Sermon Archive

FAITH HEALING LK 7:1-10 BV 7/23/99
WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SUMMER SERIES ON REAL PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE TODAY WITH THE STORY WE JUST READ ABOUT THE CENTURION AND HIS SLAVE AND THEIR ENCOUNTER FROM A DISTANCE WITH JESUS. IT IS A STORY PACKED WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR LIVES TODAY...IMPLICATIONS THAT SPEAK TO US OF WONDERFUL NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR A RICHER, FULLER LIFE. IT IS ALSO A RATHER UNIQUE STORY BECAUSE NEITHER THE CENTURION OR HIS SLAVE EVER COME FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS, YET THEY ARE RECIPIENTS OF A GREAT MIRACLE...A MIRACLE THAT COMES FROM A DISTANCE. IT GIVES A STRONG MESSAGE TO US WHO LIVE SO DISTANT FROM THE TIME WHEN JESUS ACTUALLY LIVED IN THE FLESH AND WALKED AMONG US...NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY HEAVEN MAY SEEM, NO DISTANCE IS TOO FAR FOR HIM TO REACH ACROSS TO TOUCH OUR LIVES WITH WHOLENESS AND PEACE AND HOPE. AND LIKE ALL THE MIRACLES THAT WE FIND IN THE BIBLE, THIS ONE IS ANOTHER AUDIOVISUAL OF A GREAT TRUTH...THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH THAT JESUS HAS THE POWER TO REVERSE DEATH AND TO HEAL OUR SIN-SICK BROKEN LIVES.

HIS POWER IS UNLIMITED AND HE USES IT FOR OUR GOOD WHEN WE INVOLVE HIM IN OUR LIVES. AND AS I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW ESSENTIAL IT IS TO HAVE JESUS ON OUR SIDE AND HOW HIS POWER IN OUR LIVES CAN MAKE THEM SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL AND SIGNIFICANT, I WAS REMINDED OF A STORY I HEARD RECENTLY ABOUT POWER. IT SEEMS THERE WERE THREE ANIMALS IN THE FOREST WHO WERE ARGUING AS TO WHICH ANIMAL WAS THE MOST FEARED. THE HAWK CLAIMED THAT HE WAS THE MOST FEARED, SINCE HE COULD FLY AND COULD ATTACK FROM ABOVE WITHOUT BEING SEEN BY HIS PREY. THE LION CLAIMED THAT HE WAS THE MOST FEARED BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT STRENGTH. THE SKUNK TOLD THE OTHER TWO ANIMALS THAT HE WAS MORE FEARED, BECAUSE HE DID NOT NEED TO FLY OR USE HIS STRENGTH TO FRIGHTEN AWAY OTHER ANIMALS. AS THE THREE ANIMALS CONTINUED TO ARGUE, A LARGE BEAR CAME ALONG AND SETTLED THE ARGUMENT BY SWALLOWING ALL THREE OF THEM - HAWK, LION, AND STINKER. (PAR)

THE CENTRAL LESSON OF THE CENTURION STORY IS THE NATURE OF THE MAN'S FAITH AND THERE IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR US IN THE QUALITY OF HIS FAITH. THE FOCUS OF FAITH IS ON ITS OBJECT, NOT THE FAITH ITSELF. IN MCGEE'S "SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE," HE POINTS OUT THAT "IF I BELIEVE THAT A CERTAIN CHAIR WILL HOLD ME WHEN I SIT ON IT, THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUALITY OF THE CHAIR - THE OBJECT OF MY FAITH, NOT THE AMOUNT OF FAITH I MIGHT HAVE.

EVEN IF I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THE CHAIR WILL SUPPORT ME, IF THE CHAIR IS A ROTTEN BROKEN-DOWN PIECE OF JUNK, THEN IT WILL BREAK IF I TRY TO SIT ON IT. MY FAITH WILL NOT MAKE THE CHAIR GOOD. BUT IF THE CHAIR IS OF QUALITY CONSTRUCTION, IT TAKES VERY LITTLE FAITH TO SIT COMFORTABLY IN IT.
AGAIN, IT IS THE QUALITY OF THE OBJECT, NOT THE QUANTITY OF MY FAITH, THAT IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE." (PAR)
WHO, OR WHAT, DO YOU PLACE YOUR FAITH IN? THE ANSWER YOU GIVE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER YOU LIVE OR DIE.
THE CENTURION IS OBVIOUSLY A HUMBLE MAN. HE WAS NOT A JEW, BUT HE HAD EARNED THEIR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION BECAUSE OF HIS SERVICE AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. HIS COMPASSION FOR HIS SERVANT CAUSED HIM TO REACH OUT FOR GOD'S HEALING, BUT HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD OWED HIM NOTHING. HE DID NOT EVEN FEEL WORTHY TO BE VISITED BY JESUS.

