1 00:00:06,430 --> 00:00:10,040 Father, we thank You for the assurance that we can have in 2 00:00:10,050 --> 00:00:12,140 knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. 3 00:00:13,170 --> 00:00:18,000 Thank you that when we know Him, we can experience this peace 4 00:00:18,010 --> 00:00:22,390 that passes all understanding. We can say from our hearts, it 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,190 is well with my soul. We pray that this will be our 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:32,650 testimony today, each one here, that we will find the peace that 7 00:00:32,659 --> 00:00:37,060 the world cannot give. As we face choices in this 8 00:00:37,070 --> 00:00:41,630 world, we pray that we will find the true treasure that is found 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,820 in knowing the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord, we thank you 10 00:00:45,830 --> 00:00:48,340 for the offering that we have taken this week. 11 00:00:48,410 --> 00:00:52,920 We think of the gifts given to the Lord's work online and 12 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:56,130 through other means, and we pray that you will bless this 13 00:00:56,140 --> 00:00:58,360 offering for Your glory for your Kingdom. 14 00:00:59,750 --> 00:01:01,900 Father, we thank you for your precious word. 15 00:01:01,950 --> 00:01:04,959 We thank you for the Sunday School, and today we pray for 16 00:01:05,050 --> 00:01:08,740 the teachers and the children as they share your word together. 17 00:01:08,750 --> 00:01:10,710 We pray for your blessing and your help. 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,380 Thank you for Gavin as he comes to speak to us. 19 00:01:14,390 --> 00:01:18,760 We thank you for your Word, which is precious and living and 20 00:01:18,770 --> 00:01:21,260 powerful. We pray that we will have 21 00:01:21,390 --> 00:01:25,080 listening and obedient hearts. We pray your blessing on this 22 00:01:25,090 --> 00:01:27,310 time together. In the name of the Lord Jesus, 23 00:01:27,370 --> 00:01:31,210 Amen. Morning church. 24 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,570 So today church, we will start and continue our study and the 25 00:01:35,580 --> 00:01:38,870 book of Luke. And today we'll be looking at 26 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:45,230 Luke Chapter 7 versus 1 to 10, so Chapter 7, verses 1 to 10 as 27 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,490 we continue our study that we've been going through and the book 28 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:52,310 of Luke this morning, this week. In these months, have you ever 29 00:01:52,320 --> 00:02:00,540 had one of those moments where you just go, wow, something so 30 00:02:00,550 --> 00:02:06,300 special or extraordinary or incredible happened and you were 31 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:12,160 just blown away? A few years ago, Lisa, my wife, 32 00:02:12,210 --> 00:02:16,680 and I went down to Wellington to celebrate her birthday and we 33 00:02:16,690 --> 00:02:21,340 went out for dinner that night. Now this wasn't the normal first 34 00:02:21,350 --> 00:02:25,680 table at 5:30 at Iguana Restaurant, if you know what I 35 00:02:25,690 --> 00:02:29,380 mean. This was a real special treat. 36 00:02:29,670 --> 00:02:33,720 The restaurant was in this little rustic railway cottage 37 00:02:33,770 --> 00:02:40,120 and had about 10 tables mixed. I had booked a degustation meal. 38 00:02:40,180 --> 00:02:42,640 I actually knew what Digger station was because I had 39 00:02:42,650 --> 00:02:47,430 watched MasterChef previously. Must this Dig a Station meal had 40 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:52,170 about 6-7 courses and it was meant to be something special 41 00:02:52,220 --> 00:02:54,210 that we wouldn't normally experience. 42 00:02:54,820 --> 00:02:57,990 There was lovely music playing softly in the background and at 43 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,770 each course the chef would personally come in to our table 44 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,410 and explain to us what it was and what we're about to eat. 45 00:03:06,860 --> 00:03:11,290 And honestly, this food was amazing. 