Daniel Pasaribu
"AN AMAZING FAITH TO EXERCISE IN 2012" (Luke 7: 1-10)
Monday Sermon For LJUSC, JANUARY 30, 2012
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May I greet you all my brethren in Jesus Name and praising our Father in Heaven for the precious opportunity to share and minister to you, concerning the sermon of “An Amazing Faith” to give you knowledge ,power and authority to proof that the impossibility of everything can become a possibility when we all trusting in God with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding, for nothing is impossible with God. I believe that living in faith by the Word of God will enable you to overcome the world, for we are more than conquerors trough Him who loved us and having the power and authority to defeat our enemies from the Kingdom of Darkness since before the foundation of the world God has made us a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation and His own Special People for His Kingdom on this earth.
It is also my special privilege to share this message with you that we will be able to exercise our faith miraculously in the year of 2012, so that we will see everything what we speak will come to pass and whatever we ask when we pray, believe that you receive them and we will have them . When we do not doubt in our heart, but we believe that everything what we say will be done, then finally we will have whatever we say in Jesus Name.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Faith is a foundation of most of our lives. It is the basis of all religions. It is the glue that holds all relationships together. Faith is the fundamental requirement for Christianity. It says in the Bible that Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Salvation according to Christianity is a work of God in Christ through our faith. Faith is the trigger that releases the salvation that is a gift of God. What happens, however, when we lose our faith. A fundamental principle is that faith will always be tested. Whether is a result of circumstances and or an intentional act of God to develop a person is up for debate, but faith will always be tested.
A tested faith has three results: A Broken Faith, a Bent Faith, or a Tempered Faith. A Broken Faith is when there is no faith left. With a Broken Faith the person does not believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, or the Church. They may say they still believe, but for all practical purposes they do not believe because they do not live or make decisions based upon their faith. There is no trust and therefore no results flowing out of faith. A person with Broken Faith can regain their faith even when they may deny any belief at all. There is not bottom to a person with Broken Faith that Jesus cannot mend. A person with Bent Faith still holds to the basic tenets of their previous faith, but because of disappointment or failed expectations no longer walks strongly in faith in their daily living. They may walk in faith in one area, but not in another.
When examined one would class them as broken if one only looked at the bent area, but other areas can be quite strong in faith. This person might have great faith for the work of God in the lives of others and have great understanding and discernment and yet have no faith for the work of God in their own lives and therefore does not practice their faith throughout their life. This person too can be healed, but it often takes a greater work, because they have some and that can be regarded as enough even though some faith is never enough to satisfy and live by. Tempered Faith can be a consequence of a time of testing. This person chooses to trust Jesus Christ through the trials and tribulations.
They have faith irregardless of the kind of test, the length of the test, or what the future looks like beyond the test. Their faith is based on their relationship with Jesus and although they may wonder about when the test will end or its purpose they do not stop trusting. As a result they are able to be successful with additional and even larger trials. They are equipped to aid others as they are tested. Their relationship and fellowship with their Savior grows deeper and more intimate. What is the difference between the three? Sometimes it is personality, rearing, peer group, training, or previous experiences. Ultimately, they hit a wall and choose to no longer trust, to partially trust, or to simply trust. Today is good day to restart your faith. Begin at any point: a thought, an act, a choice, a life.
Let’s try to know more about the meaning of Faith given by other believers or the Servant of God:
Faith is not believing that God can, it is knowing that He will.
Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt.
Faith is believing in what is true. Faith has two elements: 1) being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality, having evidence of unseen things, and 2) believing, hoping in, embracing, seizing the truth.
Faith is deaf to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities and know nothing but success in God.
"True faith requires that we believe everything God has said about Himself, but also that we believe everything he has said about US. Until we believe that we are really as bad as God says we are, we can never believe that He will do for us what He says He will do. Right here is where popular religion breaks down."
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence(or proof) of things not seen. In other words, faith makes us sure of the things we hope for, and that assurance is itself proof of these things.
Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.
Faith allows God to do for us and with us what we could never do alone.
Being sure of what you hope or and certain of what you do not see.
Faith is believing in things that common sense tells you not to.
