“TEN MIRACLES OF JESUS” (Matthew 8-9) Series Outlines 1) Power to Make Clean – Matthew 8:1-4 (The man with leprosy) 2) Healing from a Distance – Matthew 8:5-13 (The centurion’s servant) 3) Carrying our Diseases – Matthew 8:14-17 (Peter’s mother-in-law) 4) The Cost of Following Jesus – Matthew 8:18-22 (Two would-be disciples) 5) Power over Nature – Matthew 8:23-27 (Calming the storm) 6) Power over Satan – Matthew 8:28-34 (Two demon-possessed men) 7) Power over Sin – Matthew 9:1-8 (The paralytic) 8) Calling Sinners – Matthew 9:9-13 (The Pharisees) 9) Leaving the Old Behind – Matthew 9:14-17 (John’s disciples) 10) Power over Sickness and Death – Matthew 9:18-26 (Two miracles) 11) Power over Darkness – Matthew 9:27-34 (The blind and the mute) 12) Praying for More Workers – Matthew 9:35-38 (Jesus’ disciples) You can access full text copies of all twelve messages in the series at the following web address: http://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/ten-miracles-of-jesus/ Please include the following notice on any distributed copies: By Ray Fowler © Ray Fowler Website: http://www.rayfowler.org/ “Power to Make Clean” (Matthew 8:1-4) I. Jesus has the power to make clean (Matthew 8:1-3) A. Large crowds follow Jesus down the mountain (1) - cf. Matthew 4:25, 5:1 B. The leper submits himself to Jesus’ will (2) - Leviticus 13:45-46; Deuteronomy 24:8 C. Jesus shows compassion and the ability to heal (3) II. Jesus honored the law (Matthew 8:4) A. Jesus instructs the leper to go to the priest and offer a gift - Leviticus 14:1-32 B. The ceremonial law had not yet been fulfilled (not until the cross) C. Jesus fulfilled the whole law of God (Matthew 5:17) III. Jesus has the power to make us clean from sin A. Jesus gave himself up for the church to make her holy - Ephesians 5:25-27 B. The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin - 1 John 1:5-9 C. Nothing impure will ever enter the gates of heaven - Revelation 21:27 “Healing from a Distance” (Matthew 8:5-13) I. The centurion’s request (5-7) A. You can come to Jesus for help B. Jesus is willing and able to help you II. The centurion’s authority (8-9) A. Know your place - Matthew 5:3 B. Know Christ’s place - Matthew 28:18; Romans 13:1 III. The centurion’s faith (10-12) A. Faith pleases God - Hebrews 11:6 B. Faith alone saves - Isaiah 49:12; Malachi 1:11; Romans 4:13-16; Ephesians 2:8-9 IV. The centurion’s reward (13) A. God works in response to faith B. Distance is no barrier with God - Matthew 15:21-28; Ephesians 2:13 “Carrying Our Diseases” (Matthew 8:14-17) I. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (14-15) A. Jesus cares for the individual and the outsider B. Jesus saves so that we may serve (Ephesians 2:8-10) II. Jesus heals many (16) A. Jesus is unlimited in his healing power B. Difference between illness and evil spirits III. Jesus heals in fulfillment of prophecy (17) A. Healing is a sign of God’s kingdom - Matthew 4:23 B. Jesus’ healing ministry was prophesied by Isaiah - Isaiah 53:4-6 C. Difference between sickness and sin, between healing and forgiveness 1) Jesus bore our sins on the cross, not our sicknesses - 1 Peter 2:24 2) Healing is a result or benefit of the atonement - Psalm 103:2-3 3) Forgiveness is guaranteed now; healing is guaranteed later - 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:18-24; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Revelation 21:4 D. Two mistakes to avoid – 1) Jesus never heals; 2) Jesus always heals “The Cost of Following Jesus” (Matthew 8:18-23) I. The cost of following Jesus’ commands (18) - Matthew 28:18-20 A. Do what Jesus tells you to do B. Go where Jesus tells you to go II. The cost of putting Christ first A. Put Christ before personal comfort (19-20) - Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 22:33; John 19:30 B. Put Christ before personal relationships (21-22) - Exodus 20:3; Leviticus 21:1-5; 1 Kings 19:20; Luke 9:60 III. The cost of following through on your commitment (23) A. The moment of truth B. Actions speak louder “Power over Nature” (Matthew 8:23-27) I. Jesus is completely unthreatened (23-25) A. Nothing catches him by surprise B. Nothing causes him worry or stress C. We may panic or fear, but Jesus remains unafraid - Psalm 91:1-2 II. Jesus will take care of you (26) A. Faith is incompatible with fear - Matthew 6:30, 8:10; 1 Peter 1:7 B. Jesus can rescue you from the storm - Mark 4:39; Philippians 4:6-7 III. Jesus is fully God, fully man (27) A. Jesus is much more than a man - Psalm 65:5-8, 107:23-32 B. Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth “Power over Satan” (Matthew 8:28-34) I. Jesus confronts Satan (28-29) A. Satan comes to steal and destroy - John 10:10 B. Satan knows Jesus is God - James 2:19 C. Satan knows his time is short - 1 John 3:8; Jude 6; Revelation 12:12 II. Jesus overpowers Satan (30-32) A. Satan has no power over Christ - John 14:30-31 B. Satan must obey Jesus’ commands - James 4:7-8 C. Satan’s doom is sure - Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:10 III. Satan still works to deceive (33-34) A. The whole world is under Satan’s control - 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19 B. Jesus has come and has given us understanding - 1 John 5:20 “Power over Sin” (Matthew 9:1-8) I. Your greatest need is for forgiveness (1-2) A. Jesus provided forgiveness first rather than healing - Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:4-5 B. We are powerless to save ourselves (as signified by the paralytic) - Romans 5:6; Ephesians 2:1 C. We are saved by grace through faith alone - Ephesians 2:8-9 II. Jesus has the authority to forgive sin (3-7) A. Only God can forgive sin - Psalm 32:1-2, 51:4 B. Jesus demonstrated his authority to forgive by healing the paralytic (Matthew 9:6) III. God’s forgiveness of our sins through Jesus should fill us with awe and praise (8) A. The crowd was filled with awe at the healing of the paralytic B. The crowd praised God for giving such authority to Jesus C. We should be filled with even greater awe and praise for Jesus’ authority to forgive sin - Psalm 130:4; Rom 3:25-26 “Calling Sinners” (Matthew 9:9-13) I. Jesus calls sinners (9) A. Jesus calls you as you are - Romans 5:8 B. Jesus calls you to follow him - Ephesians 4:22-24 II. Jesus associated with sinners (10-11) A. Don’t avoid those who need Christ - 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 B. Be prepared to receive criticism - Galatians 1:10 III. Jesus came to help sinners (12-13) A. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick - Ezekiel 34:15-16 B. God desires mercy, not sacrifice - Hosea 6:6; Matthew 23:23; Ephesians 4:32 C. Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners - Romans 3:10,23; 1 Timothy 1:15 “Leaving the Old Behind” (Matthew 9:14-17) I. Everything changed when Jesus came (14-15) A. A question about fasting - Matthew 6:16 B. The illustration of the bridegroom - Isaiah 53:8 II. The old is incompatible with the new (16-17a) - Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:13 A. The illustration of the unshrunk cloth (16) B. The illustration of the wineskins (17a) III. Your life must change to accommodate Christ (17b) A. The change that only God can bring - John 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17 B. The changes you make in cooperation with God - Philippians 2:12 “Power over Sickness and Death” (Matthew 9:18-26) I. The ruler’s daughter (18-19) A. The ruler’s request – respectful and believing - Hebrews 11:6 B. Jesus’ response – cooperative and willing - Matthew 7:7-8 II. The woman with bleeding (20-22) A. The woman’s approach – secretive and believing - Hebrews 4:15-16 B. Jesus’ response – compassionate and reassuring - Psalm 103:13-14; Matthew 12:20 III. The dead girl raised (23-26) A. The crowd’s attitude – disrespectful and disbelieving - James 1:6-7 B. Jesus’ response – authoritative and mysterious - Matthew 13:10-13 C. The end result – news of this spread through all that region - Matthew 28:18-19 “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) “Power over Darkness” (Matthew 9:27-34) I. Jesus has power over spiritual darkness (27-31) - Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 1:1 A. People prefer darkness to light - John 3:19-21 B. Jesus offers light to those who walk in darkness - John 8:12; Acts 26:17-18; Ephesians 5:9 II. Jesus has power over the prince of darkness (32-33) - John 10:10 A. Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers - 2 Corinthians 4:4 B. Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil - 1 John 3:8 III.