46 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:17,190 It was tastes and textures that we had never experienced before 47 00:03:17,260 --> 00:03:20,650 and never have since. Each course was totally 48 00:03:20,660 --> 00:03:23,390 different and incredible in its own way. 49 00:03:23,700 --> 00:03:29,570 The whole meal and ambience just blew our mind and we left there 50 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:34,410 extraordinarily impressed and at how good this food was and the 51 00:03:34,420 --> 00:03:38,450 experience was and we marvelled at what the chef had been able 52 00:03:38,460 --> 00:03:42,790 to do that day. But in today's passage, we are 53 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,670 going to read about something that made Jesus marvel. 54 00:03:47,690 --> 00:03:54,060 So today's message is entitled Faith and Action and we will 55 00:03:54,070 --> 00:03:56,460 look at it at these verses in two parts. 56 00:03:56,830 --> 00:04:01,460 Our first part is Jesus hears of the centurions character and 57 00:04:01,470 --> 00:04:07,640 verses 1 to 5 and Jesus marvels at the centurion's faith in 58 00:04:07,650 --> 00:04:11,320 verses 6 to 10. And the key point we want to 59 00:04:11,330 --> 00:04:15,220 come away with today. Our lives should reflect our 60 00:04:15,230 --> 00:04:18,839 faith in God and point people to Jesus. 61 00:04:19,329 --> 00:04:23,660 Our lives should reflect our faith in God and point people to 62 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:27,580 Jesus. The tune of me and Luke 7 One to 63 00:04:27,590 --> 00:04:30,760 10 and we will read these verses. 64 00:04:31,650 --> 00:04:35,820 And it says here, after he had finished all his sayings and the 65 00:04:35,830 --> 00:04:39,080 hearing of the people, he entered Capernium. 66 00:04:39,870 --> 00:04:44,500 Now it's centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of 67 00:04:44,510 --> 00:04:47,670 death who was highly valued by him. 68 00:04:48,510 --> 00:04:52,780 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of 69 00:04:52,790 --> 00:04:57,270 the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 70 00:04:58,110 --> 00:05:01,580 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, 71 00:05:01,850 --> 00:05:07,660 saying, He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves 72 00:05:07,670 --> 00:05:12,130 our nation, and he is the one who bought us our synagogue. 73 00:05:12,970 --> 00:05:16,210 And Jesus went with them, when he was not far from the house, 74 00:05:16,220 --> 00:05:21,040 at the centurion, sent friends, saying to him, Lord, do not 75 00:05:21,050 --> 00:05:25,260 trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my 76 00:05:25,270 --> 00:05:28,740 roof. Therefore I did not presume to 77 00:05:28,750 --> 00:05:34,470 come to you, but say the word, and let my servant be healed, 78 00:05:35,570 --> 00:05:40,320 for I too am a man. Sit under authority was soldiers 79 00:05:40,330 --> 00:05:44,910 under me. And I say to 1 go and he goes. 80 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:50,710 I say to another, Come, and he comes, and to my servant do 81 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,420 this, and he does it. When Jesus heard these things, 82 00:05:55,690 --> 00:06:00,300 he marvelled at him and turned to the crowd that followed him, 83 00:06:00,490 --> 00:06:05,010 feared. I tell you, not even in Israel 84 00:06:05,270 --> 00:06:09,400 have I found such faith. And when those who had been sent 85 00:06:09,410 --> 00:06:12,740 returned to the house, they found the servant. 86 00:06:12,790 --> 00:06:19,470 Well, so let's look at our First Division, Jesus. 87 00:06:19,580 --> 00:06:23,980 He is of the centurion's character, verses 1 to 5. 88 00:06:24,810 --> 00:06:28,880 So we see in verse one that Jesus has finished his sermon on 89 00:06:28,890 --> 00:06:32,680 the plane that we have been learning about over the last few 90 00:06:32,690 --> 00:06:37,320 weeks from Dan and Billy, and he goes and enters capernium. 