Faith and Authority: Lessons from the Centurion

 

Summary

Starting today and continuing through Easter, we will explore the miracles of Jesus, seeking to understand the spiritual truths they reveal. Today, we focus on the story of a Roman centurion, a man of remarkable faith, whom Jesus declared to have the greatest faith in all of Israel. This centurion, a Gentile, demonstrated a profound understanding of authority and humility, recognizing his own unworthiness before Jesus. His faith was not based on proximity or physical presence but on the power of Jesus' word alone.

Miracles, as defined by C.S. Lewis, are supernatural events beyond human capability, either from God or Satan. In the Bible, miracles serve to reveal spiritual truths and demonstrate Christ's deity. Jesus performed miracles not for personal convenience but to teach and reveal His divine nature. The centurion's story exemplifies this, as his faith was not about witnessing a miracle firsthand but trusting in Jesus' authority and word.

The centurion's faith journey likely began with a holy fear of God, as described in Proverbs 9:1, which states that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Despite being a Roman officer, he showed genuine concern for his sick servant, a trait uncommon among his peers. His humility and understanding of authority led him to seek Jesus' help through Jewish elders, respecting their traditions and acknowledging his own unworthiness.

This story challenges us to examine our faith. Do we limit God by expecting Him to act only in ways we understand or can see? The centurion's faith was bold and unrestrained, trusting in Jesus' power without needing physical evidence. As we reflect on this, let us strive for a faith that is humble, bold, and rooted in the understanding of God's authority and love.

Key Takeaways:

- The Nature of Miracles: Miracles are supernatural acts that reveal spiritual truths and demonstrate Christ's deity. They are not for personal convenience but to teach and reveal God's power and purpose. [02:04]

- Faith and Humility: The centurion's faith was marked by humility and a deep understanding of authority. He recognized his unworthiness and trusted in Jesus' word, demonstrating a faith that did not rely on physical presence. [18:16]

- The Beginning of Wisdom: The centurion's journey began with a holy fear of God, which is the foundation of wisdom. This fear led him to seek truth and ultimately recognize Jesus' authority. [09:30]

- Bold and Unrestrained Faith: The centurion's faith was bold, trusting in Jesus' power without needing physical evidence. This challenges us to examine our own faith and whether we limit God by expecting Him to act only in ways we understand. [27:20]

- The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides those who seek God, as seen in the centurion's journey. When we take steps toward God, the Spirit works within us to reveal truth and strengthen our faith. [13:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:58] - Introduction to Miracles
- [01:31] - Definition of a Miracle
- [02:04] - Purpose of Miracles
- [02:34] - Greek Words for Miracle
- [03:26] - Spiritual Truths in Miracles
- [04:37] - High Purpose of Christ's Miracles
- [06:35] - The Centurion's Story Begins
- [08:07] - The Centurion's Faith
- [09:10] - The Fear of the Lord
- [10:11] - The Centurion's Character
- [12:10] - The Centurion's Spiritual Journey
- [14:29] - The Centurion's Request
- [18:16] - The Centurion's Humility
- [22:29] - Jesus' Astonishment
- [27:20] - The Centurion's Bold Faith
- [33:17] - Invitation for Prayer and Healing
- [34:26] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 7:1-10
- Proverbs 9:10

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the centurion's request to Jesus, and how did he choose to communicate it? ([14:29])
2. How did the Jewish elders describe the centurion to Jesus, and what actions of the centurion did they highlight? ([16:01])
3. What was Jesus' reaction to the centurion's faith, and how did it compare to the faith of others in Israel? ([22:29])
4. How did the centurion demonstrate his understanding of authority in his interaction with Jesus? ([20:03])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the centurion's approach to Jesus reveal about his understanding of humility and authority? How might this understanding have influenced his faith? ([18:16])
2. In what ways does the centurion's faith challenge the typical expectations of faith during Jesus' time, especially among the Jewish people? ([24:53])
3. How does the centurion's story illustrate the concept of "the fear of the Lord" as the beginning of wisdom, as mentioned in Proverbs 9:10? ([09:30])
4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in guiding individuals like the centurion towards faith, according to the sermon? ([13:36])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy to approach God. How did you handle that feeling, and what can you learn from the centurion's example of humility? ([18:16])
2. The centurion's faith did not rely on physical evidence. How can you cultivate a faith that trusts in God's authority and word, even when you cannot see the outcome? ([27:20])
3. Consider the ways you might limit God by expecting Him to act only in ways you understand. How can you open yourself to the possibility of God working beyond your expectations? ([26:40])
4. The centurion showed respect for Jewish traditions and sought help through the elders. How can you show respect and understanding for others' beliefs while sharing your faith? ([14:45])
5. The centurion's journey began with a holy fear of God. How can you develop a deeper reverence for God in your daily life, and how might this impact your decisions and actions? ([09:30])
6. Identify an area in your life where you need healing—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual. How can you take a step of faith to seek God's intervention in that area? ([33:29])
7. The centurion's faith was bold and unrestrained. What bold prayer can you bring before God this week, trusting in His power and authority? ([28:01])

Devotional

Day 1: Miracles as Revelations of Divine Truth
Miracles in the Bible are not mere spectacles; they are profound revelations of spiritual truths and demonstrations of Christ's divine nature. They serve a higher purpose, revealing God's power and purpose rather than catering to personal convenience. Understanding miracles in this light invites believers to see beyond the physical manifestations and grasp the deeper spiritual lessons they convey. Jesus' miracles were acts of teaching, revealing His divine authority and inviting us to trust in His power and purpose. [02:04]

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from seeking miracles for personal gain to seeking the spiritual truths they reveal about God's character and purpose?


