March 9, 2008
Morning Worship
Text: Matthew 8:5-13
Subject: Faith in Action
Title: You Have The Authority to Exercise Your Faith
Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 153.
In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of authority. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: ’We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’"
Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."
The captain said, "Send: "I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’"
"I’m a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees."
By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: ’I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’"
Back came the flashing light, "I’m a lighthouse."
We changed course.
I want to share with you today from a passage that will be very familiar to most of you. But I think that what I’m going to say to you today will be different than what you may have heard preached from this passage in the past. Open your bibles to Matthew 8:5-12. This is the story of the Centurion’s faith, but I am going to go beyond faith to take you to where I believe Jesus wants every believer to be. He wants you to be able to put your faith into action. Today I am going to tell you how to do that.
So open you r spiritual ears and your spiritual eyes to receive something spiritual that will change your life today.
Are you ready?
I. JESUS DESIRES THAT YOUR NEEDS BE MET. 5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
7Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” I doubt that any of you here today question the fact that Jesus wants us healed. He wants us to receive all the promises that He has given us. But most of us still have that lingering doubt that comes from walking by sight and not by faith. Faith says that the work is already done – that the enemy is defeated. Sight says I don’t see it so I haven’t received it yet. For you to receive the promises you first need to understand what God has done in setting up His chain of command in the church age. First of all you have to understand that it is God who is Jehovah-Rapha, the Healer, Jehovah-Jirah, your provider, Jehovah-Shalom, your peace, Jehovah-Nissi, your banner… James 1:17, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Next, you must understand that the works that Jesus did while He walked on earth expressed the desires that the Father have for your lives. Hebrews 1:3, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Let’s go back to our original passage in Matthew. Let’s get a real understanding of the power of Jesus’ word. 8The 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. 9For 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.” 10When 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. Here we see faith and the Word of God connected so intricately that there is no way to separate them. By faith, the Centurion knew who Jesus was and what He was capable of doing. He also understood that just having faith was not enough – that a word had to be spoken for God’s plan to be set in motion. I want you to notice what Jesus says next. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The subjects of the kingdom in verse 12 refers to the Jews. They thought that they were good to go with God because of their natural inheritance. But the Bible is clear that it is by faith that we are saved. What kind of faith? We must have the faith to believe that we should desire to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. You see, if you are going to walk this spiritual walk the way God wants you to walk it you have to 1) know His word, 2) believe His word, 3) Put His word into motion. 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. Why? Not because Jesus prayed for healing but because He sent his word to heal. He spoke healing into existence. He had the authority to do that.
II. JESUS HAS THE AUTHORITY Now, turn over to Matthew 28:18. We know that Jesus had the authority to do what He did and say what He said. The scriptures say that people marveled at Him because He spoke as one with authority and not as the scribes. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. What did Jesus have the authority to do? He had the authority to speak His word and see the centurion’s servant healed! John 8:28-30, 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. Why did they put their faith in Him? Because the words He spoke were the words from God the Father. He had authority. Mark 11:12, The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. Now jump down to verse 19, When evening came, they went out of the city. 20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Here’s the point I want to make out of this. Jesus’ authority was revealed when He spoke. He said to the tree… the disciples heard Him say it… I want you to notice how Jesus put His faith into action. He spoke it into action. Then He told the disciples to do the same thing. Bear with me now. I don’t want you to think that I’m chasing rabbits here, but this is going to come full circle. First He told them to have faith in God. It is God who put the plan into motion. Jesus is the head and you are the body. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, the church is on the earth. Who do you suppose it is who is required to continue the work of Jesus? It’s the church! Then He said, “say to this mountain…” He is telling us to do the same thing that He did. Did you see that Jesus didn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time praying to God, “Oh God, please curse this fig tree…”? He just spoke it because He had authority. And He said that’s what we are supposed to do. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Now, before you get in too big an uproar over this and try to tell me, “We can’t do that. Only Jesus could speak with authority like that!”, let me clarify. Jesus said to do it. Now I’m pretty sure that you aren’t going to cast any actual mountains into the sea, but if it would bring glory to the father you could do it – 1)if you had faith without any doubt, and 2) if you spoke it. So if we aren’t going to speak a mountain into the sea what good is this scripture? It’s not about the mountain. It’s about putting your faith into action. 1) Speak – 2) believe what you speak – 3) it will be done for you! Verse 24, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. I quote this verse often to help you be encouraged in your faith, but we overlook one word that is really a key to this verse – ask. There are ten Greek words that are translated “ask” in the New Testament. But this word was chosen for this particular verse (as well as others) for a reason. The literal translation means “to demand what is rightfully yours.” We get the same Greek word in John 14:12-14, 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask (demand) in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask (demand) me for anything in my name, and I will do it. We can demand it because Jesus has already done it. It is rightfully ours. All we have to do is speak it without doubting. For it’s out off the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart…
III. JESUS HAS GIVEN YOU THIS AUTHORITY. Luke 10:19, 17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” This is the end of the account of the story when Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples. They came back amazed at what they could do in Jesus’ name. Now I think there is often a misunderstanding of what Jesus is saying here. Some commentators try to say that having authority over demons is not important because Jesus said don’t rejoice in that, but rejoiced because of your salvation. It must have been important because Jesus reminded them that He gave them authority over snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy… those snakes and scorpions must refer to demonic powers. Rejoice in your salvation but take your authority as part of what you are called to do on earth. Matthew 18:18, “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. How? Because He gave you the authority. Revelation 1:18, I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. We are not going to live forever. The Bible says that death is the last enemy to be defeated, but while we are on this earth we have over the power of the enemy. One last passage. John 14:23-24, 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. This is a pretty awesome passage. Last week I talked about the revelation and enlightenment the Holy Spirit gives when you study the word. When Jesus said, 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything, He used a different word that is translated “ask” This Greek word means “request”. In that day you will no longer request anything from me but the Father will give you whatever you ask (demand) in My name (demanding what is rightfully yours because of the authority given you in Jesus’ name) Until now you have not demanded anything in my name. Demand and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. Why, Because when you finally understand that you can command demons that are influencing your lost loved ones and the world around you, you are then living the life of power that Jesus gave you in the Holy Spirit. You are finally being the kind of witness Jesus called you to be. The authority to do it has been given.
Closing:
For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle’s death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right.
Bits & Pieces, January 9, 1992, pp. 22-23.
For centuries the church has been saying that Christians are supposed to struggle through this life and wait for heaven. The rebirth of Pentecost in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s brought a new understanding to a believer’s authority. The Bible is very clear about the kind of life Jesus wants you to have – a life of authority. Yet many in the church world are going to say, “I see it, and what you are saying is proven in the scriptures, but I’m just going to continue to go with what I’ve always been taught.
Go ahead. But what I have said today is right from the Bible – God’s word = and whether it is right for me to obey man or God you be the judge.
I choose God!
You have been given authority.
Now use it in faith and see what happens.
