St Matthew, Chapter 8, verses:25 - 26, The Gathereing Storm.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The storm on the lake) Part 2.  

Christ is sleeping in the boat and the waves are overflowing into the boat causing it to sink.  The disciples are in a panic and do not know what to do.  So they come and wake him from his sleep and say to him, "Lord, save us! we are perishing! "   Christ has just performed miracles before their eyes.  He has cured a leper.  He has healed a servent grieviously ill in bed.  He has banished a fever from Peter's mother-in-law, and performed other miracles, casting out demons and curing all that were brought to him.  Yet the disciples were affraid.  They feared for their lives.

We, in similar fashion, face perils and hardships calling upon God to save us.  When sickness comes we call upon God.  When disease comes we call upon God.  When disaster strikes we call upon God.  When death is knocking at our door, we call upon God.  When the bills are coming faster than we can see income to pay for them, we call upon God.  When doubt comes in, having us question our faith, we call upon God.  LORD save us, we are perishing!!!  We call upon God.  Where is the knowledge of his wisdom within us?  Where is the belief in his love while we are holding his hand?  Where is the security of his protection when we are under his guidance?  Where did our courage go when we see peril approaching?  Do we not believe?  Do we not have faith in his power?  Do we not trust in his wisdom and his love and his protection for us?

Christ awoke from his sleep and spoke to his disciples saying,  "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"   Why do we fear, if we are with Christ?  Why do we not have faith if Christ is in our lives?  Do we not believe?  Do we have to call upon God for every little incident that comes into our lives?  Do we have to pray for every sickness that comes upon us?  Do we have to call upon him when the waves of the world seem to overtake us?  Or do we have faith?  What is faith if we do not have it?  Really,  W H A T   I S   F A I T H  and do we really have it?  

Christ has taken us on a journey of belief.  He has demonstrated to his disciples in his miracles those who had faith.  He has pointed out incidences of great faith to us and to his disciples.  Then, he provides us with the written test to see if we will pass.  He provided the disciples with their lack of faith when he slept in the boat and the waves of the sea seemed to overtake them.  He gave them a grade and they did not pass because they had not grasped the simple principle of faith. 

Do we have faith today?  Have we passed the written test that he has given us?  Have we failed to demonstrate that we have faith?  Christ is preparing his disciples for the time when his mission will end and he will take his rest with his father in heaven.  He is running them through the obstacle course to build up their faith.  He is training them on the basics of faith and how they should use it.  Are we paying attention when we read these passages, so that we will also be trained in our faith?   We are week human beings but faith makes us strong in him who is the source of all strength.  "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  
   

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 23-24, The Gathering Storm.

Our paragraph topic is: (The storm on the lake) Part 1. 

23 Then he got into a boat, and his disciples followed him.  24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves;but he was asleep.

Christ ordered the disciples to go across the sea when he saw the great crowds gathering.  The word had spread of his  popularity and all the crowds came to see him.  And out of the woodwork came all who wanted to be near him.  The groupies wanted to follow him.  His disciples made excuses to leave him.  And he had no place to rest.  He got into the boat and set sail for the other side of the lake.  Christ slept while they were traveling across the lake.  Matthew tells us that a great storm arose on the sea and the boat was covered by the waves.  But Christ was asleep in the boat.

Christ had just spoke to a groupie telling him that the Son of Man had no place to lay his head.  He had no place to move away from the gathering crowds of people.  He was like a movie star that draws crowds wherever they go.  He had to have people to protect him and to be around him at all times lest he is mobbed by the people.  Yet he was God made flesh like all other humans and required rest for his human body.

And the world raged on around him.  The seas churned, the waves lashed against the boat, and the waters began to wash into the boat, filling it to near flooding.  The disciples were panicking.  They did not know what to do.  They tried to bail out the water but it was too much for them.  They were lashed about by the waves.  They were thrown hither and yonder by the winds.  They fought for their lives under the overflow of the waves.  They were afraid.  They feared for their lives.  And Christ was asleep in the boat.

How often we face the same situations in our lives where turmoil surrounds us.  We see our lives going down in destruction.  We fear the worst for ourselves when change comes about that threatens our livelihoods.  The waves of tribulation flood into our boat and we are lost not knowing what to do.  We frantically try to bail out the water without any success.  The waters of destruction overwhelm us leaving us frustrated and fearful.  We panic.  We live in a state of stress.  We are angry at what has happened to us.  We seek answers and find something to blame.  We live in the past constantly reliving what we could have done to change our current circumstances.  We do everything that we know to do, relying on our human strength to bring about a change.

