God Wants Your Faith To Grow, Part 1

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ seem to say more.

If you are willing is a tremendous much greater statement of faith than simply declare the Lord to make because what he is saying is I trust you so much good. Even though joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana going pastor Bill Gebhart now is once again he shows us how God's word. Our world we live who possesses great faith. Remember the first time I read the story of John Hus and how he was martyred for his faith.

The priesthood come to Christ that was burned at the stake and why he was being burned alive.

He was singing hymns and praise to Jesus Christ, to give Elizabeth Elliott that after the Al Qaeda Indians in East Ecuador had killed her husband, Jim, she and some other ladies went back into that very tribe and led them to Jesus Christ. I think of Johnny Erickson taught as a young girl find yourself with the swimming pool accident that leaves the third being a Quadra week and what her life has meant to all of us in the glory of her Savior. You imagine what it be like to have that kind of faith. I mean really, can you imagine what it be like to have that kind of faith great faith strong faith, the kind of faith that when things go bad in your life. Your initial responses. I'm okay I'm fine I piece you face this tremendous temptation which we all inevitably do, and your initial responses. No, I'm not going there. Now I'm not getting given to that the Lord will give me the strength to resist this when something great happens to you, I mean something wonderful unexpected money or fame or notoriety in your initial responses. I will let that change me. The Lord will keep me focused and humble a life of virtually no worry or anxiety or fear when it comes to the issues of my country or my career or my marriage or my kids or my health or my finances. I'm just going to trust the Lord with that. You must admit that's a very attractive proposition in to have that kind of faith that's exactly the kind of faith God wants you that kind of faith we were created to have a close and intimate relationship with God and all relationships are based on trust. In fact, if you think of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. It wasn't simply an act of disobedience. It wasn't so much that all God said don't eat that UA did not going to get it now.

It was all about Adam and Eve's refusal to trust God.

Remember what the serpent said has God said, did God really say that you see the whole ideas he can't be trusted. He's withholding something from you is a lack of trust. The old and New Testament reveals the story of God reaching out to humankind trying to reestablish this great trust between us and our maker God wants you to have a big faith.

Think about it, virtually the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is people who trust God and people who don't. That's what it comes down to. Even when God started a relationship with Israel.

His covenant people. He had the relationship going on for centuries before he introduced the commandments.

You see, relationship is always a priority over obedience. In fact, relationship establishes the grounds for obedience.

Could you imagine what it would be like to have that kind of faith.

By the way, when Jesus came he didn't bring more commandments not all.

When Jesus came he basically came with this message. Trust me, that's his message. Trust me, that's what he wanted.

That's what Jesus one to bring about for us. It's how we establish a relationship with God is how we grow closer and closer to the Lord, the size of your faith the size of your faith produces the abundant Christian life that Christ that's why so few of us have it. A life that's marked with peace and joy and hope.

Regardless of circumstances.

Why because we trust him. Jesus spent so much of his earthly ministry.

Just trying to teach that bedrock truth open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 8 Matthew chapter 8 the context of Matthew chapter rates again. Very simple. It comes after Matthew five, six and seven and that's important because Matthew five, six and seven is the sermon on the Mount. In other words, Jesus basically says in five, six and seven that if you trust me if you have great faith. This is what your life will look like.

You see, this is what it's going to be. This is the great teaching of the Lord himself to have them trust his words. You'll notice, though, at the end of chapter 7 Jesus summarizes the whole thing in verse 24 he says therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them. They may be be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, let me paraphrase that life happened.

You see, life happened uses all these great metaphors rain and floods and winds and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock and everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain fell on the floods came in. The winds blew and slammed against that house, and it fell great was its fall, when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, not as the scribes see what does it take to act upon the words of Christ. All these things he says in five, six and seven. What does it take trust. It takes faith on your part. You actually say. I believe that you see I believe what he is saying is right what you're saying is true and so then in chapters 8 and nine, Matthew wonderfully gives us a perfect position because Jesus says look I want to give him the more reason to trust me, not just my words but who I am. He authenticates the words of five, six and seven.

The sermon on the Mount and the miracles that he performs and 89 he's authenticating what he is saying, look, you can trust me.

I am exactly who I claim to be and so he starts out in chapter 8, and he performs three miracles in this very first section in each of these miracles have common characteristics, one of thing is this the each deal with the lowest level of human need the physical think it just starts with reasonably physical.

We have physical needs. He says okay I'll meet your physical needs, and he does.

Secondly, all three groups or people involved are people that the religious leaders of the day said aren't worthy to even speak to, let alone minister to three distinctly different groups and then thoroughly in each case, Matthew wants to make you understand that Jesus said I am willing this is an action of my will. So let's look at the first one Jesus heals a leper. When Jesus came down from the mountain. Large crowds followed him in a leper came to him the words lacrosse it means scaly, literally one W. scales. We talked about it often in the past. What leprosy does. Of all the things it does one thing for sure does in Israel makes you ceremonially unclean. No one will ever touch you again unless there leper's himself in an amazing thing. No one ever. In fact, under the Jewish law set up by the Pharisees, you had to stay 6 feet away from a leper. If the winds will call if the wind was blowing 150 feet rough and amazing you can't go near a leper.

