Faith XXXII
08/05/09 16:50
Matthew 8:8 “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, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
In all of Jesus’ time in Israel He never found anyone who matched this centurion’s faith. He was not one of the covenant people of God. They would have despised him as a Gentile and a conqueror. Yet he was commended for his faith.
What made him different than everyone else? He understood authority. He was one who had placed himself under the authority of Rome. As one under authority he had the right to tell others what to do. We need to be people under God’s authority to move in His power and His kingdom. If we aren’t willing to do what He is saying to us, then we cannot expect our prayers to be answered. We nullify our faith by not remaining under His authority. Authority is delegated. If you have a position of authority in a company, it has been delegated to you. You then have the right to tell others what to do. But you cannot come in off the street and expect staff to obey what you say. You have to be in relationship to authority for that to function.
In Matthew 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Jesus gave them authority and they ministered out of that delegated authority. After that He sent 72 of His disciples out under His authority to minister and the seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (Luke 10:17) Having been given authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons the disciples did it. They didn’t question whether they should or whether they could, they just did it. They did what He said!
In Mark 16:17, 18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." The risen Saviour gave us this assignment as His disciples. He gave us authority to do the same things He did and His disciples did when He delegated authority to them. The bible tells us that He holds the keys to Hades and death, not Satan, and He has defeated them. He has the authority to delegate His power and His anointing to us. So we can do what He did. But what happens today with believers is the constant questioning, ‘Do I have the right to do this?’ The answer is yes. Yes, you do! Your faith will respond to the word you hear and believe. It is in His word, written for you. Read it, believe it and act upon it. Nothing will happen until you do.
In all of Jesus’ time in Israel He never found anyone who matched this centurion’s faith. He was not one of the covenant people of God. They would have despised him as a Gentile and a conqueror. Yet he was commended for his faith.
What made him different than everyone else? He understood authority. He was one who had placed himself under the authority of Rome. As one under authority he had the right to tell others what to do. We need to be people under God’s authority to move in His power and His kingdom. If we aren’t willing to do what He is saying to us, then we cannot expect our prayers to be answered. We nullify our faith by not remaining under His authority. Authority is delegated. If you have a position of authority in a company, it has been delegated to you. You then have the right to tell others what to do. But you cannot come in off the street and expect staff to obey what you say. You have to be in relationship to authority for that to function.
In Matthew 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Jesus gave them authority and they ministered out of that delegated authority. After that He sent 72 of His disciples out under His authority to minister and the seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (Luke 10:17) Having been given authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons the disciples did it. They didn’t question whether they should or whether they could, they just did it. They did what He said!
In Mark 16:17, 18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." The risen Saviour gave us this assignment as His disciples. He gave us authority to do the same things He did and His disciples did when He delegated authority to them. The bible tells us that He holds the keys to Hades and death, not Satan, and He has defeated them. He has the authority to delegate His power and His anointing to us. So we can do what He did. But what happens today with believers is the constant questioning, ‘Do I have the right to do this?’ The answer is yes. Yes, you do! Your faith will respond to the word you hear and believe. It is in His word, written for you. Read it, believe it and act upon it. Nothing will happen until you do.