Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord” – Matthew 9:28b
We live in a culture of gadgetry. Our cell phones pack more power than the Computer’s used to land men on the moon. We can contact just about anyone anywhere in the world by pressing a few buttons or simply talking instructions into our phone. Our phones help us to navigate and actually speak to us telling us how to get to where we want to go. We can ask phone apps just about any question imaginable and we get an answer in seconds. Want to fix something, build something, start a business, write a message? All you have to do is ask your app. It seems like nothing is beyond our reach.
But many of us, including Christians, have become overly dependent on technology. We talk to our Artificial Intelligence apps as though they were alive. It’s an incredible time to be alive, but a dangerous time. What used to require thought, no longer does. Our brains, like a muscle, must be exercised to stay healthy. The less we use our brains, the weaker more atrophied they get.
Apps can squeeze themselves into our lives so that instead of seeking the Lord for direction, we succumb to the temptation to simply speaking to our phone apps. It’s a subtle form of idolatry. In ancient times and throughout history, people have been tempted to go somewhere or to someone other than God and His representatives for directions in life. Preferring anything or anyone before God is by definition, idolatry. And such idolatry is like the creature from the 1979 horror movie Alien where a creature gets inside you, takes over, and ultimately suffocates you, in this case, spiritually.
There are people in high places, people who seek to literally rule and subjugate the people of the world who want a weak minded lazy brained populace to make that an easier and achievable objective. Lazy thinkers with flabby brains are more easily controlled, subjugated, ruled. Technology can be helpful if used properly, but there is also the danger of relying too heavily upon it. We are a culture and people both inside and outside of the Church that looks to technology for answers and solutions more than turning to God by faith. I’d like to talk to you today about how and why we should change that.
A greater power. In Matthew 9 Jesus is asked a question about fasting, “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answers in part, “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” What is the point of Jesus’ response? The point is one of appropriateness.
It would be inappropriate to fast at a wedding. It would be inappropriate to sew new cloth on an old piece of clothing. It would be inappropriate to pour new wine into an old stiff wineskin. It’s not merely about old and new, it’s about what’s appropriate to get the job done. I am not anti-technology – far from it! But I do think we need to keep our priorities straight. But there is a power greater than any human source. That Source is God. And the way we tap into that power is by faith.
The Importance of Faith
Early in Jesus’ ministry, right after He’s baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3), tempted and proven in the wilderness (Matthew 4), and following His greatest Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and Jesus demonstrates His power (Matthew 8), we see Jesus begin to emphasize faith as the means to tap into God’s power and accomplish His will on earth.
Matthew 9 is where Jesus begins to emphasize the importance of faith in Him to see the Hand of God work. “Faith” (Greek pistis) is persuasion, credence, moral conviction of religious truth or truthfulness of God, reliance on Jesus for salvation. The Bible defines faith as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Where Does Faith Come From and How Important Is it?
Faith is a God given capacity. Faith and the capacity to choose and make decisions and exert faith is part of humanity created by God in His image (Genesis 1:26).
Faith comes from God. The Bible says, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:30. The word “dealt” is merizo in Greek and means apportion, bestow, to distribute, give.
Faith is not a human work. The New Testament contrasts faith and works. The Bible states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Here faith and works are contrasted, so no one can take credit for their faith.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Bible states, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. . .” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is the “Author” (Greek archegos) or the chief leader of, one who takes the lead, author. Jesus, as Som of Man, is our example of what faith should look like in life.
Not faith in faith but faith in Jesus. What we see in scripture is not a Hallmark faith in faith, but faith in Jesus, that is where the value of faith is realized. Faith is only as powerful as the object in which it is placed. Faith in Jesus is the pinnacle of faith’s purpose.
To make faith the ends rather than the means is to reduce faith to an idol. Faith is only as valuable and potent as the object in which it is placed. If I have faith in faith, faith become an idol. If I have faith in myself, I become an idol of self. If I have faith in anything or anyone one other than Jesus, I have made the object of faith an idol. Idolatry is at the top of the list of God’s sins to avoid. His first Commandment is not to have any idols before Him (Exodus 20). For faith to be what God intends it to be, it must be placed in Him, then it becomes the proper means to His end.
