Living life with steps of faith

Wow - Jesus Is Amazing!  The 9th chapter of Matthew alone is an incredible witness to the identity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is not only human: traveling by boat, touching his fellow human beings, and having a hometown; Jesus is also divine!  Jesus forgives sin, heals the sick, and revives the deceased.  Jesus also "gets" people.  He reaches out to the outcast and is attentive to his audience's level of faith.  He seems to care a lot for the people around him, yet he doesn't interfere with their lives unasked. Big Idea: Jesus is the Great Physician who heals not only physical ailments, but spiritual as well. Profound Identity: Jesus traveled by boat (Matthew 9:1). Jesus had a town that people identified as his hometown (Matthew 9:1). His hometown was somewhere near a sea (Matthew 9:1). Jesus is attentive to people's faith (Matthew 9:2). Jesus honors people's faith (Matthew 9:2). Jesus forgave sins prior to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection ...

2 Kings 7:9   “Then they said to each other, ‘We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go out at once and report this to the royal palace.’” Israel was in a bad place.   They were surrounded by their enemy, the Arameans, overwhelmed by famine, and prices were exorbitant.    The government had given up. Four men with leprosy met outside the city gate.   As the marginalized of the community, they realized their fate had been set.   They were going to die.   One man suggested to another, “let us desert to the Aramean camp; if they spare our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.”   At twilight they set off to the enemy camp and when they arrived they were surprised to find it deserted!   God had defended the Israelites by making the Arameans hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army. The Arameans fled...

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; 
 I will be exalted among the nations, 
 I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10 Jesus just says the word and it is!  An officer in the Roman army approaches Jesus and tells him that one of his servants is sick.  The officer asks Jesus to heal the servant. Jesus says “Go” and the servant is healed.  Two people possessed by demons approach Jesus and Jesus says “Go!” and the demons depart and the people are healed. A leper approaches Jesus, Jesus responds, “Be made clean!” and we know what happens, the leper is healed.  A paralytic is brought to Jesus and Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven… Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home” and the man stands up and walks. (See Matthew 8-9) Hmmm. Does this remind you of anyone else?  “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.”  “And God said, ’…  let the dry land appear. ‘ And it was so.” “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living cre...