In the previous paragraphs Christ has given us examples of authority, miracles of restoration, and opportunities of faith to lead us along the path.  He is traveling somewhere and wants us to follow.  He tells his disciple to follow him.  He tells him to let the dead bury the dead implying that the living should be with him.  And now in the mist of the worldly storm he sleeps.  Should we sleep also following his example?  Should we place our trust in him and not worry about what we see around us?  Should we believe in his authority that will protect and guide us to safe shores?  Or should we see the gathering storm and fear?  Should we panic and use our human powers in an attempt to deliver us from the storm?  Christ is asleep in the boat.  Shouldn't we also rest with him?  Shouldn't we also be at peace with him? 
   

23

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 21-22, The Gathering Storm.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Sacrifice to follow Christ) Part 2.  

We continue our discussion on this topic of Miracles under the heading of sacrifices to follow Christ.  As we talked about before the word has gone out and the crowds have gathered to where Christ is preaching.  He has given orders to his disciples that they are going across the sea.  All kinds of people are coming out of the woodwork to see him, to follow him, to question him, to take advantage of him, to marvel at him, to ridicule him.  And we can be assured that those who would do him harm, those who have evil intentions against him, those who are possessed of evil, are out to see him also.

So under this guise many people are saying things to him.  Those wannabe groupies have come out also.  One groupie has said to him, Lord I will follow you wherever thou goest.  In these verses another groupie tells him the same thing but with a contingency.  He says,  "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."   Christ in return says something that is well worth remembering.  He tells this disciple:  "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."   Christ calls those who are not following him dead.  Those who do not hear his words he calls dead.  Those who are not witness to his miracles he calls dead.

This must have been a shock to those who heard it.   The disciple who asked this question was asking permission of Christ to take a leave of absence.  He was asking Christ if he could be excused for this reason, to bury his father.  Christ, in his response, did not give recognition to the disciple's excuse.  He did not say to him it is a good reason for you to leave, to bury your father.  Christ said to the disciple that he did not have a valid reason to leave.  In his words he told the disciple that there was no reason for him to leave.  His father was already dead and those that are already dead would bury him.  And that statement infers that the disciple was alive but the others were dead.

How often do we hear excuses to following Christ?  I don't have enough time.  I am too busy to go to church.  I don't read the bible because it is to difficult to read.  I often told myself, many years ago, that I would take time out to read the bible when I was settled enough and had the time to spare.  I look back on those times and think how foolish I was in making such an excuse.  My life was in the world and I did not know it.  My life was focused on living in the world and I did not know it.  My life was set on being successful in the world and this was what I knew.  My life was the world and as a result my life was dead. 

I had no life.  It was full of drugs.  It was full of lust.  It was full of selfishness, I only wanted for me and only me.  It was full of desire for the world and greed.  And I was dead.  I came to a crossroads in my life I had to make a decision as to which direction to take.  I was out of control and needed help.  I asked God for help and he reached out and took my hand and led me.  He turned my life around and provided for me when I could not provide for myself.  He opened small doors for me when my ego and selfish pride demanded that I fight for bigger doors to be opened.  He led me with baby steps keeping me on the path that leads to him.  

Today I have life in me.  Today I have joy.  Today I have peace.   Today I trust in his wisdom for me and I know that he provides for me.  What excuse do you have today?  What excuses do we use to not follow Christ?  Why do you not follow Christ?  Why do you not hear his words everyday?  Why do you not have life within you?  Are you dead?  Let the dead bury the dead!
   

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verses: 18-20, The Gathering Storm.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Sacrifice to follow Christ) Part 1.  

Christ now begins to set the stage for his travels.  He is moving around in the territory meeting people, curing the sick, healing the lame, and casting out demons.  Matthew begins this paragraph by telling us that Christ recognized that great crowds were gathering around him wherever he went.  The word had spread, his location was known, and people begin to gather to him.  They wanted to touch him.  They wanted to hear him.  They wanted to see him.  They wanted to be where he was.  All, were coming out of the woodwork to be around this great movement that was taking place.  

Christ had now become very popular.  What could we compare him to in our time?  Could he be a great movie star?  Could he be a great rock star?  Could he be a president?  What comparison could we make to him today?  In his time, the word spread by word of mouth.  There must have been those who wanted to use him to make money.  There must have been those who wanted him to meet influential people.  There must have been those who wanted him to speak at special gatherings.  But Christ had his own agenda and his mission.  He did not come to be popular.  He did not come to have fame and fortune.  He did not come to be a movie star or a rock star.  He came to heal.  He came to cast out.  He came to teach.  He came to restore. 

