Matthew 8:5–10
5And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Focused Thinking:
What is the significance of these examples of faith being back to back?
Jesus uses repetition to reinforce the truth He is teaching.
Jesus gives an example of faith:
- First was the leper.
- Second is the Roman Centurion.
Notice the word “imploring;” that is a strong word:
There is something in one’s approach that is revealing:
- The leper bowed down before Him.
- The centurion implored Him.
- “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
How did Jesus respond?
7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
How did the centurion respond?
The typical response would have been “thank you,” and take Jesus’ lead from there.
8But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
The centurion said, “…just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Wow! The centurion believed Jesus could heal without being present.
Unbelievable! Who would take that chance?
This is absolutely amazing! The centurion understands authority and power.
9“For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
How does Jesus respond to the centurion’s requests to “…just say the word, and my servant will be healed”?
10Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
“He marveled.”
Interactive Prayer:
Father, do a work in my life that causes my faith to make You marvel. Show me what I am to do to increase my faith. Show me how I can do everything I can do to be a man of faith and to trust You to do what I cannot do. Father, I want to be faithful, and I want to be a person of faith. Father, give me the ability to see beyond the circumstances and to see Your power over circumstances. Give me the ability to see You and Your will above all things. Give me the ability to focus my eyes on You and You alone, and not on the problem that needs to be addressed or solved.
Father, forgive me for doubting. Forgive me for unbelief. Increase my faith. Increase my faith to believe in Your ability above all things and greater than all things. Father, give me the faith to believe in the movement of God that You want to accomplish through Highpoint. Give me the faith to believe in Your ability to bring revival and spiritual awakening. Give me the faith to believe that You can use me to bring about revival and spiritual awakening.
Father, give me the faith to believe that You can use us to baptize at least 200 people this year. Give me the faith to believe that You can work through us to raise the dollars to buy and rebuild Briarcrest. Father, give me the faith to make You marvel and to make others see You as the source of everything. Help me grow in my faith so that others will have faith in You.
Focused Thinking:
“Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Personal Application:
Father, make this statement true of me.
Father, do this work in our staff and trustees.
Father, do this work in our prayer team.
Father, do this work in our leaders.
Father, do this work in our church.
Father, increase my faith.
Father, show me how to increase my faith.
Father, shown me how to focus on this and to intentionally develop my faith.
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