Participants: Shelley Quinn
Series Code: GPL
Program Code: GPL000018S
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00:01 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:02 Have you ever reached a turning point of faith? 00:05 Join us now on "The Grace Pipeline" 00:06 to see what the Bible has to say about it. 00:32 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:34 A series of Bible studies 00:36 that focuses on the overriding theme of God's grace 00:40 from Genesis to Revelation. 00:42 All things come to us from our heavenly Father of love 00:46 through His pipeline of grace. 00:49 And since it is by faith that we tap into this heavenly pipeline, 00:53 we have spent our last two programs 00:56 broadening our understanding of faith's definition. 00:59 Today, we will consider 01:02 two great faith stories from the New Testament. 01:05 One that even surprised the Lord Jesus Christ 01:08 and another who made the right turn 01:11 when he reached the turning point of faith. 01:14 If you're following along in the series companion book 01:17 also titled 'The Grace Pipeline' 01:19 we're beginning from chapter 10. 01:21 As I share the Bible account 01:23 that has amazed me since I was a young girl 01:27 about the one incident of faith 01:29 that caused the Lord of glory to marvel. 01:32 Reviewing this event will enrich our understanding of faith. 01:37 Matthew and Luke both recorded this story 01:40 with emphasis on different aspects. 01:43 Matthew summarizes omitting the mention of people 01:46 who are speaking on behalf of another. 01:49 But he includes Christ's warning to the Jewish nation. 01:52 Luke on the other hand, addresses a different audience 01:55 and provides a more detailed report 01:58 but omits the concluding warning. 02:01 I will borrow from the parallel accounts 02:04 found in Mathew 8 and Luke 7 02:07 to tell my amplified version of the story, drawing on scripture 02:11 and personal interpretation of historical implications. 02:16 My account of the story of the centurion 02:19 and his slave goes like this. 02:22 Drenched with sweat and growing weaker by the moment 02:26 a centurion's servant lie paralyzed on his pallet. 02:30 He writhed in torment for days. 02:32 He could not lift his limbs. 02:35 His life energy was slowly draining. 02:38 So returning home, his master learned of his condition 02:42 and entered into the room to survey the situation. 02:45 Without doubt death was hovering over his dear servant, 02:49 silently waiting to steal him away. 02:52 There was only one hope. 02:54 The Roman centurion had heard reports of Christ miracles 02:59 and he was convinced 03:01 that Christ was God's representative on earth. 03:04 Immediately, he sent word 03:05 to the elders of the local synagogue 03:08 and requested they act as his ambassadors 03:11 to ask Christ to come and heal the servant. 03:14 The elders received the request, 03:17 instantly dropped what they were doing 03:19 and they set out to find Jesus. 03:21 The centurion was a gentlemen Gentile. 03:25 He loved the Jewish nation. 03:27 And he had proven to be their friend. 03:29 They had hoped to make him a proselyte. 03:31 Although, he had yet to be circumcised, 03:34 he had accepted the tenets of their religion. 03:37 And he generously provided the funds 03:40 to build the local synagogue. 03:41 He deserved their help. 03:44 His favorite servant was dreadfully ill and ready to die. 03:50 Time was short. They hurried. 03:53 Walking in swift strides the elders spotted Jesus 03:56 coming down the road with His disciples. 03:58 And a throng of people were accompanying Him. 04:01 Christ had just concluded His sermon on the mount 04:04 and he was returning to Capernaum. 04:06 The people who followed had been amazed 04:09 by the authority with which He spoke. 04:11 He set a higher standard of righteousness 04:13 than the scribes and the Pharisees taught or practiced. 04:17 And He stirred an emotion in their hearts 04:19 to hear more of His sayings. 04:21 The delegation of elders 04:23 sprinted toward Christ and His entourage. 04:26 Breathlessly but zealously 04:28 they spoke on behalf of the centurion. 04:31 Sharing His message they urged Jesus 04:34 to go to this Gentile's home. 04:37 I can only imagine how the disciple's eyes 04:40 darted from one to another wondering what Jesus would do. 04:44 In their culture it was socially unacceptable 04:47 for a Jew to enter the home of a Gentile. 04:50 Now although held no such prejudice, He was sensitive 04:55 to avoid offending His nation when possible. 04:58 On the other hand, 04:59 Jews where under the authority of the Roman government 05:02 and required to submit to their officer's commands. 