Saved By Grace Through Faith in Jesus. Before God can do anything through us by faith, we have to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). All humanity has sinned and falls short of what God requires to be forgiven their sins (Romans 3:23). If sin is not dealt with it results in eternal separation from God, eternal death in the Lake of Fire (Romans 6:23a; Revelation 20). “But God. . .” As a gift of His grace has made a way to be forgiven our sins through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-9).
Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. What does a person have to believe to be saved from and forgiven their sins? The Bible is clear:
1 Corinthians 15:1-6 (NKJV) – 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
By faith believe that by faith and according to God’s word, you are saved from your sins and have eternal life. Faith acceptable to God trusts this gospel of Jesus and is exerted in some endeavor connected to this gospel and its furtherance. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus and His gospel. We live for Jesus by faith (Hebrews 11). WE live by faith to please our Lord Jesus. Therefore, we are good husbands and wives by faith in Jesus. We are good parents by faith in Jesus. We are good children by faith in Jesus. We are good church goers and brothers and sisters in Christ by faith in Jesus. We are good friends by faith in Jesus. We are good workers and citizens in society by faith in Jesus. Whatever we do, it is by faith in Jesus we should do it (cf. Colossians 3:17, 23-24).
What God by Faith Can Do Through You
Once you put your faith in Jesus and receive forgiveness for your sins, the Holy Spirit indwells you giving you spiritual life (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:4-7). The effect of faith doesn’t end at salvation, salvation by grace through faith is only the beginning (Ephesians 2:10). Once we enter the new eternal life in Christ by faith, we then walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). If you want to know the effect faith in God can have on a life, read Hebrews 11 or the entire Bible for that matter.
For now, we look at what God by faith can do through you in Matthew 9.
What God by Faith Can Do Through a Few Friends (Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26)
Matthew 9 (NKJV)
1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
It was in the actions of the paralytic and his friends that Jesus saw faith. It was through faith that Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic. It was through faith that the paralytic was healed. It was through faith that Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive sins just like God.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
By faith in Jesus a paralytic was healed and his sins were forgiven. By faith Jesus proved He has the power to forgive sins
What God by Faith Can Do Through an Outcast (Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32)
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
Tax collectors who were Jews like Matthew, were viewed as traitors to Israel who served as agents of the Roman occupiers, the Roman oppressors. You wouldn’t choose a tax collector to be a disciple, let alone an Apostle, if you wanted to garner favor with the masses. But Matthew would go on to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the first gospel.
We aren’t told much about this call of Matthew. Luke adds that he “left all, rose up, and followed Him,” I.e., Jesus. There must have been some unspoken message from the eyes of Jesus to the eyes of Matthew, a message so deep and profound that the tax collector “left all” to follow Jesus. But God can do a lot by faith through an outcast.
What God by Faith Can Do to Reach the Lost
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jesus and His disciples interacted with sinners, ate with them. Jews would see such people as unclean and not to be entertained. But Jesus taught His disciples they should have faith and interact with them to call them to repentance.
People come to salvation more by love than debate. Debate is approaching someone through the mind to reason them into the kingdom of God. I’m sure Jesus had some interesting discussions with these unrighteous sinners. But what Jesus shows us is more effective at reaching the lost is to love them into the kingdom. This is done by inviting them, spending time with them, establishing a relationship with them. Then, when the door is open, share and discuss the gospel.
The research is remarkably consistent on this.
Relationships are overwhelmingly the primary pathway to faith:
- Nearly three-quarters of respondents in one study identified a spouse, partner, congregation, minister, family member, or friend as the central influence on their decision to come to faith. When children are counted as an influence, that number rises to 86% nearly nine out of ten people trace their faith to someone they personally know. (Church leadership.com).
