Then 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. Matthew 8: 13, NIV.
“LORD, we believe. [Please] help our unbelief.” As we gather to study Your holy Word, please speak to our hearts, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
For a few days we will be looking at prayer; bold prayer; fearless prayer; expectant prayer! We long for the day, when we are so sure that our prayer has been answered, not will be answered; that we will begin to live the results of that answered prayer; even before we have any tangible proof of the answer (i.e., I pray for a job; I apply for a job; and then I go out and shop for my wardrobe to wear to that job, even before I am notified that the job is mine)!
Let us go to our story for today. This story is found in two of the gospels; Matthew (8: 5-13); and Luke (7: 1-10). There is a slight difference between the way Matthew tells the story, and the way Luke tells it. In the gospel according to Matthew, the centurion goes to Jesus, and personally requests that Jesus merely, “speak the word,” and heal his servant. In Luke’s account of the gospel, the centurion sends some Jewish friends to ask the favor of Jesus, in his name; because he does not consider his dwelling worthy of the presence of Jesus!
The important elements here, are his concept of Jesus; which leads to his high degree of expectancy! In both gospels this is quite evident. Yesterday I said the following, “The kind of present we request, usually reflects the degree of confidence we have in the person we are requesting it from. We know what we can expect from them.” It would appear that the centurion had never met Jesus in person. Perhaps he had heard of all the wonders He had performed, and was performing; but had not had the privilege of meeting Him.
Nevertheless, the stories he had heard about Jesus, obviously, had inspired an exceptionally high degree of respect for, and confidence in, the Savior. Notice how he refers to Jesus as “Lord” (Matthew 8: 8; Luke 7: 6). This led him to put no limits on what he expected to receive from Jesus! There were no limits to what he believed the LORD could do for his servant! He considered Jesus so powerful, that healing could take place, even at a distant! Jesus’ Word was as good as His touch! I pray to God, that my faith will rise to that level someday, very soon!
And Jesus did not disappoint him! Jesus recommends him for his amazing faith (8: 10)! The Bible says, “And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour” (13, NRSV). Emphasis provided.
Dearly beloved, we are not nearing; we are already in the midst, of a time of trouble. These financial crises that we are experiencing around the world, are just another sign, of a world that is crumbling under the weight of humankind’s inhumanity to humankind. It is the result of our selfishness and greed, which are some of the traits that will increase as the coming of Jesus draws near. If there was ever a time that the people of God, and people everywhere, need to be spending time in intercessory prayer, it is now! We need to pray for our leaders; both political and religious. We need to pray for our families, our friends, and the world at large. We need to start practicing to “pray without ceasing!” God will not abandon His people! God is more willing to help us, than we are willing to ask for His help. May we seek Him, and may our prayers be answered “just as [we] believed it would.”
We will continue.