Day 2: Humility and Authority in Faith
The centurion's faith was characterized by humility and a profound understanding of authority. Despite his position, he recognized his unworthiness and placed his trust in Jesus' word alone, demonstrating a faith that transcended physical presence. This story challenges believers to examine their own faith, questioning whether it is rooted in humility and a recognition of God's ultimate authority. The centurion's example encourages a faith that is not dependent on physical evidence but is confident in the power of Jesus' word. [18:16]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your faith journey, acknowledging God's authority in areas where you might be tempted to rely on your own understanding?


Day 3: The Foundation of Wisdom
The centurion's journey of faith began with a holy fear of God, which is described in Proverbs as the foundation of wisdom. This reverent fear led him to seek truth and ultimately recognize Jesus' authority. The centurion's story illustrates how a genuine fear of the Lord can be the starting point for a deeper understanding of spiritual truths and a more profound faith. It invites believers to cultivate a reverent awe of God, which opens the door to wisdom and spiritual insight. [09:30]

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a holy fear of God in your daily life, allowing it to guide you toward greater wisdom and understanding of His will?


Day 4: Bold and Unrestrained Faith
The centurion's faith was bold and unrestrained, trusting in Jesus' power without needing physical evidence. This challenges believers to examine their own faith and consider whether they limit God by expecting Him to act only in ways they understand. The centurion's example encourages a faith that is confident in God's power and open to His unexpected ways of working in our lives. It invites believers to trust in God's authority and love, even when His actions defy human logic. [27:20]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself limiting God by expecting Him to act in predictable ways? How can you open yourself to His unexpected and powerful work?


Day 5: The Guiding Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding those who seek God, as seen in the centurion's journey. When individuals take steps toward God, the Spirit works within them to reveal truth and strengthen their faith. This dynamic relationship between the seeker and the Spirit highlights the importance of being open to the Spirit's guidance and allowing it to lead us into deeper understanding and faith. It encourages believers to actively seek God's presence and be receptive to the Spirit's transformative work. [13:36]

"But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life today, allowing it to lead you into deeper truth and faith?

Quotes


A miracle is more than something unusual; a true Miracle is something Beyond man's intellectual or scientific ability to accomplish. It is not natural even though it may be unusual. A miracle is Supernatural; that is, it's either from God or it's from Satan. In fact, in the Bible, there are a few Miracles that we see from Satan, some things that he did. [00:01:27]

The main purpose of Miracles, I think, is to reveal a spiritual truth, to reveal who Christ is. In fact, Christ used miracles to demonstrate his deity, to demonstrate who he really was, and he claimed to be the Messiah, and his miracles would back up that claim. But the Miracles also remind us of the consequences of sin. [00:03:46]

Somewhere in the process, this Centurion developed a holy fear, a righteous fear, a proper fear of a holy God as a gentile. So that happened somehow, and so now we hear this story about this servant of his who was sick and dying, close to death. And so the thing about this guy, his actions and his words, his speech, they matched up. [00:09:37]

He could have ordered Jesus to come; he had that kind of authority, but he didn't. He could have gone himself, but he didn't. I think he sent the Jewish Elders out of respect of their traditions because, you see, Jewish Elders, in fact, I find it interesting these Jewish Elders were so willing to go and do this, and you'll hear from their words why they felt so good about this guy. [00:14:23]

He apparently began to deeply sense his own unworthiness, and I want to tell you that's the beginning of any salvation Journey, knowing, sensing, realizing your own unworthiness. And maybe that's the journey he started because, see, I think he knew from his Jewish friends that for a Jewish man to come into the home of a gentile would defile them. [00:15:14]

I'm not even worthy to come and meet you. You know, most centurions would say it's beneath me to go and meet with a Jewish guy. No, you go, you come and meet with me. But he said, I'm not worthy to even be in your presence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding, the beginning of wisdom. [00:18:50]

This Centurion, he demonstrated incredible humility, which is the absence of vanity, the absence of arrogance, the absence of I'm somebody special, and Jesus, as soon as you realize who I am, then you're going to want to help me because I can do things for you. Now there's the absence of all of that. [00:20:26]

His faith, it's a remarkable Faith but not an unreasonable Faith because it was based on knowledge that I believe the Holy Spirit was beginning to share with him. I think he began to see that this is the guy that created the universe. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed, astonished. He had a strong emotion, not surprised. [00:22:03]

How limiting is your faith when you pray? Do you always make sure you pray in such a way to give God an out in case he can't pull it off? God, if you would do this, but if you don't want to, okay. Now, I mean bold prayers of Faith, that's what God responds to. [00:27:37]

Your knowledge of God begins with your fear of God, and then you can come by faith and ask bold prayers. There's some of you, you need some healing. Some of you need physical healing. Some of you, you need emotional healing. Some of you, you need spiritual healing. And so during this series, we're going to have one or two stations like this. [00:33:05]

Father, thank you for this Roman Centurion whom Jesus declared as the greatest person of faith in all of Israel. May we learn from his humble Spirit, may we learn from his kindness, may we learn from his searching heart for truth. Thank you for sharing this story with us in your word that we might be encouraged. [00:34:39]

We pray all of this in Jesus' precious name, amen. [00:35:19]

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Transcript
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