Didn't See It Coming: A Double Ring Miracle

Matthew 8:5-13 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Matthew 9:35-3835 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Miracle Story Characters

·      Jesus

·      Centurion

·      Servant

·      Jewish Audience

3 observations regarding the connection between intercession and miracles.
1. Miracles are connected to passionate intercession.

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Slide
3 observations regarding the connection between intercession and miracles.

2. Miracles are connected to humble intercession.
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.  

Hebrews 4:15-16 (AMP) 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

3 observations regarding the connection between intercession and miracles.
3. Miracles are connected to Faith-filled intercession.
“But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 

3 observations regarding the connection between intercession and miracles.

1.    Miracles are connected to Passionate intercession.

2.    Miracles are connected to Humble intercession.

3.    Miracles are connected to Faith-filled intercession.

The Double Ring

Matthew 9:11-12 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Many of Jesus’ miracles were 3D HD announcements that no one was excluded from receiving the Kingdom of God.

Prejudice

1: preconceived judgment or opinion

2: an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge

3: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

Effective harvest workers do not pick and choose their harvest, they harvest what is ready and what’s in front of them. We are to act and intercede without prejudice. Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.

Prejudice places self-imposed limits of scope and impact of the Gospel Message of grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

3 Steps in replacing prejudice with miracle producing intercession.

1.    Ask God to reveal to you any and all prejudices. Don’t take for granted nothing is there.

2.    Take every opportunity to engage Roman soldiers in your path.

3.    Train yourself to look past crowds and to intercede for them based on their spiritual condition; “harassed, helpless like sheep without a shepherd.”

Ring One Prayers

·      Lord, teach me to intercede with passion, humility and faith like the centurion.

·      Lord, put people in my life that will intercede for me like that.

Ring Two Prayers

·      Lord, reveal any prejudices that have taken up residence in my life, known or unknown, and lead me in pulling them out by the roots.

·      Lord, prompt and empower me to engage others without prejudice.