Scripture Text: “He who supplies the Spirit to you & works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Gal. 3:5
I. TODAY, QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE, MANKIND, PURPOSE, REALITY, ETERNITY – ALL SEEM TO BE TOO DISCOMFORTING & THEIR ANSWERS TOO FOREBODING –
A. For Centuries, warnings have been sounded that, if indeed MAN was the measure of all things – Someone had to determine “which MAN”
B. Was it going to be Hitler or Hugh Hefner, Stalin or Mother Teresa?
C. The strategic course our enemy has taken is to flood the Coffers of our Mind with the idea Man is the Ultimate End –
D. And yet –Hungry People keep Pursuing –
E. Isaiah 52:7 declares, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” NLT
F. How beautiful are the feet of the Messengers of Redemption –
G. From the Lamentations of Jeremiah to the Sorrowful Songs of Captive Jews travailing in Bitter Distress
H. So, the Tacit Suggestion that Man is his own, & he needs no God postulates its own end – the Treachery of Emptiness!
II. THE COBBLESTONES OF CAPERNAUM BORE THE TEEMING MASSES OF PEOPLE WHO PRESSED NEAR HIM –
A. Audacious Claims were made of Him –
B. It had been reported that just a few days prior, in the Region of Decapolis, the Pitiable & yet famed Devil-Possessed Man, who wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but rather lived among the tombs…
C. Now – this Nazarene is here, walking toward the house of Jairus (ee-ahee'-ros), whose daughter is dying!
D. As the Throng pressed through the narrow passages of the city, suddenly the Woman with the Issue of Blood is seen fighting her way thru the crowd...
E. The Woman with the Issue of Blood did not see Jesus as Hard & Condemning – she saw Him as a Gracious Savior overflowing with Mercy & Compassion!
F. The Moment she touched the Hem of His Garment, immediately her fountain of blood was dried up & she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction –
G. Was she ever conscious of her faith – NO – she was only conscious of JESUS & His Grace –
III. TO LIVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE JESUS PROMISED YOU DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO CONJURE UP FAITH FOR A HEALING OR FOR A BLESSING –
A. FAITH for any breakthrough or miracle in your life springs forth when you see His Grace –
B. He died – so You could live!
C. It’s His Cross – for You to Live Abundantly!
D. And, it’s His Grace – Your Faith!
E. When you see His Grace – your faith becomes unconscious and miracles will break forth!
IV. IN READING THE ACCOUNTS OF JESUS – WE DISCOVER THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO JESUS SAID HAD “GREAT FAITH”
A. First – was the Roman Centurion (Matt. 8:5-10)
B. Most people have been taught that the Reason the Lord told the Centurion he had not seen so great a faith is because the Centurion understood Authority –
C. But then – that supposition poses a problem for the only other person to whom Jesus ever spoke of as having great faith!
D. The Syro-Phoenician woman who had a devil-possessed daughter. (Matt. 15:22-28)
E. So Now – if the Centurion had great faith because he understood authority, what about this Syrophoenician woman?
F. Watch this – the common denominator is not the level of their faith – that’s not the focus!
G. The common denominator was not their occupation nor was it their gender –
H. Here it is – Both were GENTILES – they were not Jews!
I. The Law is indeed opposite of Faith –
J. Condemnation disqualifies us from receiving any blessing from the Lord –
K. The Secret to having Faith for any situation in your life is to Lift Up Jesus – Magnify Jesus!
L. Dr. Ricky Allmon spoke to us regarding the Magnanimity of God’s Love for us –
M. Watch it now – The Fruit of God’s Love manifested in YOUR Life – is the Expression of His Love flowing From Your Life – & that makes (constructs) HIM Larger & More Magnified in your life –
N. So now – my need is viewed only as a Vehicle to display my Desperation – my Hunger for Him –
1. My Focus is ON Jesus!
2. It’s ALL about Jesus!
3. It’s ONLY about Jesus!
4. It’s ALWAYS about Jesus!
O. Beloved – it’s now about YOU having mature faith, enough faith, perfected faith, right faith, believing faith, non-negotiable faith, prosperous faith , uncommon faith or steroid faith –
P. You don’t allow the baggage of Condemnation to keep you from positioning yourself where He is manifested in Power –
