I am preaching through the life of Christ, we had begun with HIS forerunner, John the Baptist, then to HIS birth and we will go all the way to HIS ascension.
In all of that, we have many events, parables and miracles to cover.
Jesus said in Matthew 11.29 to “learn of me”.
That is exactly what we are going to do, is to learn of Christ.
We are to learn of Christ, this is what the Christian faith is all about.
We are still in the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
The passage we are looking at this morning is a healing.
All though this event is also recorded in Mark 1 and Luke 4, we will be in Matthew 8.
We are going to parallel God’s reasons for the healing this women with God’s reasons for saving us.
We find three reasons for God healing this woman, so we will be looking three reasons as to why God saved us.
Matthew 8:14 (KJV)
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
A regular part of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick and here we have another opportunity.
The bible says Peter’s mother n law is “sick of a fever.”
Before we go another further, who knew?
Who knew that Peter was married, when we think of Peter we do not think of a family man.
This brings a lot questions to the mind of the bible student, how did this work?
How does a man wholly forsake all with a wife?
How many of the disciples were married, did they have children and why no mention in the bible about it, except for this event right here?
We are NOT here this morning to answer what we cannot know but, to speak of the things we can know.
We know Peter was married and that his mother n law is sick.
Matthew 8:15 (KJV)
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us touches this woman and the miracle of her healing takes place.
This lady is helpless lying on her sick bed when, in comes the “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.
Jesus Christ reaches down to this woman to touch her hand and the bible says “the fever left her”.
This woman was gloriously healed.
What a great picture of salvation how we were helpless unable to do anything in and of ourselves to obtain salvation.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We are born into this world damned and diseased by a sinful condition.
Jesus who was sent by HIS FATHER left the glories of Heaven to reach down to us, to meet us where we are and to touch us to heal us.
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
That is the difference between BIBLE Christianity and all the religions of the world and that is our GOD came to us, to reach down to us and touch us.
Healed to Minister
Notice what happened when this lady was healed, the bible says “and she arose, and ministered unto them”.
Luke 4:39 says “and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.”
She gets healed and immediately she begins serving the Lord and His disciples.
One of the reasons Christ saved us is to minister.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Those who are saved by grace through faith are the workmanship of God, “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”.
When somebody gets saved their life changes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When somebody gets saved their life changes, this is what the bible says.
One of those changes is motivated by great gratitude for what Christ has done.
When somebody gives you something of great value, a natural response is to attempt to give something of like value in return.
What if somebody gives you something that saves your life and you could never repay them.
Wouldn’t your gratitude compel you to do whatever you could for them?
Jesus Christ gave HIS life for you.
HE was tortured, beaten and died a criminal’s death in your place for the things you have done.
HE SAVED YOU!!!
Peter’s mother n law was relieved of a fever and she got up and served the LORD.
You who are saved have been relieved from judgment and the penalty of sin, which is the torments of the eternal fires of hell.
What are you doing in response to the greatest gift ever given you?
The local church should never be in need of people to rise up to minister or serve HIM.
We have been “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
God does HIS work through HIS children, US.
Matthew 25:44-45 (KJV)
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (KJV)
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Peter’s mother n law was healed and she immediately ministered to HIM.
We have been healed and we should be ministering to HIM.
How are you doing Christian, what is your ministry to Christ?
Healed as an Example for others
Matthew 8:16 (KJV)
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Peter’s mother n law was healed but she is not the only one with a need.
Could you imagine with me, the excitement, here a lady is lying sick, a man walks in and touches her and she rises out of her bed as if she had not been sick.
I imagine immediately the folks that witnessed this began to think, “will HE do this for anybody?” “I know so and so that needs healed” “if I was able to bring so and so would HE touch them too”.
When you see something that somebody desperately needs you will let them know about it.
The bible says “When the even was come, they brought unto him many”.
The “they” were those who were witness to the lady’s healing, including the disciples.
They brought them unto Jesus, why did they bring them unto Jesus?
What had just happened to Peter’s mother n law could happen to all those the witnesses knew to be sick or demon possessed.
When I saw that God could save a wicked sinner like _______________ and change his life, giving him that peace that passeth all understanding it was an example for me.
When he and others came around me attempting to bring me to Christ, after awhile I became convinced that this thing of salvation was real, WHY???
Why, I was surrounded by examples.
What if Peter’s mother n law was healed by she stayed in her bed?
She would have been a POOR example of Christ’s healing power.
I am telling this morning that if God saved _______________ and he lived as if he never obtained grace, I may not be here today, saved and born again.
Now I am an example of what God can do in sinner’s life.
We who are saved have been made whole to bring glory to Jesus Christ being an example of HIS Love and His grace.
As we read earlier…
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
What if the people in your life only knew one example of somebody being saved and it was you?
What would those people think of Jesus Christ and salvation in HIM?
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (KJV)
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
An epistle is a letter; Paul is saying to the Corinthian believers, that they are the example of the Christian faith as they have been influenced by Paul.
What many people know about the Christian faith only comes from those they know in the Christian faith.
Peter’s mother n law was example of Christ’s healing power for all those who needed healed.
We were healed to be examples for those who are heading for the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, WE WERE MADE WHOLE TO BE EXAMPLES FOR OTHERS!!!
Healed to Fulfill God’s Will
Matthew 8:16-17 (KJV)
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Matthew records this event as a fulfillment of prophecy.
We know this to be God’s will because it fulfilled prophecy.
Many events in Jesus’ earthly ministry were the fulfillment of bible prophecy one right after another and this healing is included with those.
Matthew quotes Isaiah 53.4.
Isaiah 53:4 (KJV)
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Peter’s mother n law was healed to fulfill prophecy, fulfilling God’s will.
So it is with salvation, so it is with my own salvation.
God’s will was for me to be saved and it was prophesied in the bible.
Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God is telling Abraham that in his seed will come ONE who would be a blessing to all nations.
Galatians 3:8 (KJV)
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
When God told Abraham that “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” Paul tells us God was talking about justifying the heathen.
I am the heathen God was talking about justifying, my salvation fulfilled OT scripture.
Just as Peter’s mother n law’s healing fulfilled Isaiah 53.4, my salvation fulfilled Genesis 12.3.
The salvation of sinners is the will of God.
Acts 17:30 (KJV)
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
God’s command is what?
God’s command is that “all men every where to repent:”
This is talking about salvation, getting saved, becoming born again or becoming a Christian.
This God’s command, this is HIS will.
When I was healed/saved by believing upon Jesus Christ for my salvation is was the will of God.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Peter is clear, it is NOT God’s will that any should perish.
Perish is talking about burning ALIVE in the eternal flames of Hell for ever and ever.
This is not HIS will!!!
Peter then tells us what HIS will is, “that all should come to repentance.”
This is talking about salvation, getting saved, getting born again or becoming a Christian.
This God’s will.
When I was healed/saved by believing upon Jesus Christ for salvation it was the will of God.
If you are NOT saved then it is HIS will for you to be saved.
Do not wait another minute.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
By Pastor Jason LaPat
(614) 284-5151
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