RLCF Sermons

Matthew 8:18-22. Sunday VS Monday: never forget your “why” (I Peter 1:8-9). difference: Monday VS Sunday! (Mark 7:6); test of spirituality: not how you feel on Sunday. purpose = freedom from sin (Psalm 119:11); “it is written of ME” (Hebrews 10:7-9). God’s blessing = more like Jesus (John 8:12); Disciple: Obsessed with Master: disciple: Monday just as important to you; discipleship = personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus; Jesus never proclaimed devotion to a cause. He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself! “Miracle Jesus” VS “Lord Jesus”: Matthew 8:18; everyone loves “miracle Jesus”; world hates “Lord Jesus”. Matthew 8:19-22; “Lord” Jesus requires always choose only Him! Looking for a comfortable life on this earth? Attachment to anything in domain of the dead? The Need for the Holy Spirit: disciple = passion for Jesus from Holy Spirit; admirers = like to be impressed. Romans 5:3-5; disciples can exult in tribulations. John 16:14; ministry of the Holy Spirit: look for any opportunity to glorify Jesus in us; sets you ablaze with devotion to Jesus.

Focus on the joy: Jesus lived His life focused on the joy (Hebrews 12:2); the disciple follows the Master’s footsteps (Matthew 13:44); Follow Jesus in focusing on the joy! Rejoice! You are God's inheritance: God already gave His most precious for you (Romans 8:31-32); He treasures you like the apple of his eye (Zechariah 2:8); God considers himself richer because of you (Ephesians 1:18); It’s not what you do, but Whose you are, that makes you precious. You are a gift to the Body of Christ! Rejoice! You are redeemed: what is your “heaven” like? Psalm 16:11; Matthew 25:21,23.

1. Faith is the Key: Matthew 8:12-13; not: “faith by association”; but: “as you have believed”. 2. Spiritual Power is Immediate: Matthew 8:3,13,15,16; no long dialogue; Mark 9:28-29: a life of “prayer and fasting”. 3. Zero Fanfare: Matthew 8:4,15,18; The Divine Nature is most powerfully manifest when the Human Nature gets zero glory! 4. Physical or Spiritual?: Matthew 8:3,16; loved to touch the “untouchables”; never laid hands on demon-possessed. 5. Ultimate Purpose: Matthew 8:15; discipleship.

1. The Word (Acts 20:27): Be grounded in the whole counsel of God: KNow it fully; Obey it immediately; Teach it completely. 2. Faith (Matthew 17:20): Don’t look for human solutions for the promises of God (Numbers 11:21-23). You have circled some mountains long enough (Deuteronomy 2:13)! 3. Prophecy (Romans 10:613): The righteousness based on faith speaks! You will never defeat Satan in your life without the word of your testimony (Revelation 12:11). 4. A Light (John 1:56): The dark room in which God has placed you needs light more than it needs words not the “come and hear” church (Matthew 3:5), but the "come and see" church (John 1:39). “The fierce urgency of now” -- the way you are living right now is an example to those around you, for better or for worse. 5. Abiding Life (I John 2:36): Live as Jesus lived until you are like Him (I John 3:2) . This is abiding in the Head (John 15:47). 6. Abiding Love (I John 3:14): You will only fully know Christ by being knit together in the church (Colossians 2:2). The Body of Christ today is as much without stately majesty, and as unattractive and unesteemed to the world as Jesus was, and very few have believed in it (Isaiah 53:13).

Spiritual Leprosy: Pain is to body what conscience is to soul. Root of all sin is selfishness – wanting to please myself or have my own way. Conscience warns us: child vs adult. Result: seared conscience (I Timothy 4:2); shipwreck (I Timothy 1:19). Leprosy: attacks nerve endings; can’t feel pain. A Cleansed Conscience: examples: how we speak to or treat others; anger and lust; obeying the laws of the land – taxes, etc. (Romans 15:1-5). The basis of final judgment (Romans 2:14-16). Paul’s testimony (Acts 24:15-16). Only solution is cleansing in blood (Hebrews 9:14; Leviticus 14:3-7). Jesus says, “I am willing” (Matthew 8:3). Leper proclaimed it freely (Mark 1:45).

The Basis of Spiritual Authority: Matthew 8:8-10: Jesus had authority because He was under authority. Hebrews 13:17: submit to your leaders… for your own profit. I Peter 5:5-9, James 4:6-8: when you submit to God you will be able to resist the Devil.

Jesus’ Authority Through the Church: Jesus is my example in having authority over the Devil, not in His being fully God, but in His being fully human. John 14:30b; 16:8-11 The only real threat to Satan’s kingdom are those who have spiritual authority. Jesus' authority given to the Church: Matthew 16:16-19; 18:15-20.

John 5:18-24 – why Jesus was killed. Matthew 21:12-14,23. Matthew 7:28-29 (MSG, NASB) The crowd had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that He had authority because He was living everything he said – quite a contrast to their religion teachers! Spiritual authority comes from eternal life of God.