile

b) He did not have much knowledge

(II) THE TOTAL LACK OF FAITH OF THE WIDOW AT NAIN

1. The widow at Nain was not described as one who had faith

a) She had just lost her only son ( Luke 7:12 )

b) She was weeping sorrowfully ( Luke 7:13 )

c) She did not display any faith at all.

2. The Lord Jesus having compassion on her.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ ” Luke 7:13

3. The Lord presented her dead son alive to her (Luke 7:16)

4. All (Including her) glorified God

“Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen up among us’; and, ‘God has visited His people.’ ” Luke 7:16

(III) THE WAVERING FAITH OF JOHN THE BAPTISER

1. The most likely person to glorify God but he did not.

a) He had knowledge

b) He had certainty of faith ( John 1:35 )

c) He had a good ministry

2. Unable to glorify the Lord because of his predicament

a) Being held in prison

“…he shut John up in prison.” Luke 3:20

b) Struggles with doubts whether Jesus was the Messiah

“And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, ‘Are you the Coming One or do we look for another?’ ” Luke 7:19

(IV) THE LORD JESUS STRENGTHENING JOHN’S FAITH

1. The special performance of miracles

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things that you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.’ ” Luke 7:22

2. The challenge to exercise greater faith in Him

“…blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Luke 7:23

a) Learning not to be offended

b) Learning to focus on the Lord

c) Trusting in the Lord’s plans

(V) GETTING DOWN TO CHECKING OUR FAITH

1. Do we possess a faith that sees the Lord’s glory?

2. If not, are we seeking such a faith?

3. If our faith is wavering, are we seeking the strengthening of our faith?