GRACE is critical because it is vital to everything for our spiritual present and future God’s PROVISION (Will of God) INTRODUCTION

FAITH is critical because it is vital on our side of the equation to connect with God Human ACQUISITION (Will of Man) INTRODUCTION

FAITH Brings to our life… CONFIDENCE ENDURANCE COMPLETION INTRODUCTION

Faith Essentials Everyone has it Words and Deeds stir it up or suppress it Released by the whosoever will not the few and far between INTRODUCTION

Great Faith …Quality that impresses Jesus INTRODUCTION

Gripping Matt 8: 5-13 SCRIPTURE 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." 7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." 8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Gripping Matt 8: 5-13 SCRIPTURE 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Gripping Matt 14:27-31 SCRIPTURE 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

Gripping Matt 14:27-31 SCRIPTURE 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Gripping 1 POINT ONE GREAT FAITH… Others focused & God focused

Gripping 1 POINT ONE CENTURION Roman On behalf of a servant Without demand

Gripping 1 POINT ONE LITTLE FAITH Circumstances focused and self focused

Gripping 1 POINT ONE LITTLE FAITH Disciple/Jew On behalf of self

Gripping 2 POINT TWO GREAT FAITH… Based upon Testimony Authority Word

Gripping 2 POINT TWO LITTLE FAITH… Struggling with Testimony Authority Word

Gripping 3 POINT THREE GREAT FAITH… Amazes Jesus and is commended

Gripping 3 POINT THREE LITTLE FAITH… Disappoints Jesus and needs correction, direction and teaching

Gripping CONCLUSION GREAT FAITH… A matter of quality…value…attractiven ess LITTLE FAITH… A matter of mixed quality…lower value…lack