The Faith Of The Centurion Series

3. Faith makes us humble.

Luke 7:6-7 6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion was a man of great humility. He understood who Jesus is and he also understood who he is. He knew he had worldly power but he knew Jesus had heavenly power. He knew he had the power to arrest and punish anyone but he knew Jesus had the power to liberate and heal anyone. He knew wordily speaking Jesus was under his authority but he knew spiritually he was under Jesus’ authority. He counted heavenly power greater and surrendered everything to Jesus. In other words he humbled himself. The Bible says he felt unworthy to meet Jesus and he also felt unworthy to have Jesus come into his house.

When we come to God we must come to him with humility. We must put aside our education, status, financial power etc., and surrender to the divine and spiritual authority in our life, God. We must understand that we are unworthy to stand in front of him but by His blood.

4. Faith trusts in Christ alone.

Luke 7:7-8 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For 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."

The centurion knew if Jesus said a word it was enough. He trusted in Jesus and the authority of Jesus. He did not have a plan B if Jesus failed to heal his servant. He just trusted wholeheartedly. Listen, the centurion could have called for a Roman doctor to come and attend his servant. He just has to put a word and the next moment the doctor would be there. He did not depend on worldly resources but trusted in Jesus alone. Let us trust in God alone like this centurion.

Conclusion: Whom do you trust this morning? Maybe the centurion has never known Jesus personally, he just would have heard about Jesus from others but still he trusted in Jesus. We have the living Word of God, God has led us in the past, and still we fail to trust in our God.

Look at the response of Jesus. Luke 7:9-10: 9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s faith. He did not find such faith in the whole of Israel. What was the speciality of the centurion’s faith: The centurion’s faith crossed all barriers. The centurion’s faith made him active in God’s work. The centurion’s faith made him humble. The centurion’s faith made him trust in Jesus alone. We find the servant received his healing because of the centurion’s faith. What are your circumstances this morning? What is it that is bothering you the most today? Have faith in God. Look at your circumstances through the eyes of faith. God will do it for you. Amen!