The people of his time had forgotten the joy of their God.  Christ came to restore that joy.  Christ came to demonstrate that there is a true God.  Christ came to give back the love and peace that comes with the knowledge of the one true God.  Christ came to build faith.  Christ came to restore trust.  Christ came to show the people that God lives.  And the crowds gathered.  Realizing that the storm was gathering he gave orders to his disciples to go across the sea.  He gave orders that they should get into their boats and go to another place.  He gave orders and they were fulfilled.

When crowds gather, all kinds of people come forth.  There are those who are genuine in their faith and love.  But there are those who were seeking opportunity.  When a large event takes place today, like maybe the Superbowl or World Cup Soccer, everyone wants to come to the event.  The scalpers come out.  The divas come out looking for players.  The hustlers come out looking for suckers.  The police are out to maintain the crowds.  The promoters are there.  The people that work the event  are working.  The big names come out to get their special seating at the event.  The fans are there to see their favorite stars.  And those who can not attend watch from their homes on televisions.  Everyone comes out to see.  And so it was in Christ's time. 

And here it was, a scribe, a fan, a groupie that follows everywhere the group goes, came out to be a part of this event.  The groupie told Christ that he would follow him where ever he goes.  The scribe said:  "Master, I will follow thee wherever thou goest."   Christ said to the groupie:  "The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."   

Christ tells us that this is the way it must be.  Everyone has a place of rest, even the animals. But the place of rest for the Son of Man is not on this earth.  For he will be the object of pursuit from this point on and there will be no rest for him.  He told his disciples, "Let us go across the sea."  For the pursuit of those seeking opportunity weighed greatly upon him.  He told his disciples let us cross the sea to get away from the great crowds.  He told his disciples, let us cross the sea, to rest.  

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 17, Miracles.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Other miracles) Part 2.  

Christ is still in Peter's house where he cures all that are brought to him.  The word goes out to all the villages about the things that he is doing and the people that are being cured.  Information travels by word of mouth.  The journalist who make it their business to carry the word have spread the good news throughout the villages during the entire day.  They have added their spin on the news and embellished it so that it is exciting and captures the attention of the people.  Matthew, the author of this book, reflects back on this time and tells us that the prophet Isaias spoke of Christ and the deeds that he would perform.  Isaias said:  "He himself took up our infirmities, and bore the burden of our ills."  And now the prophesy is being fulfilled through the miracles that Christ is performing. 

Every person that they brought to him with illness he took up the illness.  Every person that was possessed he cast out the demons.  Every person with afflictions he healed.  He fulfilled the prophesy.  He is the Christ.  All who came to him with sorrow left with joy.  All who came to him with sadness, left with happiness.  All who came to him with doubt, left with hope.  All who came to him with fear left with faith.  He took up all the infirmities and cast out all the demons.  He lifted the weight from their shoulders.  He gave them a new light.  He brought them from darkness into the light.  He is the Christ.

Many people say to the young, this is my loved one.  And would give their life if something happened to that little one.  When one is sick the whole family is sick.  They bear the burden of that family member.  Friends feel the suffering of a friend that is ill.  Loved ones understand the suffering of one that has pain.  We make an effort to bring relief through our actions and our words and our love for that person that is in pain.  If one is hospitalized with a disease that requires surgery we gather around that person to share in the prognosis of that disease and to assist with the recovery of the loved one after they have completed the surgery.  When one is depressed with the loss of a loved one or a child we gather around to lift the spirits of that person, to remind of the happy times, to restore the faith of the one depressed.  Christ bore our depression.  He took away our ills.  He gave joy where there was sorrow.  He brought happiness where there was pain.  Through his miracles he restored us to our faith in more than the pain and suffering that surrounds us daily.  Through his  miralces he gave hope to those cured in that day when he walked the earth.  He fulfilled the prophesy.

We have come through these lessons that Christ has taught us, from the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, to the lessions on faith, and now to the miracles that he performs.  The Spirit in Christ teaches us how to live on this earth.  He has given us the lessons to follow.  He has taught us the truth of faith and what it brings.  He teaches us the joy of the love of Christ and how he restores us to health and wellness, joy and happiness, peace and love.  He took up all our infirmities.  He bore all our ills.  He restores us to hope and faith.