HUMILITY IS A QUALITY THAT ENABLES US TO RECOGNIZE OUR SIN AND NEED AND THEN PERMIT JESUS TO BEGIN TO RESHAPE US INTO A PERSON WHO IS TRULY ALIVE AND FULFILLED IN HIM. WE ARE HUMBLE WHEN WE ADMIT OUR INABILITY TO MAKE OURSELVES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND RELY UPON WHAT HE HAS DONE IN CHRIST. PRIDE IS WHAT USUALLY KEEPS US FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN ONE AREA OF LIFE, WE FEEL WE ARE QUALIFIED IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

THE FAMOUS ACTRESS ROSALIND RUSSEL USED TO TELL A STORY ON HERSELF ABOUT A CRUISE SHE ONCE TOOK. ONE DAY, AS SHE WAS WALKING AROUND THE DECK, SHE ENCOUNTERED A MAN WHO WAS SUFFERING WITH A TERRIBLE COLD. SHE COMMENTED TO THE MAN ABOUT HIS COLD AND THEN PROCEEDED TO ADVISE HIM: "I THINK IF YOU WILL GO TO BED EARLY, DRINK A LOT OF FLUIDS, AND TAKE TWO ASPIRINS, YOU WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER IN THE MORNING."

THE MAN DID NOT SAY A WORD; HE JUST LOOKED AT HER, OBVIOUSLY UNIMPRESSED. SO THE ACTRESS GAVE HER CREDENTIALS FOR THIS ADVICE-GIVING. SHE SAID, "UH, MY NAME IS ROSALIND RUSSEL. YOU KNOW, I MAKE MOVIES."
THE MAN THANKED HER AND SAID, "AND MY NAME IS CHARLES MAYO. YOU KNOW, I RUN A MEDICAL CLINIC."
IN THE SAME WAY, WE OFTEN WANT TO PRESENT OURSELVES BEFORE GOD AS THOSE WHO ARE SUPERIOR. OUR PRIDE CAUSES US TO FEEL THAT WE HAVE EARNED GOD'S LOVE. BUT IN REALITY, HIS LOVE CANNOT BE EARNED...IT IS GIVEN FREELY IN THE ULTIMATE GIFT OF A BLOOD STAINED CROSS AND AN EMPTY TOMB.

THE CENTURION UNDERSTOOD GOD'S AUTHORITY OVER ILLNESS AND DEATH AND HIS POWER TO HEAL. HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD GOD'S COMPASSION. HE BELIEVED THAT JESUS COULD HEAL HIS SERVANT BY A SIMPLE SOVEREIGN WORD EVEN AT A PHYSICAL DISTANCE. AND HE KNEW THAT JESUS CARED ENOUGH TO DO SO. THIS KIND OF FAITH AND HUMILITY IN SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT EVEN OF THE JEWISH FAITH WAS WHAT CAUSED JESUS TO REMARK IN AMAZEMENT THAT HE HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED SUCH FAITH ANYWHERE...NOT EVEN IN ISRAEL, THE HOME OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD.

THE STORY SPEAKS TO US ABOUT SOME UNIVERSAL TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS AND THE BOUNDARIES HE CROSSES AS HE REACHES OUT TO EACH ONE OF US IN LOVE. WE SEE HIM CROSS RACIAL BOUNDARIES AS A GENTILE SOLDIER MEETS A JEWISH MESSIAH. ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME IN HIS KINGDOM. WE HAVE THE CROSSING OF SOCIAL BOUNDARIES AS THE SOLDIER, WHO HAS ENOUGH WEALTH TO BUILD A SYNAGOGUE, MEETS A MESSIAH WHO MINISTERS MOST OFTEN AMONG THE POOR AND THE POOR IN SPIRIT. WE HAVE THE CROSSING OF BELIEVING COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES, AS JESUS, THE BEARER OF THE WAY OF SALVATION TO GOD, MINISTERS TO SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING RELIGIOUS IDEALS BUT WHO HAS NOT YET MADE A PERSONAL DECISION.

