This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. In Matthew 8 we find Jesus in Capernaum. As Jesus entered the city, a Roman army officer came to him and begged for help. The officer said, “Lord, my servant is very sick at home in bed. He can’t move his body and has much pain.” Jesus said to the officer, “I will go and heal him.” The officer responded, “Lord, I am not good enough for you to come into my house. You simply need to speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. I know this, because I understand authority. There are people who have authority over me, and I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me.” When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. He said to those who were with him, “The truth is, this man has great faith. I have not found this type of faith, not even in Israel.” (see Matthew 8:5-10)
There is a lot to cover in this story, so let’s get to it.
So what does this mean to you today? Several things:
1. It takes humility to properly interact with divinity.
a) A the time of the text the Israelites were subject to the Romans. For a Roman officer to come and submit himself to a Jew, and even call the Jew, “Lord”, was a true act of humility on his part.
b) This Roman officer did not go out of his way to find Jesus for his wife or his son. No, this man left his home, looking for Jesus, in order to find help for servant! He was serving his servant! This is true leadership! Godly leadership serves those you are blessed to lead.
2. It takes an understanding of authority to access supernatural power.
a) The first thing the Roman officer said, after claiming to understand how authority works, was that people had authority OVER HIM. His authority was derived from HIS SUBMISSION! See, you cannot be IN AUTHORITY if you are not UNDER AUTHORITY! This is why Jesus was so powerful. He was completely submitted to the Father. We too can be powerful, if we live the same way.
b) The Roman officer said that he could tell people to “Go” and “Do”, because he obeyed his leaders when they told him to “Go” and “Do”. What he was saying was, “Whoever I have authority over, is SUBJECT TO MY WORDS!” I can say, “GO” to someone I DON’T have authority over, and they DON’T have to GO! I can say, “DO” to someone I DON’T have authority over, and they DON’T have to DO! But if I say “GO” or “DO” to someone who is under my authority, they have to do what I say.
c) I am going to give you what I believe the Roman officer was saying to Jesus in the Rick Piña Version (RPV). He was saying, “ Jesus, I am not here because I am a Roman and You are a Jew. That has nothing to do with it. I am here because I perceive that You have authority over sickness. I don’t. If I did, I would have simply SPOKEN to the sickness and it would have to go. But I don’t and that is why I am here. I believe You have authority over sickness. So I don’t need to you COME, I just need you to SAY! Speak the Word ONLY and my servant will be healed!”
d) Jesus called this man’s understanding of divine authority, “Great faith!”
3. God will meet you at your level of faith.
a) In yesterday’s message we learned that God will meet you where you are, in your condition. Today we learn that God will meet you where you are, in your level of faith.
b) Later I will deal with the story of Jairus and his daughter. Jarius’ level of faith required Jesus to actually come to his home and touch his daughter, for his daughter to be healed. Jesus could have simply SPOKEN healing over Jairus’ daughter, but Jairus did not have that level of faith. Jairus wanted Jesus to physically go to his home and physically touch his daughter. Jesus did it, because that is where Jairus’ faith was. The Roman Centurion was at a different level of faith. He was willing to take Jesus at His Word, without Jesus going to his home and without Jesus laying hands on his servant. Jesus called this “Great faith!” My point is that God will meet you wherever you are. He will deal with you according to your level of faith. But the goal is to get to where the Roman officer was. The goal is to be able to take God at His Word, even before He does it, without having to SEE anything with your physical eyes, and believe that it’s already done!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I will experience supernatural manifestation like never before, because I developing my faith to the point where I can take You at Your Word. I believe what You say, even when I don’t have any sense-realm evidence to support it, and even when it ‘flies in the face’ of what I am dealing with at the moment. I walk by faith and not by sight. Speak the Word ONLY Father, and my situation will be changed! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