91 00:06:37,810 --> 00:06:42,810 Jesus knew Capernium well. Matthew 413 tells us that after 92 00:06:42,820 --> 00:06:46,900 leaving New Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum. 93 00:06:47,890 --> 00:06:53,120 Companion was a lively fishing village and on the NW shores of 94 00:06:53,130 --> 00:06:56,220 Lake Galilee and on a major trading route. 95 00:06:56,730 --> 00:07:00,120 The population would have been around 1000 to 1500. 96 00:07:00,390 --> 00:07:05,700 And it was also the home of Peter and Andrew and James and 97 00:07:05,710 --> 00:07:11,300 John, and also Matthew. And in Matthew 91, Jesus refers 98 00:07:11,310 --> 00:07:16,600 to it as his city. It was his go to place to come 99 00:07:16,610 --> 00:07:22,780 back to a place where he felt at home and he performed many 100 00:07:22,790 --> 00:07:27,400 miracles there, including healing Peter's mother and 101 00:07:27,410 --> 00:07:31,640 healing the paralysed man who was lowered through the roof and 102 00:07:31,650 --> 00:07:35,060 raising Cyrus's daughter from the dead. 103 00:07:35,950 --> 00:07:40,500 But he also pronounced a judgement on Capernium and 104 00:07:40,510 --> 00:07:46,740 Matthew 11 for for its lack of faith, even though it saw all 105 00:07:46,820 --> 00:07:49,210 the miracles that he had performed there. 106 00:07:50,510 --> 00:07:54,440 Some verses 2 to 5 we are introduced to the Roman 107 00:07:54,450 --> 00:07:59,680 centurion and we get a picture of the character of this man. 108 00:08:00,740 --> 00:08:05,670 Now I senturion and the Roman army was in charge of 100 men. 109 00:08:06,020 --> 00:08:09,650 Now, they held a lot of respect and authority and were very 110 00:08:09,660 --> 00:08:15,060 wealthy, usually earning 30 to 60 times more than the normal 111 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,440 foot soldier. And unlike many other jobs in 112 00:08:18,450 --> 00:08:23,410 the Roman Empire, you couldn't buy your way into the position 113 00:08:23,420 --> 00:08:26,630 of a centurion. It was a role that you had to 114 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:31,450 earn and the Romans occupied and ruled over the land and at this 115 00:08:31,460 --> 00:08:35,110 time and for many Jews they were seen as the enemy. 116 00:08:35,539 --> 00:08:40,309 But here we see a Roman centurion who was different to 117 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:47,030 most. Firstly the centurion kid about 118 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,010 others. Verse 2 His servant was very 119 00:08:51,020 --> 00:08:55,410 dear to him and he didn't want to see that servant die. 120 00:08:55,540 --> 00:08:59,270 And this time a servant was the lowest in the health told. 121 00:08:59,620 --> 00:09:04,270 But to this wealthy centurion this servant was special to him. 122 00:09:04,420 --> 00:09:10,530 He saw the servant for who he or she was, a real person, and he 123 00:09:10,540 --> 00:09:14,090 showed real care and compassion towards them. 124 00:09:15,030 --> 00:09:19,120 This was all contrary to the reputation that most Roman 125 00:09:19,130 --> 00:09:27,330 soldiers had in Israel. Secondly, he was respected by 126 00:09:27,340 --> 00:09:30,760 the people. This was not a normal state of 127 00:09:30,770 --> 00:09:33,800 affairs in Israel. As mentioned, most juries saw 128 00:09:33,810 --> 00:09:37,260 the Romans as the enemy who had taken over their homeland. 129 00:09:37,270 --> 00:09:41,140 But here we see the Jewish elders coming on behalf of the 130 00:09:41,150 --> 00:09:45,830 centurion to ask Jesus to come and heal the servant. 131 00:09:46,890 --> 00:09:51,260 This isn't just every in everyday run-of-the-mill Jewish 132 00:09:51,270 --> 00:09:55,080 person coming. This was a number of elders of 133 00:09:55,090 --> 00:09:58,510 the Jews coming with the centurion's request. 134 00:10:00,060 --> 00:10:03,830 These were respected men of authority in their own right. 135 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,