Matthew 8:5–13  And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

Matthew 8:5–13  9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and 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. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west,

Matthew 8:5–13  and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

SCENES IN THE TEXT  A centurion beseeching Jesus for his paralyzed servant.  Jesus’ immediate and unequivocal answer. “I will come and Heal him”.  Centurion’s faith response. “Speak the Word only”  Jesus’ reply to the centurion’s faith. “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel”

CENTURION  A centurion is a commander of 100 men in the Roman army.  There were generally 6 centurions in each cohort and 10 cohorts in a legion.  Each legion had 6 tribunes to whom its centurions were subordinate.  In Acts 22:26, for example, a centurion appealed to his tribune for a decision concerning the apostle Paul.

CENTURION  A centurion’s authority was actually quite extensive because he was the working officer who had direct contact with the men.  He went to the field with them and made spontaneous decisions according to each situation.  The office of centurion was normally the highest one within reach of the ordinary soldier.

CENTURION  Centurions often rose from the ranks because of their experience and knowledge.  After one became a centurion, further promotion could come by transfer to positions of increasing responsibility.  The highest being senior centurion over the first of 10 cohorts in a legion.

Paralysis  Paralysis is a caused by damage to the central nervous system affecting the temporary or permanent loss of sensation and/or voluntary muscle control.  This degenerative condition was usually incurable.  The paralyzed servant of the centurion was described by Luke as very sick and at the point of death (Luke 7:2).

Paralytic.  This man was the victim of this often fatal disease of paralysis which begins in the legs and spreads rapidly upward through the rest of the body.  Paralytics were included in the group of ailing people seeking Jesus’ healing:  in Galilee (Matt. 4:24),  At Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:3),  They were among those cured by Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:7).

A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY  The centurion was a commander, but he had commanders over him as well.  He had authority, but others exercised greater authority than him.  In a sense, his authority was derived from others.  He therefore recognized the supreme authority of Jesus over his life. He said “I am a man under authority.”

UNDER AUTHORITY  “I am a man under authority” meaning he knew how to obey orders.  To Jesus he said:  “ ONLY SAY THE WORD”.  He expressed belief not only in Jesus’ authority over sickness and disease, but also over time and space.

WHAT IS FAITH  Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said: “ Faith is a conviction and an assurance of things hoped for. ”  The conviction or the faith of the builder is the confidence that the building will be built. The work will be done.

FAITH  The clearest Biblical answer is found in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, for this is the faith chapter of the Bible  Twenty ‑ three times the word faith appears in this chapter.  In this chapter we see:  A declaration of faith. Whether in life or death; whether in good times or in bad times; faith deliberately and definitely decides for God.

FAITH ACTS  Notice the active words in this chapter.  Abel offered -v. 4  Enoch walked -v. 5  Noah prepared -v. 7  Abraham went -v. 8  Having faith means that I have made up my mind to do something, and I will not be distracted from doing it.

FAITH’S GREATEST CHALLENGE  Human logics or reasoning is the greatest obstacle to faith.  Faith that makes the difference is based on the hard facts of the Word of God.  Faith does not change the Word or will of God  Faith accepts God’s will under any and every circumstance.  Faith will always say, “ Lord, not my will but thy will be done ”.

FAITH  FAITH IN GOD has always been and shall always be a requisite for someone to become a Christian, as well as for them to remain a Christian. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) 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.

FAITH IN GOD  Has accomplished more work  Established more homes  Relieved more burdens  Satisfied more hearts  Fulfilled more hopes  Produced more joy  Ministered to more needs than all other sources combined.

FAITH THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE MEANS:  Serving GOD when you don ’ t feel like it, as well as when you do  Depending on GOD when you don ’ t understand, as well as when you do  Trusting GOD in the shadows, as well as in the sunshine  Believing GOD when the going gets tough, as well as when it is easy

FAITH IN GOD MEANS  Relying on Him through the bad times, as well as through the good  Obeying Him when others don ’ t, as well as when others do; and  Confiding in Him when the cupboard is empty, as well as when it ’ s full and overflowing

FAITH IN GOD GIVES US  Salvation from sin  Renewal of strength  Restoration of health  Victory over our doubts  Victory over our fears  Victory over Satan  Deliverance from temptation

FAITH  Believes the Word of God  Obeys the commands of God  Relies on the mercy of God  Trusts the wisdom of God  Accepts the will of God  Stands on the promises of God  Enjoys the fellowship of God

FAITH BELIEVES THAT  God’s Word is accurate  God’s mercy is abundant  God’s grace is sufficient  God’s presence is assuring  God’s sacrifice is adequate for full forgiveness!

