PH Message

January 26, 2008

Where is your faith?

Jesus said two things during His ministry:
1. Praise – “Son/daughter your faith has healed you.”
2. Rebuke – “Where is your faith?”
* Which group do you long to be in?

Luke 7 - faith of a Roman officer

Background of Roman officer:

A Roman officer’s servant was sick. This officer heard about Jesus. He told his friends
to tell Jesus to come and heal his servant. So Jesus was on His way, but the officer
sent more people to say to Jesus, “No Jesus, you don’t have to come to my house. You
are too great of a person and I am too much of a sinner. I don’t deserve you to come to
my house.”
** Then he says an amazing thing in verse seven.

NLT version “I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where
you are and my servant will be healed.”

The Roman officer is saying, “I know this (just say the word) because I am under the
authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. And I only need
to say go and they go or come and they come and if I say to my slaves do this and they
do it.”

Where did he get this kind of faith, understanding?

Verse 9 – I have not seen faith like this in all of Israel

This gentile Roman officer received the greatest compliment from Jesus! HOW?

What released the healing power of Jesus?  the faith of the Roman officer

How did he get this kind of faith?

He understood authority. The one who has authority just says a word and they obey.
In other words, the Roman officer understood the authority of Jesus.
This roman officer did not have all the learning of Jesus, Messiah, or God because he
was not an Israelite.
It is because He understood one of the greatest things…he understood the authority of
Jesus.

Where is your faith?

Faith comes from understanding who your Lord is and knowing who Jesus is.

Then what about the disciples?

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January 26, 2008
Chapter Eight: The disciples are in a storm (dangerous situation). During that time the
disciples said, not words of faith, but words of desperation to save them.

Jesus says, “You of little faith.”

Why is it that the disciples (who were with Jesus) did not have the faith the Roman
officer had?

When compare the knowledge of the disciples and the officer, the disciples had greater
understanding. But the disciples failed to understand the authority of Jesus Christ.

The roman officer understood…I know what kind of authority you have! I know all you
have to do is speak a word and my servant will be healed.

HOW CAN YOU AND I HAVE THIS KIND OF FAITH?

1. Faith is knowing who Jesus is.

1. You must know what Jesus has done.
i. Jesus has made us righteous before God.
ii. Jesus brought life into us from the penalty of sin.
iii. Only the righteous will live in faith
1. Romans – baptized in Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection
2. In His work, we are made clean.
2. Faith is knowing who we are in Jesus.
1. We are children of God!
2. In Jesus Christ is the authority to make us righteous
3. Jesus Christ gave us that authority as He rose again!
i. There are martyrs in this world because they understand who
Jesus is, what kind of power He has given to them
ii. faith causes them to move forward even if there is death before
them
4. Matthew 28 – All the authority has been given to Jesus, He then gives us the
authority to go and do as He has done on this earth
i. That kind of faith comes from knowing who Jesus is

WHO IS YOUR LORD?

If you know who Jesus is, then you will have authority!

Why did Jesus give us this authority/salvation?

A. We must understand why Jesus came on this earth
a. Luke 8:1 – He came to preach and announce the good news of the KOG
b. 1 John 3:8 – He came to destroy the devil’s work
c. John 10:10 – He came to give us life, and life to the full
B. Jesus came to set His people free and to give them life!

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January 26, 2008
3. Faith is knowing that Jesus has given us that authority.

Why is it that you and I do not experience that kind of faith (Roman officer) in our lives?
1. We do not have faith.
i. Faith comes from hearing the word of God
ii. The Roman officer heard about Jesus’ ministry and believed.
2. We do not know Jesus.
i. We must strive to know Jesus more.
ii. True faith will produce life.
3. We do not do what we know.
i. Head knowledge is not enough.
ii. We must live and do what we know in Christ.
Could it be that we do not understand His authority? Could it be because we do not
understand why He came on this earth?

If we do not understand that, we will not experience the fruit in our lives.

Why can we not do as Jesus

We do not have faith
Where does faith come from?
Faith comes from hearing the word of God
Even the Roman officer heard the ministry of Jesus and believed.

2nd thing: We don’t know Jesus

You and I must strive to know Jesus more. How do you know whether you have faith or
not? True faith will produce action. True faith will produce life. If you do not see life
activated in your life…then question if you truly understand the authority of Jesus or if
you truly know God.

Application:
Where is your faith?
We must put our faith upon Jesus, by understanding who Jesus is.

QUESTIONS:
1. Who do you say Jesus is in your life? What kind of authority do you think Jesus
has?
2. Do you really believe in that authority? How do you know that you believe what
you say that you believe?
3. What do you want to do to show your faith? What will you do to show your faith
in Jesus? Are you willing to show your faith?