Just bring it to Jesus — Part 3 — There’s nothing my God cannot do! (2)
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Introduction
Introduction
Good morning Church!
It sure is good to be in the house of the Lord this morning, Amen!
Today, we will be finishing out our series “Just bring it to Jesus” by looking at the rest of Chapter 8 in the Book of Matthew.
So far, we’ve seen a Leper come to Jesus for healing and a Centurion who brought the need of his servant to Jesus, who was also healed.
The overarching theme behind both of these messages though, was the foundation of both of these men’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to heed their needs.
The Leper said, “I know you can heal me Lord!”
Not if you can but if you will! I believe in you Lord!
The Centurion said, “I’m not worthy for you to even come to my house but if you will but speak the word only, I know my servant will be healed!”
Again, if you will I know it shall come to pass!
That my friend, is the kind of mountain moving faith that we need to exhibit in our own lives, Amen!
Today though, in Part 3 of our Series “Just bring it to Jesus” we’re going to see some of the same faith in the beginning but then, we’re going to see some of the opposite as well.
Instead of seeing a tenacious faith and a marvelous faith, we’re going to see in some parts of this message the lack thereof.
And honestly, this is the category where I feel many Christians fall today.
Instead of being absolutely dogmatic that there’s nothing our God cannot do and that He is in control of everything, we allow the circumstances of this world to get us into a state of frenzy and doubt and then we worry ourselves to death over the most minute of things.
The title to today’s message is “There’s nothing my God cannot do!”
If you have your Bible’s turned with me to Matthew 8 verse 14 would you say, Amen.
His Power over Disease — (Vs. 14-17)
His Power over Disease — (Vs. 14-17)
I want to begin this morning by looking at Verses 14-17 at our first point…Jesus Power over Disease.
38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
Now, we don’t know what caused Peter’s mother in law’s fever but only that it was by Luke’s account, a great fever.
And so when they all get there and see that she is really sick, they go and tell Jesus and undoubtedly ask Him to come in and help her and then Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus comes in and stands over her...Matthews gospel tells us that He takes her by the hand, and then Jesus “REBUKES” the fever!
Keep that word “REBUKES” in the back of your minds because we’re going to see that as a common theme throughout the message today.
Then I just love this…after rebuking the fever, the Bible says… “it left her!”
Dear friend, the fever itself listened to Jesus, Amen!
The word “Rebuke” is the Greek word (epitimaō) and it primarily refers to the action of corrective rebuke.
As I began to ponder on the meaning of this word, I couldn’t help but to think about the meaning “corrective rebuke” and the fact that everything in this world that is contrary to man is due to the cause of man’s sin!
Listen this morning friend, in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned, it was an absolute state of perfection!
There were no fevers, there was no leprosy, there was no palsy, there was no sickness or disease in general and there was no chaos or calamity!
It was absolute perfection until Adam and Eve messed it up by allowing sin to enter in!
One day though, for those of us who believe in Jesus, we will once again enter a place of absolute perfection, but until then, we must endure the downfalls and pitfalls of sin which come in many different forms even in the slightest form of a fever!
But praise God we have evidence that even the slightest outcomes of sin are under His control, Amen!
And the Bible says that after Jesus rebuked the fever, look what Peter’s mother in law does… “immediately, she got up and ministered unto them!”
The word “ministered” is the Greek word (diakoneō) and it means to attend or serve.
It refers to actions associated with providing care, often in the form of humble service.
Listen, Peter said in...
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
If you have received the gift of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ, then dear friend, you have been healed of a sickness of the soul and you ought get up and serve Him, Amen!
How are you ministering to Jesus this morning?
How are you serving Him for healing you?
If you can’t honestly say I’m doing this or that to serve Him, then dear friend, find something to do for Jesus and get busy!
Not only do we see Jesus healing Peter’s mother in law here but we also see Him healing a great multitude of people in the next few verses.
Look at Verse 16.
They brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His word.
I just love that!
Demon, be gone! Get out of here! You’re in the presence of righteousness so get on out of here you mangy dog!
In Luke’s gospel it says in...
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
There’s that word again…Jesus rebuked them…the spawn of sin rebuked by the Son of God!
We have fevers rebuked, we have foes rebuked and feebleness taken away!
“He healed ALL that were sick!”
Not a person came to Jesus that evening whom He turned away!
Not a problem was too big!
Not a disease too dire!
Not a habit too strong!
Not a demon too powerful!
All who had problems came to Jesus and praise God almighty in the highest, He healed them ALL!
Then notice what it goes on to say in Verse 17.
Why did Jesus perform all these miracles?
So that prophecy might be fulfilled!
Some 800 years before Christ’s coming, Isaiah penned these words in Chapter 53 and now, through the one and only Son of God the prophecy was being fulfilled!
The word Matthew uses here for “Infirmities” is the Greek word (astheneia) speaks of sickness or weakness.
It refers to a weakness or disability, often due to natural limitations or illness.
The root meaning of the word is weakness and we can see this in verses like...
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
“Sicknesses” — Greek word (nosos) and speaks of disease and illness.
