Monthly Message

Preaching Notes of Roger Pawsey

THREE KINDS OF FAITH from Luke chapter 8

There are three people who each show us a different aspect of the faith, which we should have in Christ.

1. RESIGNED FAITH - The healed demoniac. Vss. (26) 38-39 This man from who Jesus cast out a legion of devils wanted to go with Jesus. Jesus told him to go home and tell what great things God had done. He obeyed.
This man was resigned to doing the will of his new master.

He was obedient and it has been said that Christian witness like Christian charity begins at home. Evil had been defeated - What Jesus did in defeating a regiment of evil. It was an incredible victory that set a captive free.

BUT what of the people of the town:

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1. They loved their pigs - what do we love that Jesus would consider unclean
2. They condoned the evil by accepting it - even a little measure works its way through the whole batch
3. They hated the routine of their life being disturbed, their business being troubled

2. RELIANT FAITH - Jairus - Vss. 41-42, 49-56 Jarius -

Luke 8:49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."
Luke 8:50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.".

Jairus had to trust Jesus even though he had just received tragic news. The desperateness of losing an only child - it is that desperate, impossible, heart-rending situations that are the fertile soil for Reliant Faith. Jairus was a man who could pocket his pride Jairus was a man of stubborn faith

3. REACHING FAITH - The woman with the issue of blood. Vss. 43-48

She reached out and was healed - - this woman was not lost in the crowd.
The shame of this woman (Lev 15:19-33) was that she was ritually unclean.

We live in a global society - there are people against globalisation - yet if globalisation makes us aware of the responsibilities to our neighbour then I am for it. Let us reach out in faith to our neighbour where ever he or she may be.

Our personal reaching faith cannot change the world but we can stop some from being lost in the crowd. We can make a difference to some. We are making a difference to some. Jesus brought healing and cleansing to the woman wiping away the shame and guilt. We can help in the wiping away of the shame and the guilt of our own nation

CONCLUSION RESIGNED FAITH - RELIANT FAITH - REACHING FAITH

It is not saying I have resigning faith or I have reliant faith or I have reaching faith It is have the right faith at the right time in the situation and in the person of Jesus Christ. It is choosing to trust

We will need the resigned faith of the man delivered and sent back to this own people.
We will need the reliant faith shown by Jairus
We will need reaching faith to reach out with love, compassion, with the gospel

Together we can restore dignity to humanity through our faith in the one person capable of changing history, Jesus Christ the saviour of the world