Faith stagnates unless you expose yourself.
Faith is not a noun, it is a verb, Action is a critical part of faith.
Faith is in action when you make yourself of vulnerable - practicing what you believe.
Faith allows for no tangible evidence to make available that you may know of which would back up in support your claim, idea, theory or thought. It is simply on overwhelming and understanding that, to you, is convincing.
Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
Faith is trusting in what may not exist compared to what we have been convinced exist.
Faith is something you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe.
Dear Precious Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Our sermon today is about a Roman soldier’s faith takes us inside true faith and shows how and what faith does. In seventh chapter of Luke in verses 1-10, we find a centurion who, though he was a Gentile, understood who Christ was and is. It is the story that would of special interest to Theophilus, the Gentile to whom this account is addressed. The story is significant because this was a Gentile who exercised this faith. Even Jesus would remark that this man’s faith was amazing.
“Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. (3) So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, (5) “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” (6) Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. (7) Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(8) For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (9) When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (10) And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”
Only twice in all of Scripture was Jesus said to “marvel” or be amazed. The other time was when he began his public ministry in his hometown of Nazareth, and he was rejected by his fellow Jews – “he was amazed by their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:6, Luke 4:14-30). The centurion had a faith that was more perceptive and sensitive than anything Jesus had witnessed in Israel.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
What could be more horrible than to amaze the Son of God with one’s lack of faith? What could be more thrilling than to amaze Him with one’s faith. This centurion had amazing faith!
What I want us to consider “Why was Jesus so amazed?” What are characteristics that made this man’s faith so amazing?
1. THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO LOVE ACROSS ALL BARRIERS. (vv. 1-2)
“Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.”
Jesus has just completed the teaching know as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Now Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city on the northwest shore of the Sea.
of Galilee. While Jesus is in Capernaum, he is approached by representatives of a Roman Centurion. Centurions were commonplace in the Roman Empire. They were equivalent in rank to a modern-day army captain and normally in command of 100 soldiers.
This particular centurion had a servant who was ill, Matthew (8:6) in his account of this incident uses the term (pais) which is young child. Whoever this young man was, Luke who you will remember was a doctor, said he “was sick and ready to die.” If you have ever clung to a loved one that was at death’s door and you felt that he was slowing losing the battle, you know this centurion awful sense of helplessness.
We are told that this man loved Israel, though it was not the land of his birth. It is also evident that this man cared deeply about his young servant, was very out of the ordinary socially. And the crossed racial and ethic barriers when he as a Gentile appealed to a Jew for help.
This man loved people who were not just like himself. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel particularly effective in loving folks who live outside the social barriers around me.
Hearing that Jesus was in the area, the centurion decides to risk his reputation by going to a Jew for help.
2. THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE EXCITED AND ACTIVE IN THE WORK OF GOD. (vv. 3-4)
“So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, (5) “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
We need to understand that the Jewish elders had little love for the Romans in general and Roman soldiers in particular. This man must have been a very unique individual for the elders to be willing to approach Jesus on his behalf.
The elders not only bring the man’s request but they vouch for their Gentile friend. They argue that he is a man of integrity and he was well liked by the Jews, and worthy of Jesus’ help. Verse three says, “The elders when they approached Jesus had said, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” This man had given substantially to the building of a house of worship. Gentile worshipers were barred from the Temple in Jerusalem but not so with the synagogue, the synagogue was a place that even a Gentile could come and listen to the word of God being taught. So in the time and place this centurion lived the major way that God was using to spread his light was the synagogue system, and he used his money, his reputation and his influence to build a synagogue. This centurion consciously chose to participate. He enthusiastically involved himself in what was most apparent that God was doing.
In stark contrast, according to George Barna, the church statistician, among adults who regularly attend church (that is at least once a month) 37% did not give a dime to a church in the last year. He goes on to say that only 3-5% of the people who do give, tithe their income.
Hopefully you give because you recognize that according to God’s Word it is through the local church that he plans to reach a lost world. All of us to some extent are aware of what God is doing in the world. As we remember the example of this centurion I must ask, “What is it that God is doing that you are excited about, that matters to you, that you are enthusiastically giving yourself to?
3. THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO APPROACH CHRIST IN GREAT HUMILITY (vv. 6-7a)
We are impressed not only with this man great love, but also his great humility. This passage reveals two essential components of the Christian faith – and understanding of who Christ is and an understanding of who we are.
In verse six we find, “Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. (7) Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.”
Before Jesus could reach his house, the Centurion sent a second representative to Jesus, tell him that it was not necessary for him to come to his house. Because was familiar with Jewish religious customs, he did not wish to put Jesus in a position of having to enter the house of a Gentile.
This Roman soldier a man of considerable influence and power, was also uniquely humble, he regarded himself as undeserving of having Jesus come under his roof, and even felt unworthy of meeting Jesus in the street. This soldier, unlike the Pharisees does not ask Jesus for a sign that he was who he said he was. This man doesn’t even ask to meet him.
4. THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE WILLING TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE (vv. 7a-8)
“… But say the word, and my servant will be healed. (8) For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
The centurion apparently realized the one who had power of life and death; that could heal with a word, must be God. And if Christ is divine, then he as a Gentile sinner, was unworthy to even meet him. Respectfully he kneels before his divine authority. All Jesus must do is say the word, and he believes that it is as good as done. There is no evidence that this man ever personally heard Jesus preach and yet he believed. He made his request based on what he had heard of Jesus. Jesus promised a special blessing on people like the centurion and you.
When Jesus appeared to Thomas and removed all his doubts, and proved that he had rose from the dead he said to Thomas, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.” (John 20:29). That blessing extended to the centurion and to every believer today.
In the word “also” in verse eight we see that the officer saw a parallel between the way he commanded his soldiers and the way Jesus commanded diseases. If this Roman, with very little spiritual instruction had that kind of faith in God’s word, how much greater our faith should be.
In verse nine we see the reaction of Jesus, “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
This man’s remarks amaze Jesus, in so much, that they come a Gentile. He marveled at a Roman centurion, whose background and circumstances ought to have made it difficult for him to have faith, a man whose occupation prized being big, bad and tough, a man who was steeped in paganism, a man hated by the Jews because he was a Roman. Yet in spite of all the circumstances that went against him, here stood a man who was striking example of faith.
Almost as an afterthought Luke adds in verse ten, and oh by the way when “…those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Let’s see what is the conclusion of the message of An Amazing Faith :
What startled and impressed Jesus was the characteristics that anyone can have in their lives. Some think that an amazing faith is the ability to do the miraculous, but miracles are something that Jesus can do any time. I am concerned that you understand with me this morning that there are whose lives would impress Jesus, because of their faithful godly lives. The characteristics of an amazing faith are something that anyone can have to exercise during the perilous time in the new year of 2012.
SUMMARIZING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH:
1. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO LOVE ACROSS ALL BARRIERS.
2. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE EXCITED AND ACTIVE IN THE WORK OF GOD.
3. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE TO APPROACH CHRIST IN GREAT HUMILITY.
4. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE TO BE WILLING TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The end closing of the sermon of An Amazing Faith as the conclusion in general that Faith without action is nothing, for faith is living , bold trust is God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you and me happy, joyful and bold in your personal relationship to God and all creatures.
We have come to understand to find the purpose of the life of faith as a dynamic relationship with the Lord and an overwhelming belief that God will use your life for His ultimate glory :
1.It is faith in God that defeats death.
2 It is faith in God that determines delight.
3.It is faith in God that defines destination.
4.It is faith in God that overcomes evil.
5.It is faith in God that depends on God's will.
Dear Precious Brothers and sisters in Christ,
May I pray that the Lord Jesus will help us to have your faith changes your hearts, your spirits, your thought and all your powers and it bring the Holy Spirit with it to give a living, creative, active and powerful things on this earth especially when we live in the perilous time in the Last Days to enable us to conquer the world and its difficulties which we might face day by day as to trust the Lord at all times by His Words and pouring our hearts unto the Lord to see the amazing things to expect in the days, weeks, months to come in the year of 2012.