It specifically refers to physical suffering in the form of an illness or disease.
He took these people’s weaknesses and healed them of their diseases!
Listen this morning friend, the Bible says in...
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Thank God we have a Savior this morning who knows what we’re going through, Amen!
Thank God, that He knows my weaknesses, my illnesses, my sicknesses.
Thank God that He also knows how to deliver us from these weaknesses and illnesses as well, Amen!
What is your weakness this morning?
Just bring it to Jesus!
Are you dealing with a health issue?
Just bring it to Jesus!
Now, listen dear friend, I’m not going to be like some of these televangelists who tell you that if you bring your sickness to Jesus He’s going to immediately heal you of it and you’ll be good to go and then 6 months from now you’re still sick and in even worse shape than when you brought it to Jesus and then tell you “well you weren’t healed because you’re faith wasn’t strong enough”.
No, dear friend, what I’m going to tell you this morning, is that Jesus has the power to heal your sickness but whether that happens or not is all according to God’s will and God’s plan but…but…if it’s not in His will that you should be healed, dear friend if you’re trusting in Jesus, either way, it will all be ok, Amen!
Death for the believer is but a doorway unto eternal life!
It’s not easy to think that way sometimes...when you have little ones at home who need their mommies and daddies.
When you’re daughter is just a few months from walking down the isle to be married and you get news that you have some disease and you might not make it to her wedding.
When your a child and it seems like your whole life is ahead of you to live but you get news that you have a disease that’s going to rob you of that life ahead.
Those are moments when it just doesn’t seem right.
But dear friend, what we must keep in mind, is that if we know Jesus, the joys that lie ahead for the believer is far above and beyond what any mortal man can fathom or imagine!
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Our God has Power over all Disease, Amen!
Next, in the passage before us we see The Price of Discipleship.
The Price of Discipleship — (Vs. 18-22)
The Price of Discipleship — (Vs. 18-22)
So here we are, Jesus has healed all these people and there’s this great multitude of people and He says to His disciples let’s go to the other side!
Marks gospel records this in...
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
And then we also have Luke’s record which says in...
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
All three record this same account but I want you to pay very close attention to something because it’s going to come back up here in just a moment.
In all three accounts Jesus tells them “let us go to the other side”.
Keep that in mind, put it back here somewhere and just let it set and simmer for a few minutes when we come back to it.
So, He gives command to go to the other side and then, before they leave, Jesus is approached by a couple of people undoubtedly wanting to travel to the other side with Him.
First, we have a scribe.
A Scribe was a an expert in the law of Moses and they were trained to read and write. They, often times were also teachers of the law found in scripture with the Chief Priests and Pharisees as religious leaders.
I would like to think the majority of these scribes were probably from the upper echelon’s of society. They more than likely stayed on the nicer side of town in their nicer houses and had no wants or desires that their monies couldn’t afford them.
But this scribe comes to Jesus and says, “Master, I’ll follow you wherever you go!”
I mean he sounds dedicated, right?
But look at Jesus reply..
“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Friend, you’re more than welcome to tag along, but you need to know the cost of following me before committing!
There’s going to be nights where we sleep on the ground beneath the stars.
There’s going to be times when we may go hungry.
There’s going to be times when you might get stoned on my account.
There’s going to be times when for certain you will lose friends and family on my account.
To say a life committed to following me is going to be costly is an understatement!
Granted, it will be worth it in the end, but here on this side, things may get rocky for sure!
If you’re up for that I’d be honored to have you follow me!
Then, another disciple comes and says, “Lord I want to go with you to the other side but let me first go bury my father.”
Three words you need to underline in your Bible’s when reading this verse… “suffer me first”.
Then look at Jesus response… “Follow me and let the dead bury their dead.”
Now, at first glance, one might say, “how rude!”
But it’s the principle behind the request that we must not miss.
This disciple did as almost every person sitting here today has done at some point and may even be doing now…suffer me first!
We put ourselves and our needs, our wants, our desires, before the needs, wants and desires of God!
We have this “Me first” mentality when it comes to serving God and dear friend, that isn’t how God intended a born again child of God to act!
In every thing we do we should begin by saying, “ok God, what would you have me do?”
Or
“How would you have me go about this or that?”
We have to learn that God’s will for our lives is more important than our wants for our lives and if we will in turn seek His will for lives, we will more often than not find solace and happiness in the life we are living because we’re living it in complete obedience to God, Amen!
Listen this morning friend, The Price of Discipleship can be a costly one but it will most definitely be worth it in the end, Amen!
This was a principle that those who have gone before us knew all too well.
In Hebrews, when speaking of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham & Sara, Isaac, Jacob and Moses and many others, the Bible says in...
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Listen friend, when it seems everything around us is crashing down and we start to wonder if living for God is worth it, we must remember that we are simply strangers and pilgrims in a foreign world and that’s why this world seems so hard for us!
We are pressing on for the world to come!
This world is not our home we’re just passing through! Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue, Amen!
We press on toward the prize of the high calling of God because although things on this side are tough, we know they are worth it!
