Mega (GREAT) Faith
“Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”
Introduction: Ever had a “Bad Hair” day? Perhaps we all have. Building strong FAITH in Jesus is a process….one test after another….either pass or fail….and back to the drawing board – or the Potter’s wheel. Right? Dr. Luke shares (5) steps from a crisis of FAITH turned into a cure of FAITH:
If we are going to develop “MEGA FAITH”in Jesus…
1. Don’t lose HOPE! (Luke 7:2)
While in the Galilee area (upper area of Israel – most of His ministry), Jesus goes to a place called Capernaum.
“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and ready to die.” (A centurion was a Roman soldier, a man of authority who had between 50 -100 men)
• Feelings of hopelessness – You?
• Feelings of loneliness – You?
• Facing hardships – You?
2. If we are going to develop “MEGA FAITH” in Jesus…. (Luke 7:3)
Don’t GIVE UP!
“And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.”
• “When he heard of Jesus” – FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17)
• Real FAITH spreads! “he sent unto the elders”
3. If we are going to develop “MEGA FAITH” in Jesus…. (Luke 7:4-6)
We’ve got to MOVE forward!
“And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly…..then Jesus went with them.” (“Besought” – means kept on – “instantly” means earnestly)
• It’s one thing to BELIEVE in Jesus and go to heaven
• It’s another thing to BELIEVE in Jesus and let Him have CONTROL
4. If we are going to develop “MEGA FAITH” in Jesus…. (Luke 7:6-10)
We will realize His WORTHINESS!
“The centurion sent friends to him… saying Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof…but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed….For I also am a man under authority.”
• Coming under His Authority
• Is a Priority
• Not for the Superiority (“know it alls” – Lord help us!)
5. If we are going to develop “MEGA FAITH” in Jesus, (Luke 7:9, 10)
It requires a TRUST that He is greater than any situation we face!
“When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him….and said…I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel….returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”
Jesus is greater than any Mountain (Mark 11)
- any Valley (Psa 23:4)
- any Storm (Acts 27)
- any Sorrow (Psa 149:5, 6)
- any Hurt or Pain (2 Cor 1:3-5)
- any Trouble (John 14:1)
Conclusion: Jesus responds to “MEGA FAITH”! Keep in mind, the reason He demonstrated His miraculous healing power both THEN and NOW was and is to authenticate He is who He said He was, God; and by showing and proving that, we would TRUST Him, LOVE Him, and SERVE Him.
So don’t lose hope, or give up… but move forward, realizing His worthiness, and because Jesus is greater than any situation we face!