Under Authority

Devotional

Day 1: When Jesus Touches the Untouchable

A leper’s isolation breaks as Jesus reaches through ritual barriers. This story reveals a God who steps into our shame without hesitation, restoring dignity through physical and spiritual touch. His authority over disease and social exclusion dismantles every barrier we fear might keep Him distant. The kingdom operates on radical grace, not human merit or purity codes. Healing begins when we dare to ask, “If you are willing.” [56:16]

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
(Matthew 8:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you felt “untouchable” – ashamed to approach Jesus? How might His willingness to touch the leper reshape your courage to ask for healing?

Day 2: Authority Flows Through Surrendered Chains

The centurion understood true power comes not from control but submission. His military discipline mirrored spiritual reality: Jesus’ authority transcends distance, ethnicity, and rank. Faith amazes God not through eloquence but through humble recognition of His chain of command. Miracles happen when we stop demanding God enter our systems and instead align with His. [01:00:09]

The centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
(Matthew 8:8-10, ESV)

Reflection: What “chain of command” in your life (habits, relationships, fears) resists alignment with Christ’s authority? How might surrender unlock new faith?

Day 3: Keys to the Pickup Truck of Mission

Jesus hands believers keys not for personal comfort but for hauling grace to broken places. Like a borrowed truck used for moving lumber, kingdom authority exists to accomplish His work – healing, disciple-making, binding wounds. Misusing keys for “sanctuary camping” instead of construction sites explains why many feel spiritually stagnant. [01:06:21]

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
(Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Reflection: Are you treating your spiritual “keys” like a break room privilege or a work truck assignment? What load is Jesus asking you to haul for His kingdom today?

Day 4: The Cameras in Heaven’s Sanctuary

Church keys grant access but come with accountability – Dennis the board member will check security footage. So with spiritual authority: freedom to act in Christ’s name includes responsibility to represent His character. Abuse leads to revoked access; faithfulness multiplies trust. The kingdom rewards stewardship, not entitlement. [48:00]

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
(Matthew 25:21, ESV)

Reflection: If Jesus reviewed your “spiritual security footage” this week, what faithful stewardship would He celebrate? What misuse might need repentance?

Day 5: Learning the Boss’ Voice Before the Crisis

The centurion’s faith grew through daily obedience drills, not crisis management. Recognizing Jesus’ authority requires familiarity with His commands and character. Like soldiers drilling maneuvers, believers must practice kingdom rhythms until obedience becomes instinctual – especially when the mission gets messy. [01:09:23]

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
(John 10:27, ESV)

Reflection: Are you training to recognize Christ’s voice in daily decisions, or only seeking Him in emergencies? What one habit could deepen your responsiveness to His authority?

Sermon Summary

Matthew sets the scene with keys in hand. The kingdom hands out access, but it also hands out accountability. Jesus then moves from telling to showing. The kingdom walks off the mountain and into real lives. Jesus touches the untouchable leper. The text shows a circle of fear around the man, yet Jesus reaches through it, says, if you are willing, and then, be clean. The kingdom runs on grace that is not threatened by impurity. Touch does not transmit defilement upward. Holiness runs downhill and cleanses.

Jesus next meets a centurion. Power approaches Power. Rome’s authority parts the crowd, but the Gentile’s faith bows low. The centurion reads Jesus’ authority because he knows how authority works. Just say the word, he says. Matthew records that Jesus is amazed. Faith recognizes delegated authority and rests in the command behind the command. Words do not move God as if he were an assistant. God moves by his own will, and faith falls in line with that will.

The kingdom then widens out. Jesus’ one word heals. Status does not block it, and brokenness cannot break it. In Jesus the social ladders are kicked away, and mercy runs free. The good news is not soft talk. It is authority that sets prisoners free, restores bodies, and steadies souls. Yet that same authority asks for something. Authority begins with surrender. Keys come with a mission.

Matthew later shows the finale. All authority in heaven and on earth is handed to Jesus. The keys are his. He then puts those keys in disciple hands, not for a joyride, but for a run at the Great Commission. Go, make disciples, baptize, teach them to obey. Acts 1:8 adds the horsepower. Power is given to witness. The assignment is not to live in the break room. The assignment is to carry hope into the city.

The centurion nails the pattern. To carry authority he must stand under it. Discipleship works the same way. A renewed mind learns the will of God so that commands can be recognized and relayed. Sometimes the order is stretch out your hand. Sometimes the order is walk with this for a while. Trust learns timing as well as power. Jesus is still handing out keys. Surrender takes them, listens, and then moves.

