"Full Authority"
F.R.O.G. = Fully Reliant on Grace

Matthew 8. 5-13  "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, (On the west shore of Galilee, had a Roman garrison there to keep peace in N. Palestine) there came unto (proserchomai = came face to face with) him a centurion, (ruler of a hundred men)beseeching (parakaleo, Pres Act Participle = kept on calling alongside, kept on telling him) him,  [6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, (paralutikos = paralyzed) grievously tormented.  [7] And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.  [8] The centurion answered and said, (themi, Aorist Active = to speak clearly, distinctly, without hesitation) Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, (lit = "give the command") and my servant shall be healed.  [9] For I am a man under authority, having (echo, Present Act Part = constantly having and holding) 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].  [10] When Jesus heard [it], he marveled, (thaumazo = was amazed) 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.  [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."

As we begin this four day revival, each of these messages will revolve around the theme of being "Fully Reliant On Grace". Each one of us as humans have begun, in this evil age, with looking at all things - even our relationship with God - from an odd sort of perspective. Some of you in this audience know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior - but may not have accepted Him as Lord. Others of you may not know Jesus as Savior and have come to this revival seeking. Rest assured, if you pay attention to the messages and seek to apply them to your lives, you will leave this revival rejuvenated - and you will know that Christ is all that He says He is. I know this for a fact. Not because I am a great Preacher, but because I have cast this revival at the feet of our Lord, and am trusting Him to work out that which He desires in each one of us.

As I said before, we tend to have an odd sort of perspective today when we look at God. Perhaps this is because of television's influence, or that movies, or radio. I don't know, but I do know this: God has not changed. The same God who preceded the Israelites with a Pillar of Fire and a Pillar of Cloud is the same God Who dwells in our midst today. The same God that protected Paul from the venomous snake bite is every bit as much our God, and the same God that led 3000 to join the Church under Peter's preaching is the same God, the same Jesus, the same Holy Spirit that is in the room with us today. The Bible says:

James 1:17  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

So God has not changed. "Yet", you may be thinking, "I do not feel the power of God, I do not experience the same power of God that the early Church did". Well, dear friend, if this is the case, and God does not change - then perhaps the problem is, we need to change. In most of our Churches, most of our lives we base our relationship with God on availability of product. We look at our lives and say, "Lord, if you want me to do this or that, then provide the resources first then I will believe". We are, like faithless Gideon, placing a fleece before God before we act. Yet if you look in the Scripture you will find no justification for this behavior. God expects us to move out on faith, to step out in trust whether resources are available or not then, based on that faith, God will provide our needs. We are called to step out, to act, to act and believe - and when we do this, Jesus promises that this little bit of faith, this mustard seed faith will move mountains.

The same is true of salvation, dear friends. We do not come to Jesus Christ and say, "Lord, I'm going to clean up my life first, then I'll come back and you can save me". No, no. If you did that, then dear friend, you're not saved. No, you come to Jesus and say, "Lord, I don't know how you're going to do it - but my life is a mess. Please clean it up, please make me whole. I call on you for salvation, in the name of Jesus!" This, friend, is that which brings salvation, that brings anything from God. FULL reliance on His Grace.

Look at the Centurion in our passage tonight. He came to Jesus with no resources on hand, did three things that each one of us need to learn if we are to experience the power of God in our lives:
 

1. Request The Power of God (verses 5-7) 2. Rest In The Power of God (verses 8-12) 3. Receive The Power of God (verse 13)

SLIDE ONE

Matthew 8. 5-7  "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, (On the west shore of Galilee) there came unto (proserchomai = came face to face with) him a centurion, (ruler of a hundred men)beseeching (parakaleo, Pres Act Participle = kept on calling alongside, kept on telling him) him,  [6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, (paralutikos = paralyzed) grievously tormented.  [7] And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

Our Lord Jesus had just entered into Capernaum as He journeyed home to Galilee. Israel, as you know, was under Roman captivity during this time in history - though the Romans generally stayed out of the business of the Jews as long as they remained peaceful. The problem was, the Jews were a hard headed lot. There was an underground resistance movement that often sabotaged the Roman government, and for that reason a Roman garrison was established in Capernaum to keep the peace.

Jesus had just finished His great "Sermon on the Mount", and had been seen around the area healing people in the power of God. A powerful man, a Roman centurion, stationed at the garrison of Capernaum heard that Jesus was passing near his fort. When he heard this, the Centurion did something that literally floored everyone in the area - he went to see Jesus.

a. Request, Not Being Filled With Pride

This was astonishing on several levels. First of all, in Rome you were either a citizen of the empire or you were trash. The Jews were generally regarded by the Romans as inferior captive people, good only for taxation and slavery. For a Roman, even a common Roman, to spend any time with a Jew was considered socially unacceptable. Second, a Centurion was a high ranking officer in charge of a hundred well trained men. No man reached the rank of centurion without being born of noble family, without having those all important "connections". A Centurion going to meet Jesus? How totally unheard of!

Jesus was a Jew from Galilee, yet this high ranking Roman citizen went to meet Him. I want you to notice the significance of this text:

Matthew 8. 5  "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, (On the west shore of Galilee) there came unto (proserchomai = came face to face with) him a centurion, (ruler of a hundred men)beseeching (parakaleo, Pres Act Participle = kept on calling alongside, kept on telling him) him ..

By Societies standards Jesus was someone beneath recognition, beneath the Centurion, yet the Bible says that the man "came face to face with" Jesus. This was not an act of arrogance, but an act that showed the Centurion had put aside all of that built in sense of pride that his station and office instilled. Listen, you can't come to God in pride and demand anything! You can't expect to receive blessing from God if you approach Him from a position of pride. No, God will have nothing of our pride - and why should He?