THE SAME IS TRUE TODAY. JESUS WELCOMES ANYONE WHO TURNS AND ACCEPTS HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR. THERE ARE NO BARRIERS...HIS LOVE FOR US EVEN DESTROYS THE SIN THAT SEPARATES US FROM HIM, IF WE ASK HIM TO DO SO. THE APOSTLE PAUL TELLS OF HIS OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS LOVE WHEN HE SAYS, "FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR RULERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR POWERS, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." (ROM. 8:38-39) JESUS REACHES ACROSS ANY BARRIER TO GRASP OUR OUTSTRETCHED HAND IF WE SIMPLY ASK HIM TO DO IT.

THIS SIMPLE STORY ABOUT A MAN'S FAITH CALLS US TO HAVE A SIMILAR FAITH. GOD OWES US NOTHING, YET HE FREELY HOLDS OUT HIS COMPASSION AND LOVE TO US.

THERE IS A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT A MAN LIVING IN A SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN WHO DECIDED THAT HE WAS SICK AND TIRED OF SHAVING HIMSELF EVERY DAY AFTER DOING IT FOR THIRTY YEARS. SO HE TOLD HIS WIFE THAT HE INTENDED TO LET THE LOCAL BARBER SHAVE HIM EACH DAY. THE NEXT DAY HE PUT ON HIS HAT AND COAT AND WENT TO THE BARBER SHOP, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE OWNED BY THE PASTOR OF THE TOWN'S BAPTIST CHURCH.

THE BARBER'S WIFE, GRACE, WAS WORKING THAT DAY, SO SHE PERFORMED THE TASK. GRACE SHAVED HIM AND SPRAYED HIM WITH LILAC WATER, AND SAID, "THAT WILL BE $20." THE MAN THOUGHT THE PRICE WAS A BIT HIGH, BUT HE PAID THE BILL AND WENT TO WORK.

THE NEXT MORNING THE MAN LOOKED IN THE MIRROR, AND HIS FACE WAS AS SMOOTH AS IT HAD BEEN WHEN HE LEFT THE BARBER SHOP THE DAY BEFORE. NOT BAD, HE THOUGHT. AT LEAST I DON'T NEED TO GET A SHAVE EVERY DAY. THE NEXT MORNING, THE MAN'S FACE WAS STILL SMOOTH. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE MAN WAS STILL UNABLE TO FIND ANY TRACE OF WHISKERS ON HIS FACE.

IT WAS MORE THAN HE COULD TAKE, SO HE RETURNED TO THE BARBER SHOP. "I THOUGHT $20 WAS HIGH FOR A SHAVE," HE TOLD THE BARBER'S WIFE, "BUT YOU MUST HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS AND MY WHISKERS STILL HAVEN'T STARTED GROWING BACK." EXPECTING HIS COMMENT, THE EXPRESSION ON HER FACE DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE. SHE SAID, "YOU WERE SHAVED BY GRACE. ONCE SHAVED, ALWAYS SHAVED." (PAR)

GOD GIVES US HIS GRACE...HE GRANTS US HIS GIFT OF LIFE AND HOPE AND SAVES US, NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT, NOT BECAUSE WE EARN IT...OR THAT WE EVEN ARE ABLE TO EARN IT...BUT BECAUSE HE CARES.
IN THE APOSTLE JOHN'S FIRST LETTER, HE SPEAKS TO US AND SAYS, "GOD'S LOVE WAS REVEALED AMONG US IN THIS WAY: GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM. IN THIS IS LOVE, NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON TO BE THE ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS." (I JOHN 4:9-10)

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TO REACH OUT AND TAKE HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND AND INVITE HIM INTO OUR HEARTS AND OUR LIVES. THE GIFTS OF HIS GRACE AND LOVE ARE FREE. HOW ABOUT IT?