He shows us that he is the way and the truth and the life.  Christ is our answer.  He is the joy of our heart.  In him there is no sorrow.  In him there is no loss.  In him there is no aches and pains and suffering.  He takes them all away.  He bears them up.  He cast them out so that we are able to see the full glory of his Father through his works.  Rejoice in him.  Be glad in him.  Know him.  For through Christ we come to know the one true God who is the source of all our needs.  
                     

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 16, Miracles

Our paragraph topic today is:  (Other miracles) Part 1.  

Christ remained at Peter's  house through the evening and Matthew tells us that many who were possessed and sick were brought to him.  He cast out all those who were possessed with a word.  He cured all who were sick.  We do not know how many there were who came to Christ that day.  Matthew does not tell us this information.  But the word spread by the mouth of those who carried the word.  The word was taken in the homes of those with loved ones that were sick.  The word was carried by mouth to those who had loved ones that were possessed.  They heard of Jesus Christ who performed miracles.  They heard of the great things that he did.  They heard of the wonders that he performed and all who heard were amazed.  All who heard wanted to learn about this Jesus.  All who heard wanted to meet this Jesus.  All who heard wanted to touch him so that they too could be cured.

Christ's ministry is just beginning according to Matthew.  He has not done much up to this point.  He gave a sermon on the mountain where he taught things that were new.  He spoke of principles and ideas that people had not heard before.  He told of existing laws that were expanded so that people would have a better understanding of their purpose and meaning.  He finished his sermon and he rested at Peter's home that day.  And the word spread.

If a great leader came to your town today, what would he have to do to get your attention?  A completely unknown person who was not popular in the news, who was not popular in the media, who no one knew in the government, comes to your town and begins to stir up the people.  This person would not get very far today because we do not rely on word of mouth for our news.  Our news comes from the TV.  Our news comes through the newspaper.  Our news comes via the Internet.  Our news comes via the radio.  We can hear about earthquakes.  We can hear about tornadoes.  We can watch volcano eruptions.  We can see the destruction of tidal waves.  We can read about the devastation and destruction of bombings and war.  All this information comes to us via our media.  And those who control that media determine what we see, what we hear, and what we know about our world.

In that day and time word of mouth was the medium of providing information.  The information about Christ spread like wild fire.  Knowledge of him spread through the village.  It spread through the neighboring villages.  It spread through the region.  And finally it spread to far off places where it would take days for that information to travel to reach a curious ear.

Christ became popular because of his miracles.  You could compare his news today to the news of a bombing.  You could compare his news today to the news of a devastating tornado.  You could compare his news today to the news of a international plane crash.  You could compare his news today to the news of any event that captures the interest of the people.

He would get millions of hits on Youtube.  His news would be the trending news on Yahoo and Twitter.  His news would be explosive because everyone would want to hear of it, everyone would want to see it, everyone would want to talk about him.  The news media would want to publish it because they will make a fortune in selling it.  Ratings would rise to levels not seen before.  Advertisers would want to have their ads placed during the time slot when his news is broadcast.  All would hear of the miracles that he was performing and want to know where he was, where he was going, where he will be next.  Promoters would want to have him under contract.  Event planners would want to plan events for him to speak before.  Heads of state would want to meet him and to know of his work.  This would be our way of following Christ today.  This would be our response and how we would hear of him.

He cast out demons.  He cured the sick.  He cured them all .  

Bible Study Plan

How many Christians or others, out there, have read the complete New Testament Bible, straight through, from Matthew to Revelations, like you would read a good book?

There are many ways to read the Bible.  Many reading plans give detailed instructions on how to read the Bible.  There are plans that allow you to read the bible in a yr and some to read it in 6 months. 

My question is how many have read the New Testament Bible from start to finish straight through like you would read a good book?  I am not talking about a reading plan that allows you to skip around from book to book, but a straight reading of the gospel from Matthew to Revelation. 

If you have read the New Testament Bible as you would read a book, what were your impressions?  What spoke to you?  What meanings did you come away with?  What inspirations did you get?  What wisdom was revealed to you?  How did this change your life. 

These questions are revealing questions that you may not want to share with those who may not understand.  Christ tells us do not give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine.

If this is the case you can email me at newtestamentbible@msn.com

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verses: 14-15, Miracles

Our paragraph topic today is:  (Peter's mother-in-law).  

We now get into the miracles that Christ worked during his ministry.  He arrives at Peter's house and finds that Peter's wife's mother is sick with a fever.   Matthew tells us that Peter's mother-in- law is ill.  She is lying in bed due to a serious fever.  They more than likely have tried all the local remedies, aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. with no results. Christ comes in, notices her illness, touches her hand and instantly she is healed of the fever.  She is so refreshed that she gets up and begins to help with the service by waiting on them.