To God Be All The Glory And Honor,
Daniel Pasaribu
End of Sermon
"AN AMAZING FAITH TO EXERCISE IN 2012" (Luke 7: 1-10)
Monday Sermon For LJUSC, JANUARY 30, 2012
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May I greet you all my brethren in Jesus Name and praising our Father in Heaven for the precious opportunity to share and minister to you, concerning the sermon of “An Amazing Faith” to give you knowledge ,power and authority to proof that the impossibility of everything can become a possibility when we all trusting in God with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding, for nothing is impossible with God. I believe that living in faith by the Word of God will enable you to overcome the world, for we are more than conquerors trough Him who loved us and having the power and authority to defeat our enemies from the Kingdom of Darkness since before the foundation of the world God has made us a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation and His own Special People for His Kingdom on this earth.
It is also my special privilege to share this message with you that we will be able to exercise our faith miraculously in the year of 2012, so that we will see everything what we speak will come to pass and whatever we ask when we pray, believe that you receive them and we will have them . When we do not doubt in our heart, but we believe that everything what we say will be done, then finally we will have whatever we say in Jesus Name.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Faith is a foundation of most of our lives. It is the basis of all religions. It is the glue that holds all relationships together. Faith is the fundamental requirement for Christianity. It says in the Bible that Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Salvation according to Christianity is a work of God in Christ through our faith. Faith is the trigger that releases the salvation that is a gift of God. What happens, however, when we lose our faith. A fundamental principle is that faith will always be tested. Whether is a result of circumstances and or an intentional act of God to develop a person is up for debate, but faith will always be tested.
A tested faith has three results: A Broken Faith, a Bent Faith, or a Tempered Faith. A Broken Faith is when there is no faith left. With a Broken Faith the person does not believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, or the Church. They may say they still believe, but for all practical purposes they do not believe because they do not live or make decisions based upon their faith. There is no trust and therefore no results flowing out of faith. A person with Broken Faith can regain their faith even when they may deny any belief at all. There is not bottom to a person with Broken Faith that Jesus cannot mend. A person with Bent Faith still holds to the basic tenets of their previous faith, but because of disappointment or failed expectations no longer walks strongly in faith in their daily living. They may walk in faith in one area, but not in another.
When examined one would class them as broken if one only looked at the bent area, but other areas can be quite strong in faith. This person might have great faith for the work of God in the lives of others and have great understanding and discernment and yet have no faith for the work of God in their own lives and therefore does not practice their faith throughout their life. This person too can be healed, but it often takes a greater work, because they have some and that can be regarded as enough even though some faith is never enough to satisfy and live by. Tempered Faith can be a consequence of a time of testing. This person chooses to trust Jesus Christ through the trials and tribulations.
They have faith irregardless of the kind of test, the length of the test, or what the future looks like beyond the test. Their faith is based on their relationship with Jesus and although they may wonder about when the test will end or its purpose they do not stop trusting. As a result they are able to be successful with additional and even larger trials. They are equipped to aid others as they are tested. Their relationship and fellowship with their Savior grows deeper and more intimate. What is the difference between the three? Sometimes it is personality, rearing, peer group, training, or previous experiences. Ultimately, they hit a wall and choose to no longer trust, to partially trust, or to simply trust. Today is good day to restart your faith. Begin at any point: a thought, an act, a choice, a life.
Let’s try to know more about the meaning of Faith given by other believers or the Servant of God:
Faith is not believing that God can, it is knowing that He will.
Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt.
Faith is believing in what is true. Faith has two elements: 1) being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality, having evidence of unseen things, and 2) believing, hoping in, embracing, seizing the truth.
Faith is deaf to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities and know nothing but success in God.
"True faith requires that we believe everything God has said about Himself, but also that we believe everything he has said about US. Until we believe that we are really as bad as God says we are, we can never believe that He will do for us what He says He will do. Right here is where popular religion breaks down."
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence(or proof) of things not seen. In other words, faith makes us sure of the things we hope for, and that assurance is itself proof of these things.
Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we are not permitted to see.
Faith allows God to do for us and with us what we could never do alone.
Being sure of what you hope or and certain of what you do not see.
Faith is believing in things that common sense tells you not to.
Faith stagnates unless you expose yourself.