- Among evangelical leaders specifically, nearly 60% say family members introduced them to the Christian faith, while nearly 20% came through friends. (National Association of Evangelicals)
People are open — but on relational terms:
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A 2021 Lifeway Research study found that two-thirds of Americans said they were open or very open to having a conversation about the Christian faith with a friend. The Barna Group found that the top two qualities non-Christians value in someone they’d talk to about faith were “listens without judgment” (62%) and “does not force a conclusion” (50%).
The data strongly validates what Jesus modeled in Matthew 9. Debate rarely converts. Relationship almost always precedes conversion. As one researcher summarized, the majority who find Christ look back and say it was a friend who influenced them toward faith, someone who was the right person at the right time. (Hillsbiblechurch.org) e.g., David Wood and Abdeel Quereshi. [1]
We should prepare and know what we believe and how to communicate it, but the Bible instructs us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The data shows the best place for that to happen is often around a table or in a home.
Repentance. Some say repentance is not necessary for salvation. But Jesus includes repentance as something lost sinners should be called to do. “Repentance” (Greek metanoia) means a change of mind, a reversal. Repentance is a part of the faith that saves. Faith without repentance is demonic belief (James 2:19). Ascent is not saving faith, it is empty, ineffective. True faith that saves involves an about face (repentance), is a heart change (Romans 10), and leads to life change just like we see in Matthew and others in the gospels.
What God by Faith Can Do Through Those Married to Jesus (Mark 2:18–22; Luke 5:33–39)
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?
Jesus’ response points to the joy we have in the presence of Jesus. Life with Jesus should be joyful. The epistle to the Philippians written by the Apostle Paul from a jail cell is a perfect example of this.
Are you wed to Jesus? What Jesus says here illustrates that our relationship with Jesus is like a wedding. Marriage illustrates the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). But our conversion is like a wedding; we pledge our lives to Jesus by faith before God as our Witness, and in front of others as witnesses. Traditional wedding vows are:
“I, _____, take thee, _____, to be my wedded wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith.”
The vows emphasize emphasize relationship, commitment regardless of circumstance. Trusting Jesus as your Savior is a covenant commitment made by faith in the One Who demonstrates His love by having given His life for you. The only difference is, we don’t say, “Till death do us part,” but in a very real way we say, “Past death we never part.”
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
But there is a place for fasting according to Jesus. Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Fasting helps us physically in many ways. Fasting helps us focus on God. Fasting helps us gain victory over our flesh, our sinful nature. Fasting is an oft neglected weapon in spiritual warfare. Prayer and fasting are powerful. Fasting and meditation on the word of God helps to pull down strongholds of the devil. Yes, there are times when we should fast.
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
It is appropriate to keep in step with what the Lord is doing. We need to follow Jesus by faith and not lag behind trusting in our old ways. By faith we need to keep in step with the Spirit.
Jesus didn’t come to fit into Judaism to reform it. He came to fulfill prophecies promised in the old Covenant. Jesus didn’t come to set up new laws; He came to present a higher realm that engaged the heart. He came to say, “But I say to you. . .” (Matthew 5). The problem the Pharisees had was that they couldn’t see beyond their religious system. They put their system of religion before the God who ordained it and as a result made an idol of their religion. People have been doing that through all history. Instead, Jesus came and calls us to put His New Wine into New Wineskins created through His gospel. How about you, is God holding back some of His new wine because you’re clinging to old wineskin ways?
This would be a good place to caution those who know Jesus and come from a Jewish background or who refer to themselves as Messianic Christians. The Old Testament is rich in meaning. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Having said that, some who have been saved from their sins through the gospel of Jesus Christ sometimes emphasize or try to live under Old Covenant ways. This can lead to trying to pour new wine into old wineskins. There are many shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament, but our righteousness is not based on keeping laws or living under Old Covenant guidelines. Our righteousness is a gift of God’s grace received by faith in Jesus, and Him alone. Beware of going beyond God’s grace through faith in Jesus as your basis for righteousness before God.
