Title Only the Word, Matthew 8:5-13
Content The most important thing when we come to Jesus is faith. There is a huge difference between those who have faith and those who do not, whether they have much or little faith. In other words, even if faith is weak and small, faith is like a seed, and there is life in it, so those who have faith are living people. However, a person without faith has no seed of life and is spiritually dead.
Look at Matthew 13:31-32
There is a saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field, which is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, and the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” This is the story that even though faith is as small as a mustard seed, there is life in it, so it will grow and eventually you will be saved. But if we had no faith in us, we would not be saved.
In this way, those who have faith and those who do not have a completely different direction of life. There is a dramatic event that fully explains these differences. When Jesus was nailed to the cross on Calvary, robbers were crucified on the left and right sides of Jesus. And at this time, the robber on the left is
"Are you the Christ? Then save you and us," he mocked. However, the other robbers on the right have to
"Do you not fear God? We receive a fair reward for our deeds, but what this man has done is not wrong." After rebuking him, he looked at Jesus
"Jesus! Remember me when you come into your kingdom," he begged. It was only as he died on the cross that he realized that Jesus, who was by his side, was the Savior. He didn't have time to make a long profession of faith, nor was he under the circumstances, so he just turned to Jesus.
I could only say, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." His faith was as small as a mustard seed, but when Jesus saw that faith,
"Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." Hallelujah! Although his faith was weak, because he had faith, the robber on the right received the glorious blessing of entering paradise with the Lord.
A thief saw Jesus and cursed. Another thief turned to Jesus
"Remember me when you come into your kingdom," he confessed in faith. Until he said these words, he had nothing to do with the robber on the left. He has led an equally selfish life, he has done evil, and he has lived a rebellious life. But before he died, he had been blessed into paradise through his weak faith. What a dramatic event that shows how vast the difference between having faith and not having faith can be as a result!
In this way, those who have received Jesus as their Savior fundamentally have faith in Jesus. However, the amount of faith varies from person to person. That is why we are saved by just believing with a little faith, but we need to increase the measure of our faith while we live on this earth. The greater your faith, the greater you will be able to do on earth, and you will receive a reward according to your faith in heaven. Therefore, let's share grace together through the three stories that Jesus told about faith, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.
1. There is a small measure of faith.
In Matthew 14:22 and below, there is a story of Jesus having his disciples first get in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee, and then he goes up a mountain by himself to pray. When the disciples' boat reached the middle of the sea, the wind suddenly became strong and the waves rose. The disciples were in danger of death. But when it was about 4 at night, I saw someone walking over the sea. The disciples, who they thought were ghosts, screamed in fear. At this time, the one who was walking on the sea
He said, "Take it easy, it's me, don't be afraid." When I heard the voice, it was Jesus.
At this time, Peter
He said, "Lord, if I am withered, command me to come to you on the water." and Jesus
When he said, "Come!", Peter looked only at the Lord and began to walk on the water. But when Peter, who was walking toward Jesus, turned his eyes and saw the waves and wind, he suddenly began to feel fear and terror in his heart.
As soon as he had the negative thought, "It's definitely wrong for me to walk on water, and I can't walk any more," he went straight into the water. he is in a hurry
When he cried out, “Lord, help me,” Jesus came, stretched out his hand, took Peter, and lifted him up, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). And when Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind calmed down.
Jesus turned to Peter
He doesn't say "unbelievers"
He said "the one of little faith." A person with little faith is a person who believes well if there is some sign and evidence. Because Peter, whom he saw with his eyes, walked on water, he gained faith and was able to walk on water too. But when he looked at the wind and waves, his faith disappeared and he fell into the water not long after. A person with such little faith is greatly influenced by the surrounding environment. As trials approach, we gradually fall into the sins of the world because of our weak faith. However, at this time, even with little faith, those who have faith can cry out to God and ask for salvation when they fall into the sins of the world. Then Jesus, who rescued Peter from drowning, lifts these people up from their sins in the same way today. Therefore, even if your faith is still small, if you encounter difficulties, cry out and pray to God for help. Then God will save lives without turning away.
