Amazing Faith

Introduction:

Have you ever been amazed by something?

Have you ever been left dumbfounded by something too incredible to believe?

Hebrews 11:1-2 (CEV)
1 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2 It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.

Today we’re going to talk about faith and our assurance of receiving God’s promises. 

Some people ask why Christians puts so much emphasis on faith.  I say that it is God and not us who have made the need for faith so obvious.  

Hebrews 11:6 (CEV)
6 But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.

Today we’re going to talk about a man with amazing faith, faith so amazing that even Jesus was astounded.

Luke 7:1-10 (CEV)
1 After Jesus had finished teaching the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 In that town an army officer’s servant was sick and about to die. The officer liked this servant very much. 3 And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish leaders to ask him to come and heal the servant. 4 The leaders went to Jesus and begged him to do something. They said, “This man deserves your help! 5 He loves our nation and even built us a meeting place.” 6 So Jesus went with them. When Jesus wasn’t far from the house, the officer sent some friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t go to any trouble for me! I am not good enough for you to come into my house. 7 And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will get well. 8 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “In all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith!” 10 The officer’s friends returned and found the servant well.

1.      SICK AND AT DEATH’S DOOR (Man’s sickness is sin)

Romans 6:6 (CEV)
6 We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin.

Sexual immorality, vices, lying – sin carries consequences (Homes are being destroyed – we live in a society where broken homes are the norm and no longer an exception).

When we carry sin in our lives it is like carrying a dead body with us. 

• It wears us out and makes us slower.
• Makes other people not want to be around us.

I once heard a country preacher say, “Sin abounds because we treat it like a cake and not a rattlesnake.” 

2.      TO WHO ARE YOU WORTHY?

Luke 7:3-7 (CEV)
3 And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish leaders to ask him to come and heal the servant. 4 The leaders went to Jesus and begged him to do something. They said, “This man deserves your help! 5 He loves our nation and even built us a meeting place.” 6 So Jesus went with them. When Jesus wasn’t far from the house, the officer sent some friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t go to any trouble for me! I am not good enough for you to come into my house. 7 And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will get well.

A.     The Jewish leaders were shallow – basing his merit on his deeds.

• They were more focused on the fact that he had a synagogue than on his way of living.
• Many people preach of their good deeds but do not live a life that demands respect.

Matthew 7:21-23 (CEV)
21 Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. 22 On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, “We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles.” 23 But I will tell them, “I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!”

B.     The Roman officer didn’t feel worthy of Jesus’ visit.

Romans 3:23 (CEV)
23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

1. None of us are worthy of having a relationship with God… our actions have actually separated us from Him. BUT  

Romans 3:24-27 (CEV)
24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. 25 God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so that by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus. 27 What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith.

·         God wants to forgive us and make us new creations... he is rooting for us to make right decisions in our lives.

3.       FAITH THAT AMAZES

Luke 7:7-10 (CEV)
7 And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will get well. 8 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “In all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith!” 10 The officer’s friends returned and found the servant well.

·         Amazing faith is accompanied by humility… I don’t deserve to come to you.

o   Do we really realize that we don’t deserve that Jesus comes to us OR are we demanding and hurt if He doesn’t do exactly what we want.

o   Just say the word… you don’t even need to come.  So many times we make others jump through hoops in order to convince us.  The centurion stated you say it and it will happen. 

·         Amazing faith is aggressive

o   The centurion sent friends to Jesus.

o   If you’re visiting us today someone is going to ask you to study the Bible, but if you know that you have spiritual needs don’t wait for them (It’s your life).

·         Amazing faith produces results

o   There was no doubt in the centurions mind… he recognized Jesus’ authority and believed that whatever he commanded would come to pass.

o   God wants us to have a faith that produces results

"But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all." (James 1:6-8, CEV)

o   We need to be resolved to change… Make up your mind today to study the Bible and no longer be tossed around.

Let us resolve today to have amazing faith: to recognize our sin and lack of worthiness, but to trust God at His word and be awe struck as God produces change in our lives.