05:06 So this message from the dear centurion 05:09 was worded more as a heartfelt request, 05:14 one that the compassionate Christ could not refuse. 05:18 Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." 05:22 Christ went with them 05:24 and the crowd of Jewish believers followed in curiosity. 05:28 As they neared the house, 05:30 the centurion glanced out the window 05:32 and he saw the group approaching. 05:34 And he realized that he was placing the Lord 05:37 in a position that could bring contempt upon Him 05:40 for entering a Gentile's home. 05:43 Because he was uncircumcised 05:45 the centurion was not even permitted to participate 05:48 in the synagogue services. 05:51 How he thought could he consider himself 05:54 worthy to have this great man under his roof. 05:58 He hastened his friends 06:00 and he sent them out the door 06:02 to deliver a message to Jesus to turn back. 06:06 Recognizing though the humble heart of the Roman centurion 06:10 Jesus continued to walk. 06:12 And as He advanced the centurion rushed out meet Him. 06:17 And according, to Luke 7:6-8, this is what he said to Jesus. 06:23 "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, 06:26 for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 06:29 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. 06:33 But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 06:38 For I also am a man placed under authority, 06:41 having soldiers under me. 06:44 And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, 06:47 and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, 06:50 and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 06:55 This military man understood the authority of a command. 07:00 He carried out the orders of his superiors 07:03 and he expected those under his charge 07:05 to execute the word of his instructions instantly. 07:09 Believing that Christ was the commander of the universe 07:14 and carried heaven's authority over illness, 07:17 he made a comparison between Christ's position and his own. 07:22 The centurion was convinced, 07:24 Christ could just speak the word and it would be done. 07:29 Hearing these things, 07:31 Jesus marveled at the magnitude of his faith. 07:35 The Lord's heart overflowed with the joy of acceptance 07:39 and genuine astonishment. 07:41 This man had not heard Him teach personally. 07:45 He had not witnessed any of the miracles He had performed. 07:49 The Roman soldier had only received 07:52 secondhand reports of His teachings and His works. 07:56 Still the centurion believed 07:59 what most of the Jews who'd been privileged 08:01 by personal contact with Christ had not believed. 08:06 And the Lord who measures a man's greatness 08:09 by the measure of His faith turned around to the crowd 08:12 that followed Him and He spoke these words 08:16 from Mathew 8:10-13, saying, 08:21 "Assuredly, I say to you, 08:23 I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. 08:28 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, 08:32 and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 08:34 in the kingdom of heaven. 08:36 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. 08:41 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 08:44 Then Jesus said to the centurion, 08:46 'Go your way and as you have believed, 08:51 so let it be done for you.' 08:53 And his servant was healed that same hour." 09:00 Christ rewarded the Roman soldier with His approval. 09:05 And the centurion's faith released the grace of a miracle. 09:10 His servant was healed. 09:11 This he was assured without even seeing the evidence for himself. 09:16 His heart welled with gratitude for the Lord. 09:20 And at the nearby home 09:21 the servant felt a stream of energy flood his body 09:24 and he opened his eyes. 09:26 He stood to his feet with restored strength 09:30 but could not comprehend 09:32 the amazing reversal of his condition. 09:35 So the committee that the centurion had sent his friends, 09:39 who'd gone to Jesus, 09:40 they hurried back to verify the healing. 09:43 And entering the room 09:44 they discovered the man looking vibrant and feeling hungry. 09:49 The miracle had occurred 09:51 without Christ being present at the moment of healing. 09:56 Now, in the meantime, 09:58 I wonder what the Jews who were pressed in around 10:01 Jesus where thinking of the precept 10:03 that He had just revealed. 10:05 Surely, their minds were spinning. 10:07 They commonly referred to themselves as kings 10:10 or sons--excuse me, sons of the kingdom, 10:14 believing that their heritage gave them 10:16 a natural right to all of God's privileges. 10:19 Why would Christ suggest 10:22 that they would be cast out into outer darkness 10:26 These Jews recognized 10:27 Jesus obvious approval of the centurion. 