Matthew tells us this story of Peter's mother-in-law at the end of the discussion on faith.  He gives us another demonstration of the power of Christ.  Christ healed long distance with the centurion.  He healed by a touch with the leper.  And he healed again through a touch of the hand.  I wonder what it must have felt like to have Christ touch you.  Was there a shock that went though the whole body?  Was there a tingling sensation that gave one an indication that something was going on?  Could one feel the difference taking place as the healing began?  What did it feel like to go from a state of feeling bad to a state of feeling OK?

One does not, naturally, go from a state of having a fever to a state of not having a fever.  There is a transition process that takes place.  The fever subsides; the pain gradually goes away; the pounding headache gradually has less pressure on the brain.  And finally one comes to a point where things are back to normal.  Even at this stage it generally takes some time for one to realize the change and then to venture to be normal again.  The leper went from affliction to being healed, immediately, it says.  The centurion's servant was seriously afflicted and within the hour was cured.  Peter's mother-in-law was lying with a fever, and she got up and was normal again.  These are miracle transformations that took place.  Matthew does not speak of the faith of Peter's mother-in-law but the leper had faith and the centurion had great faith.  If faith was the determining factor to their healing, then faith can be the one factor today that leads to our healing.

Many may say that the miracles took place because they were performed by Christ.  Yet throughout history one can find miracles taking place through the hands of others that have prayed to God.  I would venture to say that because of their great faith that the miracles took place.  Because of the strong belief in the healing power of Christ, these miracles were performed.   Could our belief be the fuel needed to bring about miracles?  Could our faith be the conduit through which Christ transfers his healing power?

If these two factors are the reason and the cause of miracles being performed, why are there not more miracles today?  Why can we not do miracles, as believers in Christ?  Is this impossible for us?  Matthew gives us this example at this point in his gospel for a reason.  Christ has just finished performing three miracles for us to read about, all following a similar pattern.  Let us hold this idea as a hypothesis and see if it holds true with the rest of the gospel by Matthew.  Let us read with the question in our minds, is great faith the key to receiving God's power of healing?  Does a strong belief give us the foundation to have miracles performed in our lives?  We will see.          

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 13, The Centurion's Faith.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ heals his servant) Part 3. 

We come to the end of this topic with Christ granting the request of the centurion by healing his servant.  Jesus says to the centurion:  "Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee." The faith of the centurion has brought him relief and his servant was healed within the same hour as Christ spoke it.  As thou hast believed, so be it done.  Such great words for us to go by today.  Do we really believe that Christ will heal us if we ask?  

Many have prayed to Christ and asked for things needed in their lives.  Yet those prayers were not answered.  Only on a few occassions have those requests been filled and someone was healed, someone was provided a breakthrough, someone was relieved of tribulation, someone was cured of cancer, etc.  Why are some cured and some not?  Why are some prayers answered and some not?  Many would say that God knows what is best for us and he provides the best solution.  Many may believe that the best case may be no answer because what we are asking for may not be good for us.  What we may ask for may lead us down the road to destruction in the future and only God can see the future to know where our wants and desires may lead.

So why are we given these two examples of faith?  What instructions can we learn from them if the answer to our prayers are to be judged by God as being good for us or not good?  The centurion asked with great faith.  The leper asked with great humility.  Can we use these examples as a rule to guide us in how we should ask our Father for his help?  Be it done to you as thou hast believed.  If we truly had faith, if we truly believed, would God answer our prayers?  If you knew that God would answer your prayers, what would you ask for?  Would you ask for wealth?  Would you ask for fame?  Would you ask for honor?  Would you ask for power?  What would you ask for if you knew with certainty that your request would be answered?

The centurion asked for the health of his servant.  The leper asked to be relieved of his affliction.  Both pleaded their cases to Christ when he walked the earth.  Now that he has been raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sites at the right hand of his father, can we still plead our cases before him as though he was here on earth?  Does the separation of time matter?  Does the separation of heaven matter?  Can we talk to him as though he was standing here before us as he did some two thousand years ago?  What would we ask for, if he appeared before us today?  Do we believe that he would give us what we asked for?  The leper knew that Christ could heal him of his afflictions?  Do we know this today?  Do we know that Christ can heal us today?  Are we ready for a miracle?  Do we believe in miracles?  If we were given a miracle would we tell everyone or would we tell no one as Christ instructed the leper?  Would we go and give the gift for our cure?