It is the worst possible thing to me not only what it does to you physically, but just imagine the emotional and psychological damage, and in the social damage. The leprosy does one of the ancient rabbis says this when I see lepers I throw stones at them was they come near me another rabbi said this, I would not so much as eat an egg that was purchased on the street were a leper had walked that tells you what leprosy is like and what they were thought of and so here it I leper came to him bow down before him, worship could you imagine. I'm sure the disciples get away from him get away from them.

Get away from him and many great words of faith, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.

Notice what he didn't say make me clean.

He said, Lord, if you're willing to make me clean. You see the Civil War if you are willing is a tremendous leap much greater statement of faith than simply declaring the Lord to make me clean. Because what he is saying is look.

I trust you so much.

I'm good either way. Could I trust you see that takes some faith to do something like that.

Hold your place and go back with me to Daniel chapter 3 Daniel chapter 3. Same idea different situation. Verse 13 Daniel 313 then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo then these men were brought before the king and Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, is a true Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up the image of me was about 90 feet high. This image of Nebuchadnezzar.

He says now if you are ready at the moment that you hear the sound of the horn the flu the lyre of the trigon the psaltery and the bagpipe and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image that I have made very well then I'll give you a second chance. I love you guys, but I'm kidding, but if you do not worship you will be immediately be cast in the midst of the furnace. Blazing fire, and what God is there who can deliver you out of my hands as a reality does you know boy Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo replied to the king. Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. While gratitude you see the idea of it is look at the bother.

I don't even need to give you an answer what they say if it be so.

If it be so, what are they saying if our God is willing, it would be so that's their faith.

Again, this great faith.

It would be so our God whom we serve is able notice he's able to realize that every single thing you've ever really prayed about in your whole life. He's able. The issue isn't. Is he able, the issue is a willing but the issue for you is deeper than that to trust him. You see, do you trust him is your faith great because when you look on here and you read. Then he says this it would be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, but only tell you something, he will deliver us out of your hands. Okay, that amazing either way were delivered to think like that is that the kind of faith you have no you know the rest of the story you so yeah yeah that's true but he they were saved.

Nema smell like smoke as true. John Hoss was burned alive at the stake. He wasn't safe. He wasn't delivered physically, but he was singing hymns. You know why he trusted his Lord. He has a great faith sees us, to whom 11 faith like that. Now back to Matthew. He bows down, he says, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said, I am willing declines.

Don't miss this. The touch is intentional. Jesus doesn't have to touch you see in a moment Jesus doesn't even have to be there. Jesus doesn't have to touch him.

Everybody's watching Jesus touch is intentional. That's what's so amazing about this. No sin can defile his touch. See doesn't matter what it is I can touch anything. Leprosy had no effect on Jesus.

Jesus had tremendous effect on the leprosy Jesus heals a leper now Jesus and says to him, he said see that you tell no one to go and show yourself to the priest present an offering, he said that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. Just what Leviticus talks about go to the priest shown that your claim make an offering, don't start talking about this. He often does, that were not ready for this kind of notoriety. This is between me and you right now and when Jesus entered Capernaum.

That's where he was. Now we see a second thing happen when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion he is a Roman soldier with responsibility over 100 men.

He says when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, imploring him now.

It's interesting he said in a snowstorm Lord, my servant is lying paralyze that home fruitfully tormented.

First of all, touch a little bit about the Centauri in which a lot more in just a moment that that centurion has a servant of servants all the time. You know what the rights of servants and slaves are like in the Roman Empire.

Most masters when care at all except to replace him as cheaply as possible, but he's concerned and he says he is fruitfully tormented.

Jesus said to him I will come and heal just that simple but not exactly see what about this Roman will. Luke tells us to move seven or some other things about. First of all, Luke tells us that initially he did go to Jesus.

Initially he sends elders Jewish elders to Jesus.

He's not worthy. He believes the go to Jesus Jewish elders. How does that happen. Why would they do that well they tell you then that he said they say to Jesus. He loves our nation. The centurion loves Israel. He loves our nation is likely that a proselyte all by the way he built our synagogue.

You see, this is a man of not just one moment of desperation is a man of deep faith. He also sent friends after that Jesus gets closer and closer now and Capernaum and close to Jesus.

He speaks verse eight the centurion said Lord I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. You just say the word of my servant will be.

He knows Jewish custom, what happens to Jesus if he goes under the roof of a Gentile is unclean. Ceremonially, once again, not just a leper. Now with a Gentile is unclean exist.

Lord I know enough. You don't have to cut my house.

He said you just say the word or what kind of faith is this you to say the word. You stay right where you're at now you and I were hindsight would say yeah yeah yeah but we know Jesus raising the dead.

We know Jesus, the son of God. We know Jesus could do anything right, but he did getting them your bathroom on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the Fellowship in the Word online event website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is of the sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and LA.Margie at our website you will find hundreds possible sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking you can search by title. Once you find the method you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening and remembering all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt, unseasoned heart. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order