My Bible tells me that Jesus Christ is the Creator of Heaven and Earth:

Colossians 1:16-17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17]  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Not only that, Jesus in His deity holds everything together. He holds the stars in the sky, the earth on its orbit, the billions of Galaxies from crashing into one another. Who are we to be prideful? Who are we to boast before Him? No, if you want anything from Jesus you have to put away the pride. You have to give Him reverence.

b. Request, Fully Knowing He Is Lord

Matthew 8. 5-6  "... a centurion, (ruler of a hundred men)beseeching (parakaleo, Pres Act Participle = kept on calling alongside, kept on telling him) him,  [6] And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick .."

Second, I want you to notice that this Centurion recognized the Lordship of Jesus Christ when he made his request. This is so very important. So many times we come to Jesus and just demand our way - and when our "request" is ignored, we become disillusioned. Can I tell you this? It pleases the Godhead when you recognize Jesus as Lord in the request. Look, it may be outside of God's will for you to receive a "yes" answer. A "yes" may not suit Jesus Christ or His Church. When we come to God with a request, that request must be fully reliant on God's Grace, fully thrown at the feet of Jesus. It is up to Him to decided whether He will grant the request or not - not up to us.

That may be hard if you have cancer, some disease, or impending death in your family and you want Jesus to arrest it. Yet I tell you - unless you are reliant on the Lordship of Jesus, then you might as well not even ask for the blessing!

SLIDE TWO

Matthew 8. 8-10  "The centurion answered and said, (themi, Aorist Active = to speak clearly, distinctly, without hesitation) Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, (lit = "give the command") and my servant shall be healed.  [9] For I am a man under authority, having (echo, Present Act Part = constantly having and holding) 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].  [10] When Jesus heard [it], he marveled, (thaumazo = was amazed) and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel ..."

Once the Centurion approached Jesus in the right way - with humility, recognizing His Lordship in the answer to the prayer - the Centurion rested in the power of God. He didn't do as we so often do - ask God to fix the problem, then draw it back to our breasts. No, this man had:

a. A Fully Settled Mind

Notice that the man wasn't hesitant in his speech. The Bible says that he "themi", or clearly said his mind. The man came to Jesus with a settled mind! How many times have we prayed this prayer:

"Lord, I know you won't give it to me, but would you ____"

or prayed,

"Lord, please give me the funds needed for _____"

while all the time thinking "Hmmm, I wonder how I can get these funds? You reckon another job? How can I do it without God in the equation?" You know, the Scripture says:

James 1:5-8  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6]  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.  [7]  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  [8]  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

The clear speaking of the Centurion showed that he had made up his mind. He was going into the courtroom of Jesus and throwing himself on the mercy of the court!

b. A Full Physical Dependence on Jesus

Matthew 8. 8, 10  "... Lord, ...  speak the word only, (lit = "give the command") and my servant shall be healed.  [10] When Jesus heard [it], he marveled, (thaumazo = was amazed) and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel ..."

The Centurion had also decided that he was willing to completely trust Jesus in the physical realm as well. Jesus, when the Centurion approached Him, willingly said that He would interrupt His trip to Galilee and go to his house. But the man said, "This is absolutely unnecessary, Jesus! Just "give the command" and I know it'll be done". This response literally amazed the Creator of all life, and I am certain overjoyed Him as well.

As Jesus went through His missionary journeys He had to confront malicious Scribes and Pharisees, trying their best to discredit His ministry. Jesus had to put up with hardheaded disciples who, when out of His sight, were as faithless as the rest of the world. He had to content with upset city officials, yellow journalism, and even Satan trying to cause Him to fall. In the midst of all this faithlessness one man stepped up - and Jesus was surprised by joy!

Jesus wants this type of faith in His people. This is the type of faith that draws men to salvation, the type of faith that brings revival. The faith that, unlike the faith of Doubting Thomas, doesn't require touching the bloody nail prints or the hole in His side. The faith that says "I believe" when Science and reason say it is impossible. The faith that believes Jesus Christ because He is Jesus Christ.

SLIDE THREE

Matthew 8. 11-13  " .. 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.  [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."

Now we come to the time of receiving. You can request the power of God, rest on the power of God, but if you won't receive the power of God then you've wasted your time during this Sermon. When Jesus came to earth in His first Advent, He came to start a revival of faith among His Chosen People Israel. Yet Israel rejected Christ, crucified Christ - and because of this rejection many who had a birthright to Heaven will instead lift up their eyes in hell. Many will be like Esau, who sold his birthright for a pot of stew.

Jesus Christ expects better of you. Jesus Christ expects better for you.

The Centurion left Jesus believing, and his servant was healed. This defied common sense. Scientifically and medically this was impossible. But when the world says that things look impossible, with God all things are possible. What we cannot do by ourselves, we can do through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Tonight if your Christian walk has become mediocre, if you feel like there's no power in your life - if you feel out of sorts, then do as the Centurion did. Put your pride to the side, open up your heart, and tell Jesus what you need. Repent for failing to make Him Lord of your life, and bow your knees and your heart to Him tonight. As the song goes:

Tonight if you're unsaved, follow these steps:

1. Recognize that we are sinners, lost and undone. Our way is insufficient for living, much less for salvation. Come to Jesus with a broken heart:

2. Repent from following after Pharaoh, from following the Magicians:

3. Realize that you can only be saved if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord:

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)