Christ lives just as surely as we live today.  Yet it is the separation that we impose upon him that clouds our belief in what he will do for us.  Miracles happen everyday.  Some happen instantly.  Some happen over time, but they are still miracles which we cannot explain away.  If you prayed today, asked for help, and that help came next week, or next month, is that still a miracle or just circumstance?  If a miracle happened to you today, would you recognize it?  Does God have to perform a miracle for us to believe, to have faith?   

   

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verses: 11-12, The Centurion's Faith

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ heals his servant) Part 2. 

Christ gives us a future prediction:  "And I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and will feast with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,  12 but the children of the kingdom will be put forth into the darkness outside; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."   Christ here tells us of the upcoming event and who will be present.  He says that many will come from the east.  He says that many will come from the west.  But the children of the kingdom will be put outside and not allowed into the banquet.  Who are the children of the kingdom?

This is an interesting segment of the paragraph.  Christ talks about the centurion and his faith and then these two verses are thrown in the middle of the discussion.  Who are the children of the kingdom?  Who are those from the east and the west?  If we consider that Jesus is in Judea then the east would be those from Syria, Russia, China, etc.   And those from the west would be Italy, Germany, France, England, and the Americas, etc.  From these areas then, are to come those souls who meet the criteria to enter into the kingdom and into the banquet.  But who are they who are the children of the kingdom?

Are they the Jews of Israel that he spoke, of not being able to find such faith in Israel?  Those who come from the east and those who come from the west will take precedence over those who are children of  the kingdom.  They will come in and the children will be put out.  They will feast and the children will not.  They will eat with the saints, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and the children will not.  They will be welcomed and the children will not.  Who are the children of the kingdom?

Christ tells us, here, in the middle of this topic that there is a distinction that will be made.  Christ implies that the distinction is faith.  Those who come into the kingdom have a different kind of faith than those who are the inheritors of the kingdom.  The children of the kingdom are heirs to the kingdom.  They have a right to be there according to some rule.  They are predestined to obtain heaven, according to their background.  They have met the criteria already through their relationship with the foundation that was laid by those who came before them.  Yet those who are children of the kingdom are to be put out into the darkness.

Those who are not the children, will take the place of the heirs of the kingdom.  They will eat with the saints.  They will enjoy the benefits of heaven.  They will reap the rewards because of their great faith.  The children of the kingdom accepted their faith as a given.  They who are not children must show their faith.  They must demonstrate their faith as did the centurion and the leper.  The leper took his belief and acted upon it.  He took courage through his belief and dared to brake the laws of the day to come before Christ.  He knew that Christ had the power to change his life and he took action.  He knew that in order to get to see Christ he had to come among clean people without declaring his uncleanness.  This was against the law and he could have been stoned for doing it.  Yet his belief in the healing power of Christ led him to push forward to seek healing for himself.

The centurion too had faith.  He broke the norms of his class to seek help for his servant.  Who in that time would care about the well being of a servant?  The master used the servant in any way he pleased.  A servant was dispensable.  Yet the centurion cared.  Yet the centurion took measures to save his servant.  Yet the centurion sought help for his servant.   Yet the centurion broke rank and went to the christian God to save one so dear to him.  This action required tremendous belief and courage.  For one does not take action unless one believes that the outcome is possible.  The centurion was a man of authority and he knew that Christ was a spiritual man of authority that could heal his servant.

Today we belong to churches and synagogues and religious beliefs.  Are we children of the kingdom, believing in our rights to the banquet?  Or are we lepers and centurions that have to take action to prove our great faith in a healing God?  Do we want to eat at the banquet with the saints or do we want to be put out into the darkness?  Being religious is no guarantee to the kingdom.  We must work to show our faith through our actions.  Take courage.  Take action.  Show your faith.           

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 10, The Centurion's Faith.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ heals his servant) Part 1.  

We continue our topic about the centurion's faith.  The centurion has professed his faith to Christ through his knowledge of being a man of authority.  The centurion knows about authority and has asked that Christ, a man of spiritual authority, to heal his servant.  He knows that if Christ gives the word that it will be done.  There is no question about whether he believes if it will be done, or if there are delays on it being done, or if the orders have to be approved by someone else.  The centurion has that unwavering faith that lets him know that it will be done.  Christ marvels at this because he has not seen this kind of faith before and especailly in a Gentile.  Christ says:  "Amen I say to you, I have not found such great faith in Israel."   

