2014 - The Warrior Constantly Presses Forward - Part 3

So far, we have looked at people who reached out to Him (Part 1), and people who were bold enough to demand His presence to heal them (Part 2). Today, we look at a far rarer (then and now) and even stronger anointing. Today we look at those who require only their Faith and their Understanding to receive from Him. 

This Faith by Understanding is actually a cornerstone of our modern belief system. We believe that Jesus is alive within each of us. We believe that He is still in the miracle business. We believe Him, but we do not need to see Him in the flesh. And yet, we are surrounded and occasionally overrun by doubt. Let’s look at our Faith in Action:

Luke 7:1-10 (Living Translation) The Faith of a Roman Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. ² At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. ³ When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. ⁴ So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, ⁵ “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

⁶ So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. ⁷ I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” ¹⁰ And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

In other examples, we see the recipients of healing power only by interacting with Jesus. This time, the recipient is standing on his own understanding of how power works, and is applying that knowledge to the Power of God that flows thru Jesus.   

Jesus is astonished (v10), because this Centurion (a non-believer) is actually further along in his faith walk than 99.9% of those who follow Him. The Centurion believes that Jesus has Power, and that he knows how to use it. No fluffy and flowery explanation required, (v8) you are He who has the Power, period. For this Centurion, it is really a fundamental truth that he is perfectly willing to accept. 

This actually put his Faith in a higher place than the respected Jewish Elders (v3) that he sent as his emissaries. His Faith was ready to be grounded in his understanding of how Power works at ANY level. He made it clear to everyone in verse 6 – “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home” he said. He makes it clear that the real power does not require a presence.  Then in verse 7, he taught EVERYONE just what Faith looks and sounds like - “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed”.  This is a declaration, not a question. Likewise, our own Faith expressions should be as clear, concise, and direct as this Roman Centurion.  He is secure and firm in his understanding that Power requires only the will and direction of the one who wields it, NOTHING MORE.  This is an early illustration of a principle that many of the Apostles did not fully receive until the after the Resurrection.  It is a level of Faith that we don’t see again in evidence until after Jesus sends the Disciples out with Power to heal and cast out Demons (Mark 6:7-13).

Jesus even promised us that we would perform greater miracles than He did. The simple question is – Do you have the Faith, Confidence, and Understanding that will allow you to USE that Power.  If you are ready to accept and believe in Jesus AND in the Power of His Spirit in you like the Centurion, you will be known as a Mighty Man or Woman of God. If not, His Gifts and His Power will sit beside you, like a jug of water with its cork tightly sealed in the top.

Your Faith REQUIRES you to understand that you do not question whether or not it can work. Your Faith REQUIRES that you believe that Jesus did what He did and that His Promises are true and real. Your ability to use your gifts and to be effective on your circumstances (and those of others) REQUIRES that you understand and accept how Power works – and then you must USE IT according to His Plan for You. Embrace your Gifts, Exercise your Faith, and be BOLD enough to believe without question! Then you can USE this is the power to wield your sword, to heal your circumstances, see miracles great and small, and to accept that He knows what He is doing (you cannot fix EVERYTHING that you don’t like – you are ALWAYS using your Power under His Authority and Permission) with your life and your journey 1000% of the time.    

Blessings,

Bryan