Throughout our reading in the NT the references of Jesus taking note of the faith of one of HIS creatures has caught my attention again and again. HE has marveled, noticed and even been amazed at the faith of some of those who have come to HIM for help. The amazing thing is that those who have had the greatest faith has been those who are the furthest from HIM, furthest from HIM in many respects. We have noted the great faith of the Centurion, who came on behalf of a servant, the woman who came on behalf of her child and said, "but LORD even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters table." We have noted the visible faith of the four who brought the paralytic. In contrast to these we noted how the disciples continue to be rebuked for their "little faith." Today in our reading we see Jesus amazed at those in HIS hometown for them "He was amazed at their unbelief." HE notes that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. So those who are the closest to HIM somehow miss it, they miss it over and over! I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A WARNING TO YOU AND I. I long to be among those who will amaze my Savior with my faith in HIM!
Matt 8:10--Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Matt 9:2--And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matt 9:22--But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
Matt 15:28--Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.
Matt 21:21--And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
Mark 2:5--and Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 10:52--And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Mark 11:22--And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
Luke 7:9--Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
As I read this verse list I find myself crying out like the Dad in Mark 9..."I do believe! Help my unbelief."
Matt 14:31--Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matt 16:8--But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?
Matt 13:58--And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:6--And He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Mark 9:24--Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”
Mark 16:14--Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected.
So what do we do? Is it possible for you and I to take an active part in growing and increasing our faith? I believe that it is possible! Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul writes in Romans 10:17 that, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." In Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 12:3 we learn that faith is a gift of God that God has given to each of HIS children. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
God has beautifully orchestrated saving faith and living faith so that you and I may not boast in any respect...salvation begins with God, it is sustained by God and God alone will finish the good work HE began. HOWEVER, HE amazingly call us to join HIM in having a part in this incredible journey. You might be thinking, "Mark, how can it be all of God and yet we have part in this work." I'm glad you asked:) I don't confess to fully understand...but check out what Paul says, still under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Philippians...Paul and God appear to be OK leaving us with this tension and APPARENT CONTRADICTION. THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION IS HOW TO RECONCILE GOD'S SOVEREIGNITY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY. Of this very question Spurgeon said you don't have to reconcile friends.
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; [ALL GOD]
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Php 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [ALL YOU] 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. [ALL GOD] WHICH IS IT? BOTH! From God's view this is no contradiction! How than shall we live, how shall we be growing in our faith, our trust and in our intimacy with our great God and savior? I believe that Paul gives us a good summary in Colossians.
Colossians 3:13-17 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Some of you were thinking that Leviticus would stump me this morning..."let's see what he is going to do with this...what a mess." I confess it did stump me, the awesome thing is that the Holy Spirit of God is not stumpable...did you ever consider that? Considering Leviticus 12-15...what is it all about? It is about things that will keep God's children from fellowship with HIM. In these chapters we learn that God PROVIDES CLEANSING FROM ALL THAT DEFILES! PRAISE GOD FOR US HE DOES THIS THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST! SO WHAT DO WE TAKE AWAY...BE SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING THAT interrupts fellowship with our LORD, repent, ask for forgiveness and hurry back to HIM our Abba, Father, Daddy.
Father in heaven work these things in us for YOUR glory and the joy of YOUR children in Jesus name...Amen.
love,
m
Regulations concerning uncleanness (Leviticus 11) are carefully spelled out in these chapters. None of the issues found here involve willful sin on the part of the worshiper, and with each definition of uncleanness, a process of restoration to the clean state is explained. The rulings here concern childbirth (12:1–8), infectious skin diseases (KJV, “leprosy”) (13:1–46), mildew on garments (vv. 47–59), and mildew in buildings (14:33–57). Thorough instructions are given for cleansing after a person has been healed of a skin disease (vv. 1–32). The regulations conclude with a discussion of bodily discharges which make a person ritually unclean.
These include discharges linked with disease, such as from a boil (15:1–15), and those related to sex, as a man’s emission of semen or a woman’s menstrual flow (vv. 16–33).
Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (83). Wheaton: Victor Books.
Heb 3:19--So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.