A FORMULA FOR GREAT FAITH
Pastor Chad Gilligan
Part of NEVER THE SAME—September-November 2023
September 17, 2023

Matthew 8:5-10 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come 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.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Mark 6:4-6 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

A FORMULA FOR AMAZING FAITH

Matthew 8:5-6 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

Big Need

If there is no need, then there is no need for faith.

Matthew 8:8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.”

Big Need + Little Self

Healing begins with humility.

Matthew 8:10-12 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, 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.”

Revelation 19:9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

What you believe about the future determines how you will live in the present.

Your background does not determine your relationship with God.

Your status does not determine your relationship with God.

It is your faith that determines your relationship with God.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

It is your faith that determines your relationship with and your proximity to God.

Just because you hang around church, that does not mean that you are in right relationship with God.

Matthew 8:8-9 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.”

Big Need + Little Self + Jesus

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith believes that God can work even when we cannot see it.

Matthew 8:7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

Faith believes that Jesus loves us and wants what is best for us.

Matthew 8:8-9 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.”

Faith believes in the authority of Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Faith believes for what is in line with God’s Word and God’s will.

Even when we panic, God is patient.

Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Matthew 8:13(NLT) Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

Big Need + Little Self + Jesus = Great Faith

Jesus must be greater than our need.

Jesus must be greater than ourselves.

Jesus must be greater than our faith.

Jesus Must Be Greater.

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