Faith is not a noun, it is a verb, Action is a critical part of faith.
Faith is in action when you make yourself of vulnerable - practicing what you believe.
Faith allows for no tangible evidence to make available that you may know of which would back up in support your claim, idea, theory or thought. It is simply on overwhelming and understanding that, to you, is convincing.
Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
Faith is trusting in what may not exist compared to what we have been convinced exist.
Faith is something you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe.
Dear Precious Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Our sermon today is about a Roman soldier’s faith takes us inside true faith and shows how and what faith does. In seventh chapter of Luke in verses 1-10, we find a centurion who, though he was a Gentile, understood who Christ was and is. It is the story that would of special interest to Theophilus, the Gentile to whom this account is addressed. The story is significant because this was a Gentile who exercised this faith. Even Jesus would remark that this man’s faith was amazing.
“Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. (3) So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, (5) “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” (6) Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. (7) Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(8) For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (9) When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (10) And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”
Only twice in all of Scripture was Jesus said to “marvel” or be amazed. The other time was when he began his public ministry in his hometown of Nazareth, and he was rejected by his fellow Jews – “he was amazed by their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:6, Luke 4:14-30). The centurion had a faith that was more perceptive and sensitive than anything Jesus had witnessed in Israel.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
What could be more horrible than to amaze the Son of God with one’s lack of faith? What could be more thrilling than to amaze Him with one’s faith. This centurion had amazing faith!
What I want us to consider “Why was Jesus so amazed?” What are characteristics that made this man’s faith so amazing?
1. THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO LOVE ACROSS ALL BARRIERS. (vv. 1-2)
“Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.”
Jesus has just completed the teaching know as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Now Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city on the northwest shore of the Sea.
of Galilee. While Jesus is in Capernaum, he is approached by representatives of a Roman Centurion. Centurions were commonplace in the Roman Empire. They were equivalent in rank to a modern-day army captain and normally in command of 100 soldiers.
This particular centurion had a servant who was ill, Matthew (8:6) in his account of this incident uses the term (pais) which is young child. Whoever this young man was, Luke who you will remember was a doctor, said he “was sick and ready to die.” If you have ever clung to a loved one that was at death’s door and you felt that he was slowing losing the battle, you know this centurion awful sense of helplessness.
We are told that this man loved Israel, though it was not the land of his birth. It is also evident that this man cared deeply about his young servant, was very out of the ordinary socially. And the crossed racial and ethic barriers when he as a Gentile appealed to a Jew for help.
This man loved people who were not just like himself. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel particularly effective in loving folks who live outside the social barriers around me.
Hearing that Jesus was in the area, the centurion decides to risk his reputation by going to a Jew for help.
2. THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE EXCITED AND ACTIVE IN THE WORK OF GOD. (vv. 3-4)
“So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, (5) “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
We need to understand that the Jewish elders had little love for the Romans in general and Roman soldiers in particular. This man must have been a very unique individual for the elders to be willing to approach Jesus on his behalf.
The elders not only bring the man’s request but they vouch for their Gentile friend. They argue that he is a man of integrity and he was well liked by the Jews, and worthy of Jesus’ help. Verse three says, “The elders when they approached Jesus had said, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” This man had given substantially to the building of a house of worship. Gentile worshipers were barred from the Temple in Jerusalem but not so with the synagogue, the synagogue was a place that even a Gentile could come and listen to the word of God being taught. So in the time and place this centurion lived the major way that God was using to spread his light was the synagogue system, and he used his money, his reputation and his influence to build a synagogue. This centurion consciously chose to participate. He enthusiastically involved himself in what was most apparent that God was doing.
In stark contrast, according to George Barna, the church statistician, among adults who regularly attend church (that is at least once a month) 37% did not give a dime to a church in the last year. He goes on to say that only 3-5% of the people who do give, tithe their income.
Hopefully you give because you recognize that according to God’s Word it is through the local church that he plans to reach a lost world. All of us to some extent are aware of what God is doing in the world. As we remember the example of this centurion I must ask, “What is it that God is doing that you are excited about, that matters to you, that you are enthusiastically giving yourself to?
3. THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO APPROACH CHRIST IN GREAT HUMILITY (vv. 6-7a)
We are impressed not only with this man great love, but also his great humility. This passage reveals two essential components of the Christian faith – and understanding of who Christ is and an understanding of who we are.
In verse six we find, “Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. (7) Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.”
Before Jesus could reach his house, the Centurion sent a second representative to Jesus, tell him that it was not necessary for him to come to his house. Because was familiar with Jewish religious customs, he did not wish to put Jesus in a position of having to enter the house of a Gentile.
This Roman soldier a man of considerable influence and power, was also uniquely humble, he regarded himself as undeserving of having Jesus come under his roof, and even felt unworthy of meeting Jesus in the street. This soldier, unlike the Pharisees does not ask Jesus for a sign that he was who he said he was. This man doesn’t even ask to meet him.
4. THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH WAS THAT IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE WILLING TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE (vv. 7a-8)
“… But say the word, and my servant will be healed. (8) For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
The centurion apparently realized the one who had power of life and death; that could heal with a word, must be God. And if Christ is divine, then he as a Gentile sinner, was unworthy to even meet him. Respectfully he kneels before his divine authority. All Jesus must do is say the word, and he believes that it is as good as done. There is no evidence that this man ever personally heard Jesus preach and yet he believed. He made his request based on what he had heard of Jesus. Jesus promised a special blessing on people like the centurion and you.
When Jesus appeared to Thomas and removed all his doubts, and proved that he had rose from the dead he said to Thomas, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.” (John 20:29). That blessing extended to the centurion and to every believer today.
In the word “also” in verse eight we see that the officer saw a parallel between the way he commanded his soldiers and the way Jesus commanded diseases. If this Roman, with very little spiritual instruction had that kind of faith in God’s word, how much greater our faith should be.
In verse nine we see the reaction of Jesus, “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
This man’s remarks amaze Jesus, in so much, that they come a Gentile. He marveled at a Roman centurion, whose background and circumstances ought to have made it difficult for him to have faith, a man whose occupation prized being big, bad and tough, a man who was steeped in paganism, a man hated by the Jews because he was a Roman. Yet in spite of all the circumstances that went against him, here stood a man who was striking example of faith.
Almost as an afterthought Luke adds in verse ten, and oh by the way when “…those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Let’s see what is the conclusion of the message of An Amazing Faith :
What startled and impressed Jesus was the characteristics that anyone can have in their lives. Some think that an amazing faith is the ability to do the miraculous, but miracles are something that Jesus can do any time. I am concerned that you understand with me this morning that there are whose lives would impress Jesus, because of their faithful godly lives. The characteristics of an amazing faith are something that anyone can have to exercise during the perilous time in the new year of 2012.
SUMMARIZING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF AN AMAZING FAITH:
1. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO LOVE ACROSS ALL BARRIERS.
2. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE EXCITED AND ACTIVE IN THE WORK OF GOD.
3. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE TO APPROACH CHRIST IN GREAT HUMILITY.
4. IT CAUSED THIS MAN TO BE TO BE WILLING TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE.
Dear Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The end closing of the sermon of An Amazing Faith as the conclusion in general that Faith without action is nothing, for faith is living , bold trust is God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you and me happy, joyful and bold in your personal relationship to God and all creatures.
We have come to understand to find the purpose of the life of faith as a dynamic relationship with the Lord and an overwhelming belief that God will use your life for His ultimate glory :
1.It is faith in God that defeats death.
2 It is faith in God that determines delight.
3.It is faith in God that defines destination.
4.It is faith in God that overcomes evil.
5.It is faith in God that depends on God's will.
Dear Precious Brothers and sisters in Christ,
May I pray that the Lord Jesus will help us to have your faith changes your hearts, your spirits, your thought and all your powers and it bring the Holy Spirit with it to give a living, creative, active and powerful things on this earth especially when we live in the perilous time in the Last Days to enable us to conquer the world and its difficulties which we might face day by day as to trust the Lord at all times by His Words and pouring our hearts unto the Lord to see the amazing things to expect in the days, weeks, months to come in the year of 2012.
To God Be All The Glory And Honor,
Daniel Pasaribu
End of Sermon
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