The Great Physician
True salvation and service are only possible through a personal faith in Christ and taking on the infirmities and sorrows of others.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes that true faith in Christ is essential for receiving grace, which cannot be inherited through lineage. He illustrates how faith is the measure of divine performance, showcasing Jesus' ability to heal not just physical ailments but also the deeper struggles of the soul. Meyer highlights the importance of serving others by sharing in their infirmities and sorrows, as exemplified in Matthew 8:17, which calls believers to bear one another's burdens. The sermon encourages a personal and active faith that leads to genuine service and transformation.
Text
Matthew 8:11-17
A feast was the Hebrew conception of heaven. The Jews thought they were secure of it, because of their descent from Abraham. Grace is not hereditary; to receive it, every man has to exercise a personal faith in Christ. Let us see to it that our religion is absolutely true, lest it land us in hopeless disappointment.
Notice that faith is the measure of divine performance-as… so…. Our Lord can deliver from the fever-heat of passion and make the soul calm, quiet and pure.
It was a wonderful thing that the patient could at once arise and minister in Peter’s humble home to their great Guest, but it is even more wonderful when a helpless spirit suddenly emerges from the dominion of passion into strength and beauty.
The key to all true service is furnished in Matthew 8:17. We must take to ourselves the infirmities, sorrows and sins of those whom we would really help. This is the law of Christ, Galatians 6:1-4.
Sermon Outline
- The True Nature of Heaven
- The Importance of Personal Faith
- The Measure of Divine Performance
- The Key to True Service
- Take on the infirmities and sorrows of others
- Follow the law of Christ in Galatians 6:1-4
Key Quotes
“Grace is not hereditary; to receive it, every man has to exercise a personal faith in Christ.” — F.B. Meyer
“Our Lord can deliver from the fever-heat of passion and make the soul calm, quiet and pure.” — F.B. Meyer
“This is the law of Christ, Galatians 6:1-4.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Exercise a personal faith in Christ for true salvation.
- Take on the infirmities and sorrows of others to truly serve them.
- Follow the law of Christ in Galatians 6:1-4 to guide your service to others.