It’s worth the pain, the agony, the strife, we face in this world, to one day stand before our Lord and our God and hear those blessed words… “enter in thou good and faithful servant!”
Dear friend, that’s what it’s all about!
Bowing before my God and my King, forever in eternity His praises I’ll sing! — Me
That’s what makes it all ok!
That is why the Price of Discipleship is so high because there’s such a reward to be reckoned for those who follow His lead and live for Him!
We’ve seen Jesus Power over Disease and the Price of Discipleship. Now, let’s look at His Power over Disaster.
His Power over Disaster — (Vs. 23-27)
His Power over Disaster — (Vs. 23-27)
So, we finally make it into the ship to pass to the other side and Luke’s gospel tells us in...
Luke 8:23a — “But as they sailed he fell asleep:”
Chuck Swindoll writes...The journey from Capernaum was about 10 miles by boat, and the lake could potentially be crossed within a couple of hours.
I’m sure after spending all day healing and performing miracles our Lord was tired and worn out and in need of some much needed rest.
So, Jesus finds him a little spot in the rear of the ship Mark tells us, and falls asleep on a pillow.
Now, as Jesus is sleeping, it would seem from the text that there pops up out of nowhere a pretty violent storm!
Chuck Swindoll also writes...This is pretty typical, even today. What appears to be a clear, sunny, calm day on the lake can very quickly turn into a dark, stormy upheaval with high-velocity winds and crashing waves. I’ve personally been at the Sea of Galilee when these storms have come seemingly out of nowhere. The surrounding hills create a sort of gigantic funnel, generating potentially catastrophic winds that could easily topple a midsize fishing boat like the one carrying Jesus and the disciples across the lake.
So, here’s this boat that Jesus is on, making it’s way to the other side, and all of a sudden they are overtaken by a storm.
So much so, that Matthew says the ship was “covered” with waves!
Luke says the boat was “filled” with water!
And Jesus is just sitting back here in the back of the boat sleeping like a baby while everyone else is having a panic attack!
Anybody here ever been in that boat?
The world around you seems to just be clicking on by, all the while you feel like life itself is fleeting before your very eyes?
Everyone else is at peace while you’re in a complete panic?
That’s what’s happening right here!
I can just see the disciples, they’ve all got buckets in their hands and their scooping water out of the boat but for every bucket they scoop out the storm puts 3 more in and their losing ground fast!
The boat is rocking and swaying and taking on water and they just know, they’re about to drown and so they go and wake Jesus up in a frantic panic and say, “Lord do something! Do you not care that we’re perishing!”
“How can you sleep when we’re about to drown?”
“Can you not feel what’s going on?”
I bet with that boat rocking and swaying like it was, Jesus was probably reminiscing about His mother Mary rocking Him to sleep at night don’t you?
Now, Jesus acts a whole lot like I do right here when I get woke up from a good nap!
He says, “why are you afraid, O ye of little faith?”
I mean you can hear a little bit of frustration in His reply, right?
You’ve seen me heal a leper by a touch.
You’ve seen me heal a Centurion’s servant with a word.
You’ve seen me cast out demons and disease with no effort at all.
Do you not think I too am in control of this storm?
“Peace be still!”
And all of a sudden, the storm that once threatened their lives ceased and a stillness like they’d never witnessed overtook them!
The Bible says he rebuked the winds and the sea!
There’s that word again!
What was out of control He corrected with a word and it came under His control!
The Bible then says that the men marvelled at this saying amongst themselves… “what manner of man is this, that even the winds and seas obey him?”
They were in complete and utter shock!
But should they have been?
I told you to keep something in the back of you mind a little bit ago…does anyone remember what that was?
What did Jesus say when He seen the multitudes?
“Let us go to the other side,” right?
Jesus had already told the disciples they were going to the other side but a storm came up and they began to doubt Jesus command.
Listen to me this morning friend, if you intend to make it to the other side, you’ve got to trust in Jesus!
There’s going to be storms in this life that come your way and threaten to sink your boat but praise God, if you’ve been born again, then you have a promise that you’re going to make it to the other side, so no matter how violent that storm get’s, hold on to that promise and remember dear friend, as long as Jesus is in the boat, there’s no threat of it sinking, Amen!
There’s something that peaks my curiosity about this account though.
In Mark’s gospel it tells us that there were other little ships that also followed Jesus to the other side but you never hear anything else about them…did they make it to the other side?
Or did they perish in the storm?
Let me ask you something this morning friend, is Jesus in your boat?
If you’re trusting in any other boat to get you to the other side, when the storms of life come your way, that boat’s gonna sink, Amen!
But when Jesus is in the boat, you’re sure to make it!
If you aren’t in the boat with Jesus this morning, you better get in the boat with Jesus, Amen!
There’s His Power over Disaster and in our last section here, we’re going to see His Power over Demons and His Power Denied by the People.
His Power over Demons — (Vs. 28-32)
His Power over Demons — (Vs. 28-32)
One word…GO!
His Power Denied by the People — (Vs. 33-34)
His Power Denied by the People — (Vs. 33-34)
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.