Main Points

This sermon, titled “The Power Over a Fever,” uses the biblical account of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law as a foundation to explore the transformative power of a personal encounter with Christ and the appropriate response to His healing touch. The message is built on the following key points:

1. Jesus’s Presence Reveals and Addresses Needs:
   • The sermon begins by highlighting that when Jesus entered Peter’s house, “he saw a need” (04:29). This is presented as a fundamental characteristic of Christ’s ministry.
   • The speaker contrasts this with human fallibility, where people often see a need and do nothing, using a personal analogy about being told to take out the trash (06:39).
   • The core idea is that inviting Jesus into your life (“your house or your soul”) guarantees that He will see and meet your deepest needs, especially the need for salvation from sin.
2. The Intimate and Transformative Power of Jesus’s Touch:
   • The sermon emphasizes the specific action: “he touched her hand” (07:41). This touch is described as intimate and powerful, capable of bringing about profound change.
   • The speaker lists the comprehensive results of this divine touch:
     • Transformation
     • Restoration
     • Deliverance
     • Healing
     • Breakthroughs
     • Blessings
     • Renewal and confidence
   • This personal touch from Jesus is presented as the catalyst for all spiritual progress and healing.
3. God’s Divine Fire Overpowers Worldly Afflictions:
   • The message develops a powerful metaphor comparing the woman’s physical “fever” to the spiritual “fires” and trials of life.
   • The speaker asserts that God’s power, or “divine fire,” is infinitely stronger than any fever or trial the world can produce. This is illustrated with the story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace from Daniel 3, where God’s presence nullified the flames (09:50).
   • Believers are called to cultivate an “ever-burning fire” in their hearts (referencing Leviticus 6:13) through consistent spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, and meditation on Scripture to “stir up the flames” (12:22).
4. Healing Demands an Immediate Response of Grateful Service:
   • This is the sermon’s central application. The speaker emphasizes that after being healed, Peter’s mother-in-law “arose and ministered unto them” (15:09).
   • He notes that other Gospel versions state she got up “immediately,” highlighting the urgency and fervency of her response.
   • The healing is not the final goal; it is the catalyst for service. The message strongly challenges the congregation to stop telling God “no” (14:13) and to translate their gratitude for salvation into active, joyful service.
   • This service is described as the primary sign of a genuine “attitude with gratitude” (16:10).

Scriptures Referenced

The following scriptures were cited or alluded to during the sermon:

Overall Message

The central message of this sermon is that an encounter with Jesus Christ is a profoundly transformative event that demands an active and immediate response. Using the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law from Matthew 8, the speaker illustrates a spiritual sequence: Jesus enters our lives, perceives our deepest needs, and offers a healing “touch” that is more powerful than any physical or spiritual affliction we face. However, the goal of this divine intervention is not simply personal comfort but empowerment for service. The sermon passionately argues that the only authentic response to receiving God’s grace and healing is to rise immediately with an “attitude of gratitude” and begin ministering to others. It challenges believers to keep their spiritual “fire” burning brightly and to stop making excuses, culminating in a clear presentation of the gospel as the ultimate invitation to experience this life-changing touch and begin a life of purposeful service.