by Pastor Peter lim
Real life, real faith
Real life is hard
Keep calm and learn to rest on the float of God's grace
Big idea:
Discipleship means learning to trust Jesus in difficult and overwhelming moments
Luke 7:1-10
After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion[b] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Above verse records how Jesus ministered to three individual:
1. Centurion
2. Widow with one child..
3. A sinful woman
# Jesus cared for outsiders, marginalised
- Centurion did not know Jesus personally
- He did not know he can access with Jesus
- centurion did not feel worthy of direct contact with Jesus
# centurion recognised Jesus supreme authority
Centurion knew Jesus word was effective even though spoken from a distance, not even alot of Jesus followers
# Jesus marvels not at religious acts but at authentic trust
Faith is trust in who Jesus is
Confidence in His word
And corresponding actions
Real faith trusts what Jesus says and act on it
@@ Application 1
Trust God's word and call on Jesus
- Read the gospels regularly and internalise their truths
- Call on Jesus boldly
A bold statement from the centurion. Faith is more than trusting but accompanied with corresponding action, act on your faith, ask Jesus for help and trust Him! Call on Jesus boldly
Let's have faith that amazes Jesus
As disciple-makers, we need to model faith in Jesus authority and His word. It is more impactful that purely theoretical session
Jesus commanded the storms to cease. This was perfect discipleship moment for the disciples.
Jesus ask why the disciple faith not show during crisis?
Who then is this? Who is Jesus that even the winds and waves obey Him. Surely he's not just a carpenter
Psalm 89:9
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
Psalm 107:29
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
This incident shows Jesus is lord over seas and nature, it shows that Jesus is God, this is recognising Jesus divine identity
Real faith recognises who Jesus is - and rest fully in Him
Jesus is the Saviour-Messiah, Son of God, Deliverer, Healer and King
Matthew 16:17
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Do I really know who Jesus is?
Real faith is anchored on the person of Jesus
X Faith is not convinced of the outcome
It's about how great your God is, not how great your faith is
"You do not need a great faith, but faith in a great God"
How do I truly rest on Jesus?
@@ Application 2
Grow to know Jesus in the storm
- Talk to Jesus more in the storm (not "You in crisis", but "Christ is in you")
- Experience Jesus in the storm
"Discipleship maturity grows through adversity; storms serve as divine classrooms as leaders are shaped"
What does Jesus say about me?
- Internalise this question through the word of God
- Jesus honour this step of trust
Luke 8:22-25
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
# It was Jesus who led the disciples to cross the lake
Does obedience guarantee a life free of all storms?
No! Let this be a learning lesson to us
Jesus sleeping symbolises perfect confidence in God, he modeled a life of peace while chaos raged all around
Rest and rely on Jesus then you will see how He is faithful, sometimes through storms He strengthen you to go through storms allowing you to experience Christ then you will see how true and faithful He is to bring you through
God is the giver and sustainer of life
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