2. There is a great measure of faith.
In Matthew 15:21 and below, there is the story of a Canaanite woman. When Jesus was going to the regions of Tire and Sidon, a Canaanite woman came and
"Lord, son of David! Have mercy on me, my daughter is terribly demon-possessed," he cried. But Jesus gave no answer. At this, the woman continued to cry, and the disciples who felt sorry for it
"Teacher, grant that woman's wish," I asked. But at this time, Jesus' answer was coldly
“I was sent to no other place than the lost sheep of Israel,” she said.
"It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs," he responded with insulting words to the woman. However, the woman's reaction to this attitude of Jesus was astonishing. She is
"Lord, that's right, even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table," he replied. this is
It means, "Even though I am like a dog, I have Jesus as my Lord. Therefore, give me some crumbs of healing." Jesus saw this woman's amazing faith,
“Woman, great is your faith, and it will be done for you as you wish.” The Bible records that the woman's daughter was healed.
Jesus praised the woman for having great faith. Great faith is a firm belief in the power and salvation of the Lord. This is a belief that is not influenced by the surrounding environment. A person who has this kind of faith will not back down because of it, no matter how difficult things come and when they are in a very bad environment. Rather, we are more proactive and have faith and move forward. Rather than paying attention to all the negatives you see, put them aside, look at the good and move on in faith.
The apostle Paul confessed, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). That's right. God is a good Father who ultimately accomplishes good not only through the good things that happen to us, but also through difficult, unfair, and painful things. Therefore, I hope that you will go one step further from living by looking at only visible signs with a little faith, and become people of great faith who live in hope of miracles, even though you cannot see them. So, I hope that you will overcome the tribulation and suffering of the world, sin and the temptations of evil spirits, and become God's people who carry out their missions.
3. There is the greatest measure of faith that moves the Lord.
The text tells the story of a Roman centurion. When Jesus was going to Capernaum, a Roman centurion came and
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain,” he begged. At this, Jesus
When he said, "I will go and heal you," the centurion
He replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my house. But speak the word, and my servant will be healed." And to show respect for Jesus
He added, "I am also a person under the control of others, and there are soldiers under me, so if you say to one go, you go; if you say to another, you come, you come, and if you tell my servant to do this, you do it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed how much he looked at the crowds around him.
“I tell you the truth, I have not found such a faith in any of Israel.”
He highly praised it. And to the centurion
He said, "Go, let it be done as you have believed." And immediately the servant was healed. Hallelujah!
Jesus saw the centurion's faith
He praised it as "the best faith." Then, what kind of faith is the faith that Jesus highly praised? that is
It is faith that believes in the authority of the word, that is, he confessed, "Only with the word, and my servant will be healed." He was a man of considerable standing as a Roman centurion. He could command any number of subordinates by command. Therefore, he believed that he also had such authority, and that there was nothing that the Lord, God, had to say to him. In other words, he believed that because the word of the Lord has authority and authority, not only humans, but also enemies, the devil, and the natural world must submit to the Lord.
As such, the best faith is to embrace God's Word as if it were life, to believe and obey it without any doubt. It is the faith that believers today believe and follow the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God. We all need this kind of faith. The centurion's supreme faith,
There is no more beautiful and strong faith than the firm belief that “all things will be done through the word”. Even today, the Lord wants us to start with little faith, grow into great faith, and finally have the best of faith.
The key to solving all the problems in our lives is in the Word of God. Even if there is no sign right now and despair in the circumstances, what is important is the word of God's promise and the authority of the word. When we apply the Word to our lives and live obediently, all problems will be solved and miracles will happen. So, don't just keep your faith looking for signs. Do not kneel in an environment of despair. Be the ones who stand firm in the best faith that is based on the Word of God and obeys it thoroughly. God's Word has the power to forgive sins. We have the power to overcome the sins of the world. We have the power of Satan and the power to overcome curses and diseases. There is the blessing of enjoying true happiness in life. There is the blessing of eternal life.
Faith in us is life. And life is growing. So pray and seek God's grace to grow your faith. And stay awake to become those of the greatest faith that impresses the Lord. In the name of the Lord, I pray that all of you will become holders of rock-like faith who draw close to the Word and thoroughly believe and trust the Word.