Matthew 8:23-27

Storm Calmed, Faith Strengthened

Is there anything you would like to accomplish, but you feel it's just too far out of your reach? Maybe you are too small to get up on that plateau, or too weak to lift that rock. You have been told your whole life, it's too difficult and you will fail. So you settle for less than than you wanted. Well, 2000 years ago Christ told His followers that if they had the faith of a mustard seed they could accomplish the impossible. In today’s lesson we learn of the time their faith was weak, because a storm had come upon them. Throughout our lives we are confronted with many storms, oh not always the kind that could sink a boat, but storms that could sink your faith in GOD. Eventually these disciples would gain the faith Jesus told them about, and their sacrificial faith would eventually change the hearts of billions around the World.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”m. But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Matthew 8:23-27

Matthew 8:18-22

True Cost Of Discipleship

When you give your life to Christ, you are turning your back on the World. While you still must live in the World, you can no longer be of the World. As such you must be ready to know the World will no longer be a hospitable place for you. This being said, anyone who desires to be a disciple of any teacher, must understand what it means. 

A disciple is to become like the master, and thus anything the master says or does, a disciple must follow in the same footsteps. It is the same for anything, whether it be religion, martial arts, military training, or even if you want to step into the shoes of a great chef. There are certain things the master teaches that one must take to heart, and be willing to follow, and or abandon. This is a short lesson to two men who wanted to follow Jesus.

Matthew 8:5-17

Matthew 8:5-17

True Faith In Christ Jesus
The One Who TakesOur Infirmities Away

The Lord God is not satisfied with only saving our souls, He also cares about the human body. When the centurion comes to HIM, asking that HE heal his servant, Jesus willingly heals the servant with His Word. When Peter's mother-in-law lay on her deathbed, Jesus drove away the fever. He did not turn away from the masses who were afflicted with diseases and suffering from infirmities, He healed them all through HIS almighty power. Today, Jesus is no less able to heal us than HE was when HE walked with the disciples. He is the same GOD who walked in the cool of the day with Adam. The same GOD who parted the Red Sea. The same GOD who protected Daniel in the Lion's den, and He is the same GOD we cry to through Christ to help us today.

Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:5-13

Onward Christian Soldiers

This week I would like to take you on a detour to help you understand the importance of authority, and how the life of a soldier is similar to that of a Christian. To do so, I must help you understand that when you read the Scriptures, you also need to really visualize the situation of the people you are reading about. You need to truly understand what daily life is like for those who lived in 30 A.D. What they feared when they walked down the street. What truly gave them joy in the world they lived in. What kind of clutter did Jesus have to get through before He could get them to see Him for what He truly was, their God. These are the things that should be going through your mind as you read the Scriptures. Knowing these things will help you better understand that the spiritual aspect of their lives wasn't much different than yours is today.

In today’s study, Jesus meets a man of true faith. To the Jews the Roman centurion was just another soldier they despised. A man the Jews would like nothing better than to see choke on the unclean pork they consume. Let's take a look at those who were such an integral part of the crucifixion of Jesus, and the lives of the Disciples.  In the Gospels, other than Pontus Pilot, we read more about centurions than any other type of Romans. So I will take this week's study to give you a secular lesson that will help you understand how to become a better soldier in the army of Christ.