Introduction:
>Grew up in church since I was 4
>Always heard: Apple of His eye, Chosen people, Blessed and highly favored
What does that really mean?
1 Pet 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:(KJV)
What is a peculiar people?
I grew up in a strict church that focused on the flesh:
1. We dressed different in school P.E.
2. Women wore their hair different
3. Women couldn’t wear make-up
4. We didn’t cuss or
However, this did not make us a peculiar people (in biblical sense) nor did it separate us from the world
In fact:
There will be people in hell who didn’t do some of these things because they chose not to.
We are a peculiar people for a different reason.
Matt 8:5-10
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.(KJV)
JESUS MARVELLED AT THIS MAN’S FAITH!
Ä Heb. 11:6 tells us it is impossible to please God without faith
Ä All want to please God
Ä All try to live by faith
BUT, DO YOU HAVE FAITH THAT GOD WILL MARVEL AT?
WHAT IS FAITH THAT GOD WILL MARVEL AT?
There is a key phrase in verse 9 that explains why Jesus marveled.
“I am a man under authority.”
Let me tell you what this verse of scripture said in David’s version:
I have been given authority and those that are subject to my authority are a slave to my words. I can tell this man to go and do this thing or that man to go and do that thing. I need nothing to enforce it except that I speak the word. In knowing that I can accomplish what I need to with my word I recognize your supreme authority that as men are slave to my words sickness and are slave to your words. I don’t need you to come to my house, I don’t need you to touch my servant, I don’t need a sign from heaven. Just speak the word and because of the authority in that word my servant will be well.
I want to talk to you tonight about: The highest form of faith
The highest form of faith is when you have faith in the Word of God and it’s authority alone. When you need no physical evidence to support your belief. When you believe God’s Word just because it is the Word of God.
I grew up hearing a phrase that told me to, “stand on the Word of God.”
I never understood until a few years ago what exactly this meant. I remember in one church we were going to lay new carpet and they took the pages out of a bible and laid it under the carpet at the alter so you could, “stand on the Word.”
But when I finally found out what this meant it changed my life:
Whatever circumstance comes your way it doesn’t move you because you are only moved by what the Word says:
>You can’t pay your bill! - No, My God meets my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus
>You’re dying of cancer - No, by His stripes I’ve been healed.
The highest form of faith is when your reliance is on His Word and it doesn’t waver at circumstances that present themselves.
What situation can present itself that God’s Word cannot take care of?
Ä Trip to N.Y. - got lost and ended up in Spanish Harlem
I was scared because I didn’t understand the power in God’s Word that I had with me.
Prov 29:25
25 ...but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.(KJV)
Ps 91:11-12
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.(KJV)
WHAT IS AN ANGEL CAPABLE OF?
II Ki 19:35
35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand:(that’s 185,000) and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all corpses.(KJV)
Are you going to fear a gang of 25 with s? I would rather have the Word of God with an angel having charge over me!
Isa 54:14
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from ; for it shall not come near thee.(KJV)
Jogger in the foot hills around Sacramento killed by a mountain lion -
>Project yourself into that situation
>Would you be affraid if you were jogging along and saw a mountain lion chasing you?
>David killed a lion
Ps 91:13
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder (cobra): the young lion and the dragon (serpent) shalt thou trample under feet.(KJV)
Let me ask you - if that was you, a Bible talking, word believing Christian and you killed it with your bare hands like David did.
********Evening News*****man kills lion - would you be peculiar?
How many believe that God can do anything?
Do you remember the shuttle that blew up a few years ago. They had a teacher on board - what if it was you that Word believing Christian?
Ps 91:12
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.(KJV)
What if it blew up and you floated out of that ball of fire untouched?
Impossible story?
Matt 19:26
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.(KJV)
What if a nuclear went off by your house?
Ps 91:7
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.(KJV)
Would you be peculiar if that happened?
Key Verse: You become a peculiar people when you are not effected by the natural because you live by the - the ability in the Word of God.
Phil 4:19
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.(KJV)
Let’s examine God’s riches in glory:
Are they subject to this earth’s diseases? No, then should you?
Are they subject to the tax code? Then should you?
Are they subject to the price of gas? Then should you be?
Are they subject to disasters? Then should you be?
Reliance on the Word of God can change any circumstance that you face!
Let’s go back to our original scripture and see what Jesus’ response was to this man that He marveled at His faith:
Matt 8:13
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.(KJV)
You get what you can believe for:
There are 6 things that will hinder your faith:
5 physical senses and your ability to reason.
You have access to all of God’s power through faith in His Word!
If your reliance is on what you can see, touch, smell, hear, taste your hindering what you will obtain.
If your total reliance is on the Word because it is the Word. It is your final authority you can have whatever you believe.
What is the opposite to what I am talking about?
John 20:25-29
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (unless I can verify it’s existence with my senses or it makes sense to me I’m not going to believe.)
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger (touch), and behold my hands (sight); and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (because he had to see it and feel it Jesus referred to him as faithless)
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.(KJV)
