Matthew 8:1-3 “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” NKJV
Today I want to explore this chapter of Matthew, that is full of the miracles of Jesus from this vantage point…”I am willing.”
Jesus is willing today. Sometimes we may question our worthiness or God’s willingness to bring healing, power, and outpouring into our lives.
We sometimes allow the mountainous circumstances that seem too hard for us, and think that they are sometimes too hard for God.
But these things are not true.
Can I tell you Today that Jesus doesn’t want you to wonder, “ARE YOU WILLING?” He is definitely able and willing today to bring His authority into your life. The real question is “ARE YOU WILLING TO RECEIVE?”
I have known some who are not willing to receive the healing God has for them. They have lived under oppression so long that it’s comfortable and familiar, and they don’t know how to let go of it.
Some will make all kinds of excuses for why they are the way they are, or why they can’t be delivered of depression and receive joy. Yet, Jesus is saying today, “I AM ABLE AND WILLING.”
ABLE AND WILLING TO HEAL DISEASE
We have seen many examples of God’s ability and willingness to heal. Jesus has all authority over death, disease, and demons. Yet the devil and our doubts try to diminish our faith in him. But let’s look at what we see Jesus taking authority over:
1.Healing Leprosy
Matt 8:3 “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” NKJV
Leprosy seemed to be a major problem in the Bible.
It is mentioned 17 times in the book of Leviticus.
God gave Moses very specific instructions about dealing with leprosy from a community standpoint. If one was leprous they were isolated from society.
Leprosy is a highly contagious disease that eats away at your flesh and eventually kills you. There was no cure for leprosy.
Jesus made a habit of healing lepers. One time he healed a 10 member colony.
I believe God wants us to have faith in Him to cure and heal the incurable.
Jesus’ power and authority is complete and true today.
2. Healing paralysis
Matthew 8:8-13 “The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.” NKJV
The Centurion’s servant is described as being paralyzed and “tormented.”
He couldn’t move and was in terrible pain at the same time, what that pain is, we don’t know. What we do know is that the servant and the Centurion were both helpless in this matter…there was no answer.
Yet Jesus took control and with one word healed. Jesus proclaimed that the faith of this Centurion was the greatest faith he had yet to experience. What was it about this faith in the Centurion that made it so great?
He called Jesus Lord = Kurios, supreme authority. The same word Paul used on the road to Damascus.
The Centurion acknowledged his own unworthiness. He also acknowledged Jesus’ full and complete authority over everything
He didn’t require a magic show, but recognized that as long as Jesus said it, it would be accomplished.
We should have this kind of faith.
3. Healing from Fever
Matthew 8:14-15 “Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.” NKJV
Jesus has the power to instantly heal even the most mundane and restore us back to immediate health
When Jesus heals, we are immediately ready for service no matter if the healing is physical, emotional, or spiritual.
ABLE AND WILLING TO CAST OUT DEMONS
Matthew 8:16-17 “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.'” NKJV
Jesus cast out spirits with a word…You see where Jesus abides, evil spirits cannot stay.
Sometimes our faith gets weak and we think that the devil can influence us or even possess us because we feel some kind of attack or are wrestling with a spiritual battle. Know this, where God is, Satan has no authority.
If you are a Holy Ghost filled person, you cannot be possessed by the devil and you have full and complete control; authority over any wicked spirit.
Jesus cast them out simply by His word.
ABLE AND WILLING TO CONTROL NATURE
Matthew 8:26-27 “But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'” NKJV
Jesus is in control of Nature:
“Ye of little faith” is translated from the Greek: ogliopisti. It’s been proposed that Matthew has actually invented a word here by combining little and faith. Jesus is calling the disciple “little faiths.”
Jesus is incredulous that after all they have already seen, they are still faith impaired.
Littlefaiths…Worry about their surroundings to excess.
Littlefaiths…Only see the negative circumstances.
Littlefaiths…Cry out to God, not out of faith, but out of blame.
Littlefaiths…Try everything they know how to do for themselves before they ever reach out to God.
Don’t be a “littlefaith” today. Put your full and complete confidence in Jesus Christ. He has your BEST interest in mind.
ABLE AND WILLING TO TRANSFORM THE REALM OF SATAN INTO THE REALM OF GOD
Matthew 8:28-32 “When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine.” NKJV
Two demon possessed…Not one, but two.
This wasn’t your ordinary, every day demonic activity. This was a gang.
They intimidated everyone, yet Jesus gave it no mind.
Exceedingly fierce…They were violent and physical. They took control by brute force. They had assaulted many.
No one could pass that way…People didn’t even try to go that route any more. The community was intimidated and controlled by these two demon possessed men.
Jesus took control and took this territory over and turned it into a place of deliverance.
I’m reminded of the church in Tacoma years ago that took over an “adult movie” theatre and turned it into a place of worship.
We need to stop being intimidated by the devil and start taking over his territory.
Jesus made little show of taking power. He didn’t make some broad proclamation, extensive prayer or make some grand speech. He simply spoke one or few words or simply touched people and healing took place, transformation became, the sea and wind calmed simply by his word.
This shows the power of God in Him. Just as God spoke the world into existence, Jesus shows himself as God manifested in the flesh by healing and commanding simply with His word.
Jesus has all authority over everything and He is willing to bring this into your life today.
We have the same power and authority today through the name of Jesus.
John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” NKJV
All we have to do is call on His name and healing, refreshing, and anointing will come into our lives.
Let’s refuse to be “littlefaiths” and choose to be “greaterfaiths.”