It is as if Christ is searching for faith.  He is looking all around for those who have some small spark of faith.  He has called the disciples but they are lacking in faith and need to be trained.  So he recognizes the faith in the centurion and announces it to his followers and the public.  What is it that the centurion has that others do not?  What is different in the faith that he has seen so far and what he sees in the centurion?  Why is there such great faith in a Gentile, a Roman, and such little faith in others?  Does it take sickness to bring about faith?  Does it take tragedy for faith to come forth in such abundance to be recognized?  Where does faith reside and how can we find it?

I recently asked the question in a forum, if anyone believed the words that the centurion spoke: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.  These are some of the answers that I got in response to my question: 

   Unfortunately no.  But, I have been granted prayers that I didn't think
   would be answered.

   I absolutely believe that if Jesus said the word they would indeed be healed 
   without doubt!  

   Yes no one believes any more and it no longer happens vary often and
   when it happens no one believes, and even though it is real it will always
   be denied by everyone so lets say its a lie.
  
   Jesus was present on earth at that time, performing miracles so people would
   know that he was the prophesied Messiah.  Miracles aren't performed like
   that now, and we can't just say certain words and get miraculous healing.
  
   Your question won't be easy to answer briefly.  For one thing, the event
   you're quoting or describing was a miracle, performed by Jesus Himself,
   while He walked this earth before He was crucified and raised from the dead. 
   Besides that, this event was never intended to be a pattern or precedent for
   all such requests.

One can find today, many preachers who teach that we have the power, here on earth, to achieve our dreams.  Through the Blood of Christ we will have no more sickness.  Through the Blood of Christ we will have no maor lack.  Through the Blood of Christ we will suffer no more loss.  It is spoken that this year, 2011, will be the year of abundance.  2011 will be the year of restoration.  2011 will be the year that the body of Christ will have great success.  These are the things that are spoken to us that we should believe.  This is what we hear through the TV broadcasts as we listen to what we are being fed.  There are even witnesses to the principles that are being given to us via a DVD or a CD that we can purchcase and thereby have the life principles that will bring about a change in our lives. 

How is this possible if there is no faith?  We are given, in the Bible, these great examples of the faith of the centurion and the faith of the leper.  Why are they here for us to read?  Why are they an example of the miracles that Christ perfomed?  Was Matthew merely providing us with history?  Is there some purpose that we are not able to comprehend?  Christ is alive today.  He lives in heaven with his father, our God.  We talk to him through our prayers.  The centurion talked to him as he walked the earth.  We talk to him in heaven.  Does the distance between earth and heaven mean that we are not talking to Christ face to face?  Does the distance make a difference as to whether he hears us and will answer our prayers?  Or is the difference the lack of faith that we have in Christ?  No one believes any more.  This does not happen.  This is not a pattern or prescription for having miracles performed.  Where is your faith?  Do we really have faith?      

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 9, The Centurion's Faith.

We continue our paragraph topic:  (The centurion's faith) Part 3. 

The centurion now speaks to Christ telling him of his beliefs.  He tells Christ, "I too am a man subject to authority"   The centurion is indicating his beliefs in authority.  He is telling Christ he recognizes that Christ  is an authority figure and he believes that when Christ speaks by his authority it will be done. 

The centurion knows about authority.  He knows that when a person with authority speaks that one can believe that action will take place.  He knows this because he is a man of authority.  As a man of authority he gives orders and they are carried out.  As a man of authority he carries that power upon himself.  He tells a soldier to go and he goes.  He tells a soldier to come and he comes.  He tells his servant to do this and it gets done.  So as a man of authority he knows that Christ has the power to get things done.  As a man of authority he knows that if Christ says that it will be done then it will happen. 

It is amazing to read this paragraph today that happened over two thousand years ago.  A man of great influence acknowledges the authority of Christ over his life.  How times have changed today.  The presence of Christ has little to no influence in the world today.  The authority of Christ is mocked, denied, expressed as unreal, claimed as irrational, trampled upon, rejected and abused in every way imagined.  People in the world today live as though there is no God.  People work and play, laugh and cry, live and die, without seeking to know the true authority of God.  His words are discarded as something that has no value, to be thrown in the trash.  The world has created its own authority.

People today live by the world's authority.  They live by what is seen on the television.  They live by what is read in the newspaper.  They live by what they read in social media.  They live by what is published by the media as being the authority on life principles, whether it is Doctor Spock, Doctor Joyce Brothers, Desperate Housewives, Hellcats, or Oprah Winfrey.  The world has defined today how we should live, how we should work, how we should play, how we should think, how we should be in our hearts.  The authority of Christ lives in the churches but in many instances it stays in the church and is not taken out into the world and practiced.  

