Fifty2 Sunday’s ~
Listening for God
The
sermon on Sunday was about how God shows up-how he manifests himself in our
world and in our lives. The texts of Matthew 8 & 9 were used to demonstrate
this in each of the situations below.
- · Matthew 8:1-3: A man with leprosy is healed. God heals. Even the ‘untouchable’ is touchable by God.
- · Matthew 8:5-13: The Centurion’s servant is healed of his paralyzing condition. God honors faith-even the smallest amount (mustard seed). There are no exceptions.
- · Matthew 8:14-17: The mother of Peter is healed. God loves the marginalized, the ignored and neglected of the world.
- · Matthew 8:23-27: God’s creation obeys him! What are we to fear when he can calm the seas with his commands?
- · Matthew 8:28-34: The demon's surrender to him. For they know their time is short.
- · Matthew 9:1-8: The paralyzed man is forgiven and set free of his condition. Jesus tells him to get up and take his mat and go home-should be not find comfort in this too?
- · Matthew 9:9: Matthew the tax collector is called by Jesus. When Jesus calls-go! Do not let present circumstance’s hinder following him.
- · Matthew 9:18-26: Jesus raises from the dead the daughter of synagogue ruler. The presence of God swallows up death and brings hope.
- · Matthew 9:27-30: Jesus heals two blind men – but first he asks them if they believe he can heal them. And according to their faith (our faith) it is done.
- · Matthew 9:32-33: The mute was healed and enabled to speak. God hears the one with no voice and he wants to free them.
- · Matthew 9:35-38: Jesus “saw the crowds and had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, life sheep without a shepherd”. Are we willing to show the same compassion to the lost and hurting?
In
closing the pastor quoted from the Great Commission that states “All authority in
heaven and on earth” was given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). By faith and on his
authority - we are called to continue this work (Matthew 10:1-8). We can anticipate
God to show up and make known His presence when we do.
This
sermon challenged my faith - I don’t mean the tenants of the Christian faith (i.e.
Jesus as the son of God, that he arose from the dead or that his death on the
cross paid our sin debt). Rather, I am speaking about kind of faith spoken of
in Hebrews (11:1) where one is confident
of what one hopes for and convinced of what one does not see. This is the kind of faith that God rewards
(Hebrews 11:6) as he did with Abraham (Romans 4:3). I want to have the sort of
faith that anticipates the presence of God to be made manifest and waits
expectantly for him to act. Lord, help my (our) faith to grow that I (we) may
fulfill your purpose here on earth as is your will in heaven.
