This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”A Lesson In The Power Of Faith\”, 4/3/2016

 

 

 

A LESSON IN THE POWER OF FAITH

 

Luke 7:1-10

 

PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON

V:1. \”When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.\”

1. The ministry of Jesus was never stagnant.
2. Jesus was always on the move, from one place to another.
3. He taught the Word at the sea side of Galilee before going into

Capernaum.

1. There is nothing more profitable than discussing the Word of God to those we

meet along our journey.

1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
2. You never know who is listening and who is carrying the Word ahead of

you.

1. God may use the Word proclaimed by you to prepare others to receive

the Word in other places.

1. If God has been good to you, you ought to make some noise about Jesus.
2. Our testimony is important to those we meet.
3. The sea of Galilee ( Lake Gennesaret) is a large fresh water lake, 600 feet below sea

level

1. There were at least nine cities around the lake and 230 fishing boats at work doing

Jesus  ministry.

1. The cities drew their fresh water from the lake.
2. The sea of Galilee was a place of commerce where large groups worked and traded

their goods.

1. It was an ideal place to find people to hear the Word and witness the miracles of

Jesus.

 

IT\’S OUR PROBLEMS THAT CAUSES US TO SEEK JESUS

V:2-3. \” There a centurion\’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.\”

1. The centurion was a wise man.
2. He sent for doctor Jesus to heal His servant.
3. He was a Roman soldier who heard about Jesus.
4. He believed that if Jesus could work miracles in the lives of others, He could

heal his servant.

1. The New Testament is full of stories about the miracles of Jesus.
2. We ought to be quick to call Jesus when we have a problem.
3. The centurion didn\’t have a relationship with Jesus, yet He didn\’t hesitate

to call on Him.

1. The centurion sent the elders of the Church to intercede for him.
2. The centurion expressed faith in the healing powers of Jesus.
3. Faith in Jesus causes Him to act on your behalf.

 

INTERCESSORY PRAYER GET\’S THE SAVIOR ATTENTION

V:4-5. \” When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, \”This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.\”

1. The centurion was a good man.
2. He cared for the nation Israel.
3. He was helpful to the Jews.
4. He showed His love by using his position to building a synagogue for the Jews.
5. The Jews thought the centurion deserved Jesus help because of his deeds.
6. The Jews were mistaken. No one deserves Jesus.
7. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
8. Even the good we do is just a filthy rag before the Lord.
9. Jesus is not obligate to you because of your good works.
10. It is only by the Grace of God that we have access to Him through

His Son.

 

PRESENT YOURSELF HUMBLY BEFORE THE LORD

V: 6. \” So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: \”Lord, don\’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.\”

1. It was not the centurion\’s deeds that causeed Jesus to act, but his faith.
2. The centurion expressed his faith in Jesus by considering Jesus as his only

source of help.

1. The centurion expressed his faith by requesting those who had a relationship with

the Father to call on Jesus for him.

1. The centurion had the right attitude.
2. He humble himself before Jesus.
3. He realized his unworthiness.
4. He realized the unworthiness of his household.
5. You cannot stand before Jesus with a proud spirit.
6. The Lord hates the proud.

 

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS OVER YOUR SITUATION

V:7. \” That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. \”

1. The centurion had another quality in his faith that the Jews didn\’t have.
2. He knew in His heart that Jesus didn\’t have to be present for

his servant to be healed.

1. It is the mind of Jesus directed at you, that is the solution to your problem.
2. The power of Jesus is not His physical touch, but His spiritual touch.
3. A relationship with Jesus is the first step in solving your problem.
4. Your prayers in faith is the solution to your problem.
5. The centurion\’s action is the truth of the scripture.
6. If anyone is sick, let him call the elders to pray for him and he will

recover.

1.   Intercessory prayer is powerful and recommended by the Lord.

 

A PHYSICAL EXAMPLE OF A SPIRITUAL REALITY

V: 8. \” 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.\”

1. The centurion used a physical example to describe a spiritual reality.
2. Jesus has all power over heaven and earth.
3. Jesus is the sole authority over all his creation.
4. Everything moves on the Word of Jesus.
5. Nothing happens without the knowledge of Jesus.
6. Everything that happens is by the will of Jesus.
7. It is by the Grace of God that we are included in the will of Jesus.

 

FAITH IS THE KEY TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

V: 9. \” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, \”I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.\”

1. Even though the centurion had never met Jesus, he had complete faith in Jesus.
2. It was the faith of the centurion that established his relationship with Jesus
3. It was the faith of the centurion that justified him before the Father in heaven.
4. It was the faith of the centurion that caused Jesus to heal his servant.
5. Jesus used the sickness of the centurion\’s servant to show His disciples what faith

really is and what faith in Him accomplishes.

1. Faith draws you to Jesus.
2. Faith establishes your relationship with Jesus.
3. Faith causes Jesus to act on your behalf.

 

FAITH IN JESUS WORKS MIRACLES

V:10. \” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant

well.\”

1. Jesus will use your situation to be a testimony to someone else.
2. A number of people were blessed by the centurion faith.
3. The centurion was blessed.
4. The centurion\’s servant was blessed,
5. The Jews the centurion sent to Jesus were blessed.
6. Those who followed Jesus were blessed.
7. All were blessed with the knowledge that faith in Jesus solves problems.

 

YOUR PROBLEMS ARE DESIGNED TO GROW YOUR FAITH

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 west Sam Houston Parkway

Houston, Texas