We go to church at our designated times and perform our religious duties and return to our life in the world.  We wear our church clothing in the church and take them off when we leave the church.  We wear our church masks in church and put on our world masks outside in the world.  The authority of Christ has no impact on our lives and our hearts.  It is a duty that we perform just as eating and sleeping.  We have no concept of what it means to take Christ with us everywhere we go.  We have no belief in the authority of God to live with us daily.  We miss the concept of being aliens in this world and living for Christ. 

When Christ is in us, we are not in the world.  When Christ is in us, we are in the kingdom of heaven.  When Christ is in us we operate on his authority and his power.  When Christ is in us, we are in him and he is in the Father.  When Christ is in us the Holy Spirit is in us and no demonic stronghold can prevail against us.  When Christ is in us his protection is all around us and he provides for us.  Who's authority do you operate under?  Is it the world's authority or is it the authority of Christ?  



    

St Matthew, Chapter 8, verse: 8, The Centurion's Faith

We continue our paragraph topic:  (The Centurion's Faith) Part 2. 

The central theme of this paragraph comes to the statement in this verse: "Lord, I am not worthy.....but only say the word, and my servant will be healed." 

The centurion expresses his repentance in stating his unworthiness.  At the same time he pleads with Christ to heal his servant.  These last two paragraphs have been tremendous examples of faith.  The leper states in his confession, Lord, if thou wilt.   The centurion states, Lord I am not worthy.  Such simple expressions go far beyond their simplicity of statement and exemplify deep, sincere, heart felt pleas to God Almighty for his help.  Lord, I am not worthy, so why would you help me.  Lord, I am a sinner so why do you care about me.  Lord, I am a addict, a pornographer, a hooker, a deceiver, a luster, a greedy person, a selfish person, a liar, a vain person, but I realize my mistakes.  Lord  I ask for your forgiveness from the depths of my heart. Lord please forgive me and heal my servant.  Lord please forgive me and heal my brother.  Lord please forgive me and heal my mother.  Lord please forgive me and heal my son/daughter.  Please forgive me Father.

It is you Father that I recognize as the only one that can heal them.  I have tried all of the worldly ways.  I have tried the doctors.  I have tried the specialist.  I have tried the cutting edge treatments.  I have tried the new medicines.  I had tried everything except you and now I realize that you are the one.  Help me Father.  The centurion being a man of authority certainly had to have tried all other measures before coming to Christ.  He certainly had to know the physicians of the time.  He certainly had to know of cutting edge technology that was taking place during his age.  He certainly had to believe that there was some way to save his dear servant that he loved and needed.  So he came to Christ.

He came to Christ and acknowledged him as the source when he called him Lord.  He acknowledged him as the authority when he humbled himself and said that he was not worthy.  He broke himself down when he asked Christ to speak the words to heal his servant.  Do we acknowledge our unworthiness today?  Do we accept Christ as the healer of last resort?  Do we believe that he can heal all?  Do we have the true faith to speak the words to him, asking for his help?  The centurion did.  He came.  He acknowledged.  He humbled himself.  He believed.  He accepted.  He had the faith.  He left in trust knowing that all will be well.

It is not an easy thing to come by such faith that allows one to act upon a belief.  It is not a common thing to transform oneself into a trusting soul.  It is not stroll through the park vs an obstacle course that allows one to truly accept that Christ can perform miracles before our eyes.  We see it on TV programs, in conferences, and in revival gatherings.  Sick people are miraculously being healed.  Is it real?  Is it a joke?  Is it fake?  Do we believe?

Miracles happen everyday and yet the masses are not transformed.  How is it possible to create, to posses, to have, to know, to get such a faith?  Does it take a tragic event to transform ourselves to the point that we reach a level within, where we are able to make a plea, to cry for help, to acknowledge the one source that can perform that miracle?  Or, can we learn through daily practice and patience to, through a instantaneous spiritual spark deep within ourselves, see ourselves transformed into a person that has faith.  To then take that spark, nurture it into a flame, and fan it until it becomes sufficient to burn on its own.  To then feed that flame with spiritual fuel until it matures into a full blown fire that drives us with confidence and hope in what Christ has in store for us.  Finally, having that flame within us, we walk in trust and knowledge that our heavenly Father is with us at all times.  Can this be the outcome of a mature faith?  Can this be the path that we are to walk in life?  Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the words and I will be healed.  Transform me Father into that which you will.