10:31 They surely wondered if he referred to the Gentiles 10:33 when He said, "many will come from east and west 10:37 to sit with patriarchs in God's kingdom." 10:40 Did they realize he meant only 10:42 the spiritual children of God will be in heaven, 10:45 whereas the natural children of Jewish linage 10:48 would be excluded unless they were born again? 10:52 Christ words condemned those 10:56 who did not have personal and active faith in Him. 11:00 And He repeated the same symbolic language of destruction 11:04 in a parable recorded in Mathew 22. 11:08 There we find Him sharing the illustration of a king 11:13 who had arranged a marriage for his son. 11:17 Many of the privileged 11:18 on the king's guest list refused the invitation. 11:22 But the monarch found others to come to the marriage feast. 11:26 And at the wedding supper, 11:28 the king noticed a man seated at the table 11:31 who was not wearing the appropriate wedding garment 11:34 which is symbolic of Christ's robe of righteousness. 11:39 Christ said in the parable, 11:40 the man was seized and cast into outer darkness 11:44 where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 11:48 This symbolism represented the final destruction of those 11:53 who would not repent and receive His righteousness. 11:58 The Lord concluded the parable with this word to the wise 12:02 that's found in Mathew 22:14. 12:05 He said, "Many are called but few are chosen." 12:10 In the centurion's account and the wedding parable, as now, 12:14 Christ cautions all who think they've gained entrance 12:18 into the kingdom of heaven to examine their lives 12:22 and see if they are in the faith. 12:25 Inspired by God, Paul repeats the warning. 12:30 In 2 Corinthians 13:5 saying, 12:35 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. 12:40 Test yourselves. 12:41 Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you 12:45 unless indeed you are disqualified?" 12:50 Likewise, we all need to test ourselves, 12:54 to examine our lives and see if Christ is in us 12:58 and to see that we're in Him 13:00 so that we will not be disqualified. 13:03 Traumatic events lead the way to turning points in our life. 13:08 When an emergency, a tragedy or catastrophe strikes 13:13 we commonly experience a personal identity crisis. 13:17 The root of the problem can be physical, 13:19 financial, relational or spiritual. 13:23 But whatever the cause are circumstances 13:26 can create emotional and mental turmoil. 13:30 How humans handle our crisis depends largely 13:33 on our degree of faith in God. 13:36 In many instances unbelievers are brought to their knees 13:40 by fiery trials and they look up for the first time 13:44 turning their eyes to the living God. 13:47 And as He reaches down with a soothing touch 13:50 to relieve their blazing anguish, 13:53 a trust is born within their hearts 13:55 that generates the development of active faith. 14:00 So drawing on God's power of grace 14:02 they climb out of the fiery pit. 14:05 But in sharp contrast are the instances of believers 14:09 whose experience of faith could be compared 14:12 to the balancing act of sitting on a two legged stool. 14:17 Their faith constantly wavers 14:20 and it requires propping up by positive circumstances. 14:24 So when the scorching trial comes, 14:27 weakening one of the wobbly legs that supports our faith, 14:30 they turn away from God and turn 14:35 and fall and stumble into the smoldering ashes. 14:39 Now finally, there are those devout believers 14:42 who endure the testing of their genuine faith amidst 14:46 the fiery trial and such testing produces patience 14:51 that perfects their character. 14:54 Grieved by their circumstances they turn to God 14:57 in total trust with minds focused on Him 15:01 rather than their problem 15:03 and they walk in His promised perfect peace. 15:09 Christ serves as their heat resistant crucible 15:13 and they emerge from the fire with faith as pure as gold. 15:19 The very religious Saul of Tarsus, 15:22 who became the apostle Paul, 15:24 experienced the turning point of faith 15:28 in his life and his career 15:30 when he had an encounter with Christ 15:32 that produced genuine faith and it reversed his direction. 15:37 He vividly describes his conversion 15:40 to King Agrippa in Acts 26:9-23. 15:47 Paul shares how his former great ego 15:51 and his devout sense of duty caused him to be hostile 15:55 toward the name of Jesus of Nazareth and His followers. 15:58 This Pharisee of Pharisees served 16:01 as the official persecutor of the saints 16:04 under the authority and the commission of the Sanhedrin. 16:09 His religious ambitions caused him to carry out 16:12 a ruthless campaign to rid the world 16:15 of what he considered heresy. 