October 11, 2009, sermon notes from the La Porte Church of Christ,
with Pastor Peter J. Peters, in La Porte, Colorado.

Scriptures For America
P.O. Box 766
La Porte, Colorado 80535
 
www.scripturesforamerica.org 
 
 
Opening Prayer in accordance with Apostle Paul's admonition.
 
SINGING PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
 
Claiming the victory that is ours through King Jesus, as He came up out of the grave.
 
COMMUNION SUPPER EXHORTATION.
As the preacher traveled into church this morning, there were wrecks all over the roads.
"I am patient."
Added to the "I am's" booklet confessional.
Jesus is the High Priest of our confession.
He will bring your spoken words to fruition here on earth.
"I am patient joyously."
We are in Christ, added to the Body of Christ, when we are baptized into Christ.
A whole host of "I am's".
In communion, we continue to abide in Him.
We are the branches, and He is the Vine.
The early church partook on the first day of each week, as the historical fact.
The foolishness of our Christianity is seen to the wise of this world.
1 Corinthians 3:19, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS."
"I am being faithful in the little things."
"I am obedient to the command, do not forsake the assembly, as are many."
We are fortunate here to have the fellowship,
as have communion and have an assembly together.
"I am eating His flesh; I am drinking His blood."
"I am in Christ, and He is in me, and we are in the Father."
We partake together. HalleluYah!
 
 
 
 
SERMON NOTES
"SUCH GREAT FAITH," is today's message title.
"Faith is the Victory." Song to open the sermon.
"O' glorious victory that overcomes the world!"
Leprosy in Matthew 8:2&3, "I am willing, be cleansed."
That day, He saw faith that beat them all as He said, "I've never seen such faith."
Matthew 8:5, "My servant is lying paralyzed."
"Just say the word, and my servant will be healed."
"I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel."
What caused this man to have such great faith?
Let's find these ingredients.
Jesus had this man come to Him on a health issue.
Go to Jesus, the Great Physician, for your health care issues.
"No health care benefits for anyone in anyway, unless they go to Jesus first."
 
 
You can go to Jesus wherever you are, and whenever you want.
Doctors, drugs, and therapies don't always work.
An act of love, as the centurion sought Jesus on behalf of his servant.
Secret prayer for someone is fun.
Pray in secret for someone, target them and never tell them.
 
He came to Jesus believing, expecting.
He came expecting, just say the word and he will be healed.
Go to Jesus for yourself and someone else, and go there first,
as you seek first the kingdom of God.
Typically, He is gone to as a last resort.
Go to the Savior first.
 
 
It was a sword carrying fighter and soldier who went to Christ.
Judeos don't want to be no soldier, no fighter, but they want to love everybody.
How little fight there is left in the Christian saints.
As long as you have your right eye and right index finger,
and it had never occurred to the man to fight.
This Centurion was a fighter.
They call the fighters, "Non-lovers."
You've got to be a fighter to fight the good fight of faith.
 
This man was a humble man.
An account in Luke, tells us he had built the Judeans a synagogue.
He was a man of wealth and means, generous and unselfish, and humble.
Many poor men are prideful.
"I'm not worthy of You, that You would come into my home."
 
He was a loving man, concerned about his servant.
He loved his servant.
Love is so very important, for without it,
you are not going to have the faith to move mountains.
Galatians 5:6, "Faith working through love."
 
What was it that made Jesus say He had never seen such faith?
Preaching for 30 years, and 20 years ago the preacher did a sermon on this story.
We are all growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Might the answer be in the discussion between Jesus and he.
Matthew 8:9&10, read.
A connection between his understanding of authority and his great faith.
Obviously, we need the understanding of the connection between faith and authority.
The rank of Centurion was equivalent to the army Sergeant-Major position today.
Understand that Jesus Christ is in authority, as He is the King.
You have to understand authority, take it, obey it, be in it, be under it.
 
Words connected to authority for understanding, as most are military words,
respect, honor, obedience, order, action, discipline, command, all kissing cousins and connected to the word authority.
Translated "Power" "Authority over unclean spirits"
Instead of authority, it uses power.
Force, super-human potentate.
 
He honored authority.
The baby boomers were taught to dishonor authority, making monkeys out of you and I.
It started with lack of respect and honor.
A lack of honor stops power.
Lack of respect and honor, means no power.
A lack of honor and respect shuts
Mark 6:4-6, "In His own household.....and healed them."
Jesus often brushed the dust off and wash your hands of the dishonorable people.
"I'm not going to argue with you about it."
Some take offense at this.
 
Obedience,as the centurion obeyed orders, as he was obedient, as he both gave and took orders. Orders given, and received.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Order brings the power.
Order out of our lives, homes, marriages, churches.
"Divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses."
"Whenever (you start obeying orders) paraphrase."
 
Discipline, as a noun and a verb.
Part of being in His army.
You signed up and you are now His.
We have to learn discipline.
Discipline ties into authority.
He doesn't command a lot, but the ones He has He expects to be obeyed.
1 Timothy 4:7-8, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."
 
Action.
When you are under authority, you take action to obey.
You expect action on the orders you give if you are in authority.
Parents telling their children over and over, "I said,"
teach them and follow through with action.
The Edomite alien Dr. Spock, and his, "Don't spank your child!" philosophy.
 
 
Faith in Matthew 8:13, and the concept of action to understand faith.
"As you have believed."
Two words, faith and belief.
Two separate things, not the same.
Many believe, but few faith.
Faith is acting on what you believe.
He believed that Jesus can heal, but he took action.
Those healed made an action to receive the faith healing.
People in authority act, they take action.
He acted on the authority that He had, as he stilled the wind and the waves.
 
 
Command, in it and under it, and he knew how to command.
Understand the ingredients of great faith.
He saw a sword carrying fighter.
Put on the armor of God.
Jesus said go out and buy a sword.
Luke 22:36, "And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one."
Also a caring lover for someone besides yourself.
We need to care for others beyond ourselves.
When he prays he expects to get his prayers answered
Mark 11:24, "Believe that you have received them."
He expected results.
Go to Jesus first, last, and often, as He is still the Great Physician.
Sometimes we expect instantaneous answers,
but rather be patient and wait on the Lord.
A man in authority, but also in humility, is very rare today.
Seems this is a dichotomy, but it is not.
Honor shown and received.
Many will react rather than act.
Homes, husbands, wives, churches, women preachers,
and these are all out of God's order.
 
Respect is greatly lacking in society today.
Disobedience abounds in youth.
 
There is a lot you don't understand.
"SUCH GREAT FAITH," is the title of this week's message.
The title of the next sermon will be, "GETTING GREAT FAITH."
 
"Do this!" and he does it.
Is that a command?
Did He say to Jesus, "Just say it and it will be done!"
 
 
Purchasing Roman citizenship was very expensive.
It took much wealth to purchase that citizenship.
His son rose to the rank of Centurion in Roman army.
Romans 16:13, "Rufus, also his mother and mine."
Rufus was Paul's half-brother.
Paul's grandfather purchased their Roman citizenship.
Paul's dad was the Centurion.
Saul of Taursus' father died when he was thirteen.
Paul asked his dad what Jesus looked like, and how he spoke.
The dad would reply, "I never saw Him"
 
 
He never once saw Jesus Christ.
You are going to get that greater faith,
as you incorporate these faith building characteristics into your life.
Closing with the song, "Faith Is Victory"..."that overcomes the world."
Closing prayer in accordance with Numbers 6:24-26.