When Jesus Speaks Series

1. Luke 7.1-10 [Slide of Capernaum Synagogue

2. Have you ever wondered what the voice of Jesus sounds like?

a. Were they a toned down version of the voice at Sinai? At His baptism? At the Mount of Transfiguration?

b. It must have been a pleasant voice –

• Luke 19.48 all the people were hanging on his words.

• Luke 4.22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.

3. Words are important.

a. The Civil War changed ONE significant word in regard to the country. We went from the United States ARE to IS.

b. The Average person speaks 25,000 words/day

c. Lluis Colet was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for longest speech. His 2004 speech lasted 48 hours. Since then, the record was beaten, so Colet won it again, this time by talking for an amazing 124 hours.

d. The fastest POTUS speech was delivered by JFK at 327 wpm

e. A. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in about 2 minutes

f. Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison’s in 1841. He delivered the 1 hour 45 minute oration without wearing a hat or coat in a howling snowstorm, came down with pneumonia, and died one month later. His was the shortest tenure in the White House.

g. On September 14, 2007, Tony Wright today broke the world record for the longest phone call. The Cornishman talked on his internet phone for 40 hours - and was still going strong. The previous record for the world's longest phone call stood at 39 hours, 18 minutes and 24 seconds.

4. What did Jesus’ words sound like?

a. `The Centurion told Jesus to, “just say the word.”

b. Jesus marveled at this Roman’s faith in Capernaum.

• He also marveled at the Syro-Phenician woman’s Faith (Matthew 15.21-28)

• He also marveled at the unbelief of the people in Nazareth (Mark 6.1-6)

5. When Jesus speaks . . .

I. His Words Are Powerful

A. He is the Agent of Creation – John 1.1-3

B. He is the Agent of Healing (servant healed)

C. He is the Agent of Unity

1. He was sent to the Jews (Matthew 15.24 “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”)

2. He has impacted all of us – Galatians 3.28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

II. His Words Bring Restoration

A. Centurion’s Motives for the Servant’s Healing

1. It was for his best

2. He wanted the relationship restored – Luke 7.2 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. [Dear/cherished/honored]

B. Centurion’s Attitude of Humility

1. As one under authority he understood service.

2. What would it be like if in humility Christians took the words of Christ to heart to save relationships with one another? Philippians 2.3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

[An elder interrupted a preacher’s sermon one Sunday morning. He read Matthew 5.23-24 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

He then related how there had been a church split a decade before that resulted in hard feelings between the two congregations. He suggested that the whole church go to the other’s campus and make amends. The vast majority of the church loaded up in their cars and made their way to the neighboring church. “Looks like a funeral procession.” “It is, we are dying to ourselves.” The entire congregation came forward at the end of the service to make reconciliation with the others. The words of Jesus healed the sickness of sin which separated brothers and sisters for a decade.

III. His Words Are Healing

A. This Servant was Healed by the Word of Jesus

1. Initiated by the request of the Centurion

2. The healing did not happen by the touch or even the presence of Jesus

3. The man with the withered hand – Luke 6.9-10 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.

B. Jesus Can Heal in the Physical and the Spiritual Realms

1. “Heal” can also mean “Save.”