Faith and Authority: Lessons from the Centurion

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]