In The Selfsame Hour

Text: Matthew 8:5-13

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (06/24/01)

Introduction:   

Briefly recount the events of this story.

NOTE: The different details as recorded by Luke (Luke 7:1-10).

He sent the elders of the Jews then a group of friends, whereas in Matthew we are told only of his speaking to Christ.

EMPHASIZE vs.13 “In the Selfsame Hour”!!

The Daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman

Matthew 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The Father of the Demoniac

Matthew 17:18  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

STRESS the immediacy and the completeness of the change

Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

APPLICATIONS: You may not be the recipient of a miracle of physical healing such as recorded here.  But there are some areas in your life that can and will and must be changed.

EXAMPLES: - Marriage, finances, walk with God, relationships, attitude, habitual sin, eternal destiny etc.

Not all outward change is instantaneous….

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

There is a progressive sanctification in the Christian life.

Nothing is static – you either progress or regress.

But there must be at times sweeping changes in direction, desire, and destiny.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What was significant about the hour of change for the Centurion’s servant?

I. The Hour of Dependence on Christ vs.5-7

A. The Desperate Need of His Servant vs.6

PALSY – Paralysis (descibe)

Jesus healed a number of individuals who were palsied.

Among the Romans this sort of compassion shown to a servant was highly unusual.

Servants were seen as chattel; property.

This centurion was an unusually good and compassionate man, and he was deeply concerned about the condition of the servant.  Luke tells us the man was at the point of death.

Do you realize your desperate nee for Christ?

What price are you willing to pay for change?

What are you depending upon?  Is this an hour of dependence upon Christ alone?

B. He Came to Christ

He had heard of Christ, perhaps he had heard of the leper’s healing.

He knew Christ alone could help him.

C. He Recognized the Contrast of his life to that of Jesus

“LORD” vs.6 & 8 / “I am a man” vs.9

Revelation is foundational to relationship.

John 8:24-25  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

II. The Hour of Humility vs.8

A. The Jews saw him as a Worthy man.

Luke 7:4-5  And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5  For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

He was a man of good works / Builder of a synagogue / A lover of God’s people – the Jews

B. He saw his own Moral Inadequacy

“I am not worthy”!!

Proverbs 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

III. The Hour of Submission to Christ’s Authority vs.9

A. He knew how to submit to human authority

He was a man “Under Authority”.  And also a man with authority!

B. He understood submission from the viewpoint of leadership.

“I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

He is one of three centurions in the NT who likely were saved.  One who thrust the spear in Christ’s side, Cornelius and this man.

Acts 10:1-2  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Acts 10:33  Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Oh that our obedience were so straightforward and simple!!

C. He recognized Christ’s divine authority in all things.

Over Sickness, Satan and the Storm (Outline of Matt. 8)

If Christ can do all these things, can He not change your life?

If He has authority over sickness, the storm and Satan himself, does He not have authority over the issues of your life?

We say “I can’t”.  When we say that in reference to the commands and precepts of Scripture, we are truly saying “God Cannot”!

God Can!!! And Paul said…..You know what’s coming…

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

IV. The Hour of Faith vs.10-13

“Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” Vs.8

A. Christ marveled at the greatness of his faith vs.10.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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.

B. Christ rebuked the lack of faith among His own people vs.10

“No, not in Israel”.

ILLUS: Acts 12 (Peter’s release fro Herodian Jail)  We are so often like the people praying within the house!!

C. Better to follow the faith of the Roman, than the religion of the Self-righteous. Vs.11

“many shall come from the east and west”

Many Gentiles would believe in the days to come.  This Roman Centurion may have been the first.

Abraham called “the father of all them that believe” Romans 4:11

Conclusion:     (Review)

In The Selfsame Hour!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!

Of Healing

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Of Hearing

Hebrews 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Of Helping

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.