20151001 DO YOU BELIEVE?

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Matthew 9:27-30  After Jesus left the girl's home, two blind men followed along behind Him, shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"  (28)  They went right into the house where He was staying, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can make you see?" "Yes, Lord," they told Him, "we do."  (29)  Then He touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, it will happen."  (30)  Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, "Don't tell anyone about this."

I want to focus on three words from this passage, "Do you believe?” 

These two blind men believed enough to make a spectacle of themselves shouting and following Jesus. They even went right into the house after Him.

What is your situation that you need Jesus to intervene in? Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. (James 4:2b) Have you asked God to meet your need? Have you refused to be silent toward Him about it? Are you following Him?

The answer to Jesus’ question is found in the actions as much as the words. What do your actions say about what you believe Jesus can and will do. I have met many people who have just stopped asking because they didn’t get what they were after on the first try. Keep on knocking. Keep on asking. Keep on seeking.

Father in heaven, increase our faith. Make our faith strong enough that we keep on asking. And then, hear us and answer with miracles in our varied situations. Grant health to the sick. Meet that financial need of the one who has been crying out to You. Repair that relationship that is broken. Provide that job. Grant boldness to the timid. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150910 AMAZING FAITH

AMAZING FAITH

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, (6) "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." (7) Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." (8) 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. (9) 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." (10) 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! (11) And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. (12) But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (13) Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.

This Roman soldier came to Jesus for his servant and he came with a faith that amazed Jesus. Jesus points this out and berates His own people for their lack of faith and gives them a strong warning about the outcome of those who choose not to believe.

I think it important to comment on the illustration the Roman officer gave. He recognized Jesus as having the authority to simply speak a command and all of creation would have no choice but to obey.

Jesus honors his faith by speaking, “Because you believed, it has happened."

Father in heaven, grant us that kind of believing, understanding faith. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!