16:18 One day, traveling at high noon on the road to Damascus, 16:21 he was confronted by Christ. 16:24 A supernatural blinding light, 16:26 brighter than the sun shined around him. 16:29 And he fell to the ground and he heard a voice 16:33 that said as recorded in Acts 26:14-16, 16:39 "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 16:43 It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 16:45 I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16:48 But rise and stand on your feet 16:51 for I have appeared to you for this purpose 16:54 to make you a minister and a witness both of the things 16:58 which you have seen and of the things 17:01 which I will yet reveal to you." 17:05 In His message to the misguided Saul, 17:09 Christ used a proverb common to the culture of the day. 17:12 To kick against the goads. 17:15 The goads, pictured an ox's leg 17:18 being pricked by a sharp iron goad 17:21 that was carried in the hand of the ploughman 17:23 and it was used to gain the attention 17:25 of the slow moving creature to quicken his pace. 17:29 But when the ox kicked against it, 17:31 the wound would become more severe. 17:34 Christ words suggest the Holy Spirit had been 17:37 trying to reach the heart of Saul 17:40 but the religious zealot had repeatedly resisted Him. 17:44 Let you and I also be mindful 17:47 not to sin against the Spirit by resisting Him. 17:51 Anyway, as the Lord continued to speak, 17:54 He let the legalistic Saul know 17:56 he was sending him to minister to, 17:59 of all people, the Gentiles. 18:02 What was His purpose for sending him? 18:04 Christ reveals that in Acts 26:18. 18:07 He says, I am sending you 18:09 "to open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light, 18:12 from the power of Satan to God, 18:15 that they may receive forgiveness of sins 18:18 and an inheritance among those 18:21 who are sanctified by faith in me." 18:26 Faith has sanctifying power. 18:30 The power to set us apart for God's purposes, 18:33 turning us away from sin and making us holy. 18:38 Saul had reached the point of a spiritual identity crisis. 18:43 With his massive ego, 18:45 he could have turned to God 18:47 becoming only devoted to the cause of Christ. 18:50 But Saul's turn-around changed him to Paul 18:54 who was devoted to the person of Christ. 18:58 Responding to his Savior, 19:00 he was separated that day to the living God. 19:03 The profound relationship that he developed with the Lord 19:08 was like that of a child to a father, 19:11 one of absolute dependence upon God and His grace. 19:15 So as Paul's beliefs changed, Paul's faith was purified 19:21 and his character was miraculously morphed 19:25 producing a total transformation. 19:31 Paul was obedient to the heavenly vision 19:35 and putting faith into action. 19:37 Acts 26:20 says 19:39 that he went about teaching all who would listen, 19:42 to repent and turn to God 19:44 and to do works befitting repentance. 19:48 Now this message did not refer to works 19:51 that attain righteousness. 19:53 For Paul taught that result was impossible. 19:56 He referred to the righteousness of Christ 19:59 which results in putting faith into action. 20:03 Paul suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. 20:07 And he said in Acts 20:24, 20:11 "But none of these things move me, 20:14 nor do I count my life dear to myself 20:16 so that I may finish my race with joy 20:21 and the ministry which I received from the Lord, 20:23 to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." 20:27 Christ's most enthusiastic evangelism of grace, 20:31 His most ordained ambassador for righteousness by faith 20:36 was also his greatest preacher on sanctification. 20:39 The character transformation that all of us need. 20:44 Paul experienced God's supernatural work 20:48 in his own life attributing 20:50 his sanctification to grace and active faith. 20:55 And Paul's great boast of grace is written 20:59 in 1 Corinthians 15:10 where he says, 21:03 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, 21:07 and His grace toward me was not in vain, 21:11 but I labored more abundantly than they all, 21:14 yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 21:20 Paul listed the armor of God that Christians should put on 21:25 to fight against evil forces in this dark world. 21:29 And he presented truth, righteousness and faith 21:33 as three powerfully protective pieces. 21:36 Saying in Ephesians 6:14 and 16, 21:41 "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, 21:45 having put on the breastplate of righteousness, above all, 21:49 taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench 21:54 all the fiery darts of the wicked one." 21:58 Now in another letter to the churches 22:01 he depicts the armor of faith differently. 