Matthew Chapter 8

Matthew 8:1-4 ~ The Healing of the Leper

This is a very important phrase here in the leper's expression of submission: "If you should will."  You see what the leper is saying is, "Lord, if it is not Your will that you heal me of my leprosy, you are still my Lord."  He will accept it. He is in submission.  He will accept whatever the Lord wills to do.  That is very important for us as Christians.  How we approach the Lord, what our attitude is, what we expect from Him.  And many people get very angry at the Lord and demand that He do things our way.  When in reality it is our submission to Him.  He is the Lord not us.  So a heart of submission says, "If you should will."

Matthew 8:5-13 ~ The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant

Notice what faith does. Faith does not believe Jesus to do things the way we want Him to do. Faith is trust. Faith is trusting our selves, our lives into the Lord's hands, under His authority; knowing that whatever He says, whatever He decides to do, whatever His will is, He will do. It is up to me to follow along.

Matthew 8:14-17 ~ The Biblical Teaching on Healing

When Jesus went out to heal and perform miracles, it was not to provide a human blessing. It was a physical means to manifest the Lord's spiritual ministry. He has come to free people from Satan, deliver them to Christ, and heal their lives from the damage that Satan brings. As far as preserving their human, the flesh, no. It has never happened in human history, ever, even with Jesus. So the healings and the miracles and the signs were physical manifestations of the Lord's spiritual ministry. When Jesus died on the cross and we were healed by His stripes, we were healed in that we were as sheep going astray and we have been returned to the Bishop and Overseer of our souls. We were saved. We were brought to Christ. The healing is spiritual. It is called salvation.

Matthew 8:18-22 ~ The Meaning of Discipleship

What I want for you more than anything is that you understand who the true Jesus is in the Bible and you make your up your mind if that is the Jesus you want to follow.

Why do I give that warning? Because the Christianity of our day is made up of people who are trying to find a religious system that fits their own personal beliefs. They think their own beliefs are the right way. It is all human-based and it is all skewed.

Jesus never called a person to become a Christian, or a religious person, or to join a religious system. He never called anybody to do that. And He never called people to become church members. Most of the time, finding a church system and joining it as a member takes the place of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people who claim to be Christians today are actually committing idolatry because they are giving themselves over to the church and the church system. They think by doing that they are fulfilling the requirements to follow Jesus Christ. In reality, the system is taking the place of Christ.

Matthew 8:23-27 ~ Experiencing the Lord in the Storms of Life

Matthew is presenting the Jesus Christ of the Bible as the one who is in charge of our circumstances and who is with us wherever we go. As we face the issues and the circumstances of life - our normal response is to consider our own weaknesses. How I stand up to my circumstances; how I cannot deal with things; or how I am able to deal with things. I always consider myself first. But the presentation of Scripture is the real consideration is Christ. Considering His authority and His ability to keep me, to protect me, and to carry me through the storms of life.