What God by Faith Can Do Through Those Who Worshipfully Ask (Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56)
18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
Worship is evidence of faith. Worship is an expression of faith. Whenever we come to Jesus in faith to make a request, we should do so, humbly, in a spirit of worship. When was the last time you worshipped your way into the presence of the Lord?
What God by Faith Can Do Through a Person Who Reaches Out to Touch Jesus
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
For twelve years this woman had been bleeding. Her bleeding made her ritually unclean and an outcast in the community. She hadn’t found any doctors or medicine to heal her. Sometimes God lets us get to a place where all we have is Jesus, to discover Jesus is all we need.
What God by Faith Can Do When Noisemakers are Cleared Out
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,
These were professional mourners hired to show grief. The first thing Jesus did was clear these noisemakers out of the room. Sometimes the best first move in God working is to clear out those caught up in artificial show.
24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.
If you want a powerful work of faith to be possible, you have to clear out those who “ridiculed” (Greek katagelao) or laughed down, derided, scorned. There’s something to be said for unity in faith. Jesus demonstrates that faith works through unity in the spirit, unity of faith. In such unity of faith Jesus took the girls hand and she arose. Praise the Lord! Jesus has power to raise the dead!
What God by Faith Can Do Through Two Blind Men
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
The two blind men believed Jesus could heal them, and then that Jesus was willing to heal them. Until we see what faith in Jesus is able to do, we too are blind. These blind men couldn’t see what Jesus did, but certainly they called out to Him because they had heard what He had done. We can see in God’s word what Jesus is able and willing to do. We need to regain that vision of faith in Jesus working out His plans in life. Then we will be able to do what He calls us to do.
Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be to you,” and their eyes were opened. Then, even though Jesus told them to not tell anyone about it, they just couldn’t contain themselves. Jesus never rebuked anyone who because of joy in His healing, disobeyed His instruction to be silent. Sometimes you just have to praise the Lord!
What God by Faith Can Do to Defeat Demons
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”
34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
Though the religious don’t understand because they are dead in their works, those of faith are victorious and delivered from the powers of darkness. No demon can stand before Jesus. Demons look for human abodes to possess. But they have no claim that against the name of Jesus. They are created beings that musts submit to the Lord Jesus. Jesus is God, the Creator of all things, including these demons. Therefore, Jesu demonstrated His authority by evicting the demons from those they had possessed.
What God by Faith Can Do Through a Follower of Jesus (Luke 10:2, 3)
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
The ministry of Jesus is threefold.
- Teaching – (Greek didasko) – is discussing in order to instruct, to teach and explain.
- Preaching the gospel of the kingdom – (Greek kerysso) is to herald, to proclaim God’s truth, preach, publish, to proclaim with seriousness.
- Healing every sickness and every disease – (Greek therapeuo) is to wait on, relieve, heal cure. There was no ailment beyond the healing touch of Jesus.
What God by Faith Can Do Through Someone with the Heart of Jesus
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Jesus was “moved with compassion” (Greek splagchnizomai) which is a deep in the gut heartfelt sympathy or pity for the lost. Jesus had that deep passion for the lost, we should have it too.
We need to pray to have the same passion for the lost that Jesus has. And we need to pray that the Lord would raise up workers to go out and harvest lost souls.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, had a passion for lost souls. He once challenged those who had little interest in evangelism saying:
“Not called, did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.”
What can God do through someone who has faith and passion for lost souls?
D.L. Moody once overheard a preacher named Henry Varley comment, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.” Moody was so taken aback by that statement that he made it his life ambition saying, “Varley meant any man. Moody or anyone. I will be that man.”
Will you be that man, that woman, that young man or young woman?
Father we come to You in Jesus’ name. Father, forgive us for making idol alternatives to You. Forgive us for doubting what faith in You can do. Jesus help us to look to You first and foremost in all we are and do. Help us to have a right perspective on the use of technology of our day. Guide and empower us Holy Spirit. Lord, please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory until Jesus’ returns. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] Statistics obtained with the help of Claude AI