Rewards of Faith
The sermon emphasizes the Lord's power to heal and restore believers from spiritual impurity and paralysis, and the source of strength is Christ's obedience to the Father's law.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the transformative power of faith in Christ, illustrating how He can cleanse the heart from impurity and restore it to purity, akin to the healing of Naaman. He highlights that just one touch from Christ can heal not only physical ailments but also spiritual paralysis, enabling believers to serve God effectively. The centurion's recognition of Christ's authority serves as a reminder of the obedience that unlocks divine power, culminating in the assurance that through Christ, believers can overcome their limitations.
Text
Matthew 8:1-10
The Lord can touch thy heart, leprous with impurity, and make its stain depart, so that, as in the case of Naaman, its foulness shall become like “unto the flesh of a little child.†See 2 Kings 5:14. The psalmist cried, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean,†alluding to the rite for the cleansing of the leper. Compare Psalms 51:7; Leviticus 14:4, etc. But one touch of Christ’s hand is enough, for He is the great High Priest.
He also can heal the paralysis which has limited thy service and pinned thee down in helplessness. As the centurion recognized, because Christ was obedient to the Father’s law He was able to wield the Father’s power.
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death of the Cross; therefore God hath highly exalted Him, that He might send tides of living energy into the paralyzed will. The Apostle Paul testified, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.â€
Sermon Outline
- The Lord's Power to Heal
- The Lord's Power to Heal Service
- The Source of Strength
- Obedience to God's Law
- Receiving God's Power
Key Quotes
“He is the great High Priest.” — F.B. Meyer
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the death of the Cross; therefore God hath highly exalted Him, that He might send tides of living energy into the paralyzed will.” — F.B. Meyer
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Believers can receive healing and restoration from the Lord, who has the power to remove spiritual impurity and paralysis.
- Christ's obedience to the Father's law gives Him the authority to wield the Father's power, enabling Him to heal and restore us.
- The source of strength for believers is Christ, who strengthens us to do all things through Him.