The Fruit Of Fearless Faith
I. THE SOLDIER’S REQUEST
A. It Was Characterized By Serious Concern.
B. It Was Characterized By Selfless Compassion.
II. THE SAVIOR’S READINESS
III. THE SOLDIER’S RESPONSE
A. He Responded With Respect For Christ’s Person.
B. He Responded With Reliance On Christ’s Power.
IV. THE SAVIOR’S REACTION
A. He Commends The Centurion’s Faith.
B. He Cures The Centurion’s Servant Friend.
Text: Heb. 11:6; Matt. 8:9, 10
Intro: Just as it is impossible to please God without faith, it is likewise impossible to pray and receive from God without faith. The Christian who prays with a wavering faith, need not expect to receive positive answers. James makes this most clear when he says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6, 7).
In the account under consideration today, we are given a sterling example of the fruit of fearless faith. This Roman centurion dared to lay hold of the fruit of faith by trusting the person and power of Christ. This man seemed to view the answer to his request as a foregone conclusion. But it is that very idea that is found in Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
As we will see in this passage, fearless faith brings results. If we would be pleasing to God, and enjoy all He has for us, we too must exercise fearless faith.
Theme: Fearless faith is seen in:
I. THE SOLDIER’S REQUEST
A. It Was Characterized By Serious Concern.
Matt. 8:5 “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,”
NOTE: [1] One clue to the centurion’s serious concern for this servant is found in Luke 7:2, where we are told that this servant was dear to his master.
[2] Another clue to the serious concern of this centurion for his servant is found in the word “beseeching,” in verse five. The Greek word used here literally means, “to call to one’s aid.”1 The mood of this word is stronger than merely asking for someone’s help. The idea is more of a plea.
[3] This centurion’s concern for his servant was unusual; after all, servants were considered property. Concern goes a long way in most everyone’s book.
Friendly Employees
Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait on line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby.
“I know,” said Mamie, “but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.”2
B. It Was Characterized By Selfless Compassion.
Matt. 8:6 “And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.”
NOTE: [1] This centurion was a compassionate man. He was not merely concerned for his own inconvenience, but for the discomfort of his servant and friend. The words “grievously tormented” mean, “terribly tortured.”3
[2] In Luke 7:2, we are told that this servant was at the point of death.
II. THE SAVIOR’S READINESS
Matt. 8:7 “And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”
NOTE: [1] The gospels are replete with incident after incident of the Savior’s readiness to answer cries for help.
[1a] The healing of the leper in Matt. 8:1-3.
[1b] The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law in Matt. 8:14, 15.
[1c] The raising of Jairus’ daughter in Matt. 9:18, 19, 23-26.
[1d] The healing of the palsied man in Mark 2:1-12.
[1e] The healing of a father’s lunatic son in Luke 9:37-42.
[1f] The healing of a man blind from birth in John 9:1-7.
[2] The Lord is still ever ready to respond to our faith.
Jer. 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
I Pet. 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Matt. 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
[3] Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all God’s children were as available to Him, as He is to us?
The Pianist
An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: “Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent—the service is free.” The notice included the number to dial.
When people called, she would ask, “What hymn would you like to hear?” Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.4
III. THE SOLDIER’S RESPONSE
A. He Responded With Respect For Christ’s Person.
Matt. 8:8a “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof…”
NOTE: The words “not worthy” mean, “not fit for thee to enter.”5 Though this man was a Roman, he perceived that Jesus was no ordinary man. He recognized his own moral unworthiness in light of what he knew about Jesus.
B. He Responded With Reliance On Christ’s Power.
Matt. 8:8b “…but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”
NOTE: [1] This Roman centurion understood the principle of authority. He knew that one possessing authority did not have to be present to get a job done. He simply had to give the command. Jesus would later tell His disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18b). The idea of the word translated “power” is that of “…authority.”6 Jesus has the authority, right, and ability to do whatever He wants or needs to do. Oh that we fearful Christians would learn to exercise this kind of faith in Christ!
[2] We need the kind of faith described as follows:
O For a Faith
O for a faith that will not shrink,
‘Tho pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!
That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chastening rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain,
Will lean upon its God;
A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt.7
IV. THE SAVIOR’S REACTION
A. He Commends The Centurion’s Faith.
Matt. 8:10 “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
NOTE: [1] Isn’t it ironic that one unskilled in religious tradition exhibited the greatest display of real faith? Those who had benefited the most from God’s power and provision in the past, the Jews, lacked the ability to trust God.
[2] Matthew 8:11 & 12 is somewhat difficult to explain. Basically, Jesus was saying that it was the type of faith demonstrated by this Gentile centurion that was the basis of entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. The Jews, who felt they would automatically be a part of the kingdom on the basis of their religious practices, would find themselves excluded (v. 12). Righteousness is by faith, not religious form.
B. He Cures The Centurion’s Servant Friend.
Matt. 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”
NOTE: God always blesses faith. It is faith that brings the power of God to bear upon our circumstances. The question is not whether God is willing to bless, but are we willing to believe. Are we willing to trust when we cannot see, feel, taste, or figure it out?
Theme: Fearless faith is seen in:
I. THE SOLDIER’S REQUEST
II. THE SAVIOR’S READINESS
III. THE SOLDIER’S RESPONSE
IV. THE SAVIOR’S REACTION
End Notes:
1. W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; Vol. I, pg. 119.
2. Bits and Pieces, December, 1989, p. 2.
3. Alvah Hovey, Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, Vol. I, pg. 178.
4. Source unknown.
5. Ibid, pg. 178.
6. Alvah Hovey, Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, Vol. I, pg. 592.
7. William H. Bathurst.