22:03 He writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 22:06 "Let us who are of the day be sober, 22:10 putting on the breastplate of faith and love 22:14 and as a helmet the hope of salvation." 22:18 Paul's first message describes how faith in God's character, 22:23 His word and His ability to perform His promises 22:28 shields us against the attacks of the wicked one. 22:32 But how do we understand his dual illustration 22:36 of the breastplate of righteousness 22:38 as being interchangeable 22:41 with the breastplate of faith and love? 22:44 Actually, it is easily explained. 22:48 Faith is the instrument by which 22:51 we attained Christ righteousness, 22:54 resulting in our reception by faith 22:57 of the indwelling Holy Spirit 22:59 who pours out God's love into our hearts. 23:04 The attributes of righteousness, faith, and love are inseparable 23:10 and they are God's armor to protect our hearts. 23:14 By faith we're flooded with grace, 23:16 purifying and cleansing us of sin. 23:20 Paul writes in Romans 1:16-17 23:25 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 23:29 for it is the power of God unto salvation 23:33 for everyone who believes, 23:35 for in it the righteousness of God is revealed 23:39 from faith to faith. 23:41 As it is written, 'the just shall live by faith.'" 23:46 You know, when Paul learnt 23:48 the truth of Christ death and resurrection 23:51 and he experienced the power of the Holy Spirit 23:55 then he gave his life to God 23:58 and became God's evangelist of grace. 24:01 The good news of salvation, 24:04 Paul explains in Romans 4:16, is that, 24:08 "It is of faith that it might be according to grace." 24:13 The cause of salvation is God's grace 24:17 and it becomes ours 24:19 when we tap into His grace pipeline by faith 24:22 and accept God's three greatest gifts of grace. 24:26 Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the scriptures. 24:31 The righteousness of God is from faith to faith. 24:36 Righteousness is a gift of God accessed by faith. 24:41 It begins and ends with faith. 24:46 Our relationship with Christ gains us access by grace 24:53 or access to grace by faith. 24:55 Paul assures us of this in Romans 5:1 and 2 25:01 where he says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, 25:06 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 25:11 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace 25:16 in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." 25:23 Faith is the faucet. 25:25 This is how we tap into grace 25:28 and we desperately need to develop our faith. 25:31 The afflictions and the tribulations of life on earth 25:35 caused by the controversy between good and evil 25:38 will increase dramatically 25:40 as the time of Christ's second coming draws near 25:43 and we already see it. To face these situations, 25:48 we are going to need a flourishing faith, 25:51 a faith that will gain us the victory won in Jesus. 25:55 We have reached a turning point. Which way will we go? 26:00 I want to say a quick prayer with you. 26:03 And I want you please to join us next time 26:06 because we're going to discuss 26:08 how you can take seven steps to develop victorious faith. 26:14 But right now let's go to the Lord in prayer 26:18 and ask him to help us grow in grace, to grow in faith. 26:24 Father, we come in the name of Jesus 26:26 approaching you boldly as Your children, 26:29 coming before Your throne of grace. 26:32 And, Father, I lift my brothers and my sisters 26:34 before You and myself as well. 26:37 We have come, Lord, to ask us-- to ask You to help us, Lord, 26:44 increase our faith. 26:45 We believe, help Thou our unbelief. 26:48 I pray in Jesus' name, Father, 26:51 that you will give us an unquenchable desire 26:54 for Your inexhaustible word. 26:56 And I pray the word will be planted in our heart 26:59 and by the power of the Holy Spirit, 27:01 faith will spring into action. 27:04 Lord, I ask this in Christ's name 27:08 and we receive it in Christ's name. Amen. 27:12 Join us next time on "The Grace Pipeline," 27:17 as we see the different-- seven different steps 27:22 that can help us gain victorious faith, 27:26 faith that will flourish in any circumstance 27:31 and faith that will change your life. 27:34 We want to be like the centurion. 27:36 We want to be like Paul. 27:39 We want to be able to say 27:41 "Lord, You have spoken the word 27:44 and we know it's going to be done. 27:46 Lord, You've called to me and I will turn to You 27:51 and be devoted to Your purposes." 27:54 Until then, we pray that you grow in grace 27:58 and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
Revised 2024-09-11