Key Takeaways

1. Authority begins with real surrender Authority rises only where self-rule lays down its arms. Submission is not passivity, it is clarity about who commands and why. When the heart takes its cues from Jesus, power flows without pretense. The keys are given to those who can be guided. [68:00]
2. Jesus touches what fear avoids Fear builds circles, grace steps through them. The kingdom’s holiness does not recoil from uncleanness, it reverses it. Dignity is restored not by distance but by presence. Touch becomes the instrument of cleansing, not contamination. [54:09]
3. Faith recognizes delegated authority Real faith does not try to boss God around, it aligns with his chain of command. The centurion reads Jesus rightly because he himself lives under orders. Confidence grows as discernment of God’s will grows, so prayer can echo heaven’s yes with earth’s amen. [69:01]
4. The keys come with a mission Jesus holds all authority and hands it over with instructions, not souvenirs. Commission is the context where power makes sense, and obedience is the lane where power runs. The church is not invited to idle but to go, baptize, and teach. [65:36]
5. Brokenness cannot block his word Status, stain, and history do not set the limits of Christ’s reach. One word overturns long patterns, and mercy ignores social pecking orders. Hope is grounded not in personal momentum but in the authority of Jesus to set things right. [62:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[45:43] - Keys and responsibility
[46:10] - DMV story and first license
[47:24] - Keys mean access and authority
[50:05] - What the kingdom is
[51:09] - From telling to showing
[52:31] - Living under his authority
[54:09] - Jesus touches the leper
[57:49] - A centurion steps forward
[59:24] - Just say the word
[60:09] - Faith that amazes Jesus
[62:39] - Brokenness cannot limit God
[65:36] - All authority and the mission
[68:00] - Authority begins with surrender
[77:14] - Stop resisting and step in

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 8:1-3 (ESV)
When [Jesus] came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:5-10 (ESV)
When [Jesus] had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And [Jesus] said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to 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 this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 8:1-3, what two actions did Jesus take toward the leper that defied cultural norms, and why was this significant?
The centurion in Matthew 8:8-9 compares Jesus’ authority to his own military chain of command. What does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus’ power?
According to the sermon, how does Jesus’ authority in Matthew 28:18-20 connect to the mission he gives his followers? [01:05:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to touch the leper (Matthew 8:3) instead of merely speaking healing from a distance, as he did for the centurion’s servant?
The sermon states, “Authority begins with surrender” [01:08:00]. How does the centurion’s response to Jesus (Matthew 8:8-9) model this principle?
Jesus says his followers are to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). What might it look like to wield Jesus’ authority for this purpose rather than for personal comfort or control?

Application Questions

The sermon says, “Fear builds circles, grace steps through them” [54:09]. Where in your life do you avoid “untouchable” people or situations out of fear? What would it look like to step into that space with Christ’s grace this week?
The centurion recognized Jesus’ authority because he himself lived “under orders” [01:09:01]. What area of your life (e.g., relationships, work, habits) do you struggle to align with God’s “chain of command” instead of your own plans?
Jesus’ keys “come with a mission” [01:05:36]. What is one practical way you could use your influence, resources, or time this month to actively participate in the Great Commission?
The sermon warns against treating Jesus like an “assistant” who takes our orders [01:12:01]. How might your prayers or decisions change if you sought to discern God’s will first instead of asking Him to bless your agenda?
“Brokenness cannot block his word” [01:02:39]. What long-standing struggle or failure have you assumed is beyond Jesus’ reach? How could you actively trust His authority over it today?

Sermon Clips

I wanna pause on on this word right here. Imagine for a minute what it takes to amaze the son of God. Imagine what it takes to amaze Jesus. Imagine that the people that Jesus has interacted with, the things that he's seen, the the experiences that he's had already up into this point, and the Bible records that Jesus himself, god in the flesh, is amazed by this man's faith. [01:00:09] (32 seconds) #AmazedByFaith

And here's what the centurion knew that is so easy to skip over. The centurion said said this, he said, verse eight again. Centurion replied, Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed for I myself am a man under authority. I myself am a man under authority. Remember what Jesus taught us to pray? He said, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [01:08:39] (33 seconds) #ManUnderAuthority

And because everybody knows that you're not supposed to touch a leper. Everybody knows if you see somebody with a skin disease, you stay clear of them. In fact, the people with leprosy, if they had to go into town to buy food, they had to shout and let everybody know that they were unclean. They had to let everybody know that they were impure, and they had to let everybody know to stay away from them because if anybody touched them, they were unclean as well. [00:54:21] (27 seconds) #BreakLeprosyStigma

And and so a man with leprosy makes his way through the crowd, comes up, kneels before Jesus, says, Lord, if you are willing, if you are willing, you can make me clean. And what does Jesus do? He reaches out his hand and he touches him. I don't know how long this man had had leprosy. I don't know what his situation was like, but it might have been years since he had since somebody had reached out and touched him. [00:55:53] (31 seconds) #TouchedByJesus

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Under Authority

Devotional

Day 1: When Jesus Touches the Untouchable

Day 2: Authority Flows Through Surrendered Chains

Day 3: Keys to the Pickup Truck of Mission

Day 4: The Cameras in Heaven’s Sanctuary

Day 5: Learning the Boss’ Voice Before the Crisis

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Under Authority

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