FAITH SEES  Joy, in spite of the present sorrow  Glory, in spite of the present gloom  Peace, in spite of the present turmoil  Light, in spite of the present darkness  Healing, in spite of the present sickness  Comfort, in spite of the prevailing pain  Mountain tops, in spite of the present valley  Future crown, in spite of the present cross!

FAITH NEVER FAILs  Where feelings have failed, FAITH IN GOD has conquered.  Where emotions have frustrated, FAITH IN GOD has sustained.  Where appearances have deceived, FAITH IN GOD has assured.  Where sensations have disappointed, FAITH IN GOD has rewarded.

FAITH NEVER FAILs  Where impressions have fooled, FAITH IN GOD has enhanced.  Where passions have fatigued, FAITH IN GOD has strengthened.  Where enthusiasm has misled, FAITH IN GOD has always proven true.  Faith is tough! Fire can ’ t burn nor consume, and water can ’ t wash away !

HAVE FAITH IN GOD  JESUS challenged his disciples to have faith in God when He spoke to the fig tree and it dried up from the root.  Mark 11:14 (NIV) 14 Then he said to the tree, “ May no one ever eat fruit from you again”. And his disciples heard him say it.  Mark 11:20-24 (NIV) 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD  21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “ Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered! ” 22 “ Have faith in God, ” Jesus answered. 23 “ I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘ Go, throw yourself into the sea, ’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

FAITH ALWAYS  Believes for the unbelievable  Reaches for the unreachable  Looks for the inexplicable  Asks for the unthinkable  Hopes for the impossible  Lives for the incredible  Prepares for the unexplainable!

FAITH CAN  What Philosophy can’t do, FAITH IN GOD can!  What humanism won’t do, FAITH IN GOD will!  What reasoning is afraid to do, FAITH IN GOD DOES  What positive thinking fails to do, FAITH IN GOD does  What religion comes short of doing, FAITH IN GOD does!

FAITH  What rationalism is not sure of doing, FAITH IN GOD is sure that He is “ Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think! ”  Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

FAITH MOVES GOD  When God sees faith He acts:  Matthew 9:2 (KJV) 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.  Matthew 9:22 (KJV) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

FAITH MOVES GOD  Matthew 9:29 (KJV) 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.  Matthew 15:28 (KJV) 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.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN  A fear that FAITH could not face  A temptation that FAITH could not overcome  A doubt that FAITH could not destroy  A burden that FAITH could not carry  A ministry that FAITH could not perform

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN  A job that FAITH could not tackle  A cross that FAITH could not bear  A battle that FAITH could not fight  A mountain that FAITH could not climb  A darkness that FAITH could not dispel  An enemy that FAITH could not defeat

FAITH TRUMPs EVERYTIME  FAITH does not go back, turn back, or even look back.  Faith keeps looking unto Jesus Christ, it ’ s Author and it ’ s Finisher !  When there was no way, FAITH found a way  When there was no hope, FAITH created hope  When there was no joy, FAITH discovered joy  When there was no peace, FAITH brought peace  When there was no strength, FAITH provided strength  When there was no remedy, FAITH produced a remedy!

FAITH THEN AND NOW  It was through FAITH that:  Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice  Noah built and entered the ark  Jochebed hid the infant Moses  Joshua marched around the walls of Jericho  David slew the giant of the Philistines  The three Hebrews were not burnt in the flames of fire  Daniel was not eaten by the hungry lions  FAITH DID IT THEN, AND CAN DO IT NOW!

IT WAS BY FAITH THAT  Moses entered into the courts of Pharaoh  The Israelites passed through the midst of the Red Sea  They lived on manna and quail for 40 years  Their clothes lasted throughout the wilderness wanderings  They followed the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night

SHOW GOD YOUR FAITH  Matthew 15:21-30 (NIV) The Faith of the Canaanite Woman  21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession. ”

SHOW GOD YOUR FAITH  23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “ Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us. ”  24 He answered, “ I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. ”  25 The woman came and knelt before him. “ Lord, help me! ” she said.

SHOW GOD YOUR FAITH  26 He replied, “ It is not right to take the children ’ s bread and toss it to their dogs. ”  27 “ Yes, Lord, ” she said, “ but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters ’ table. ”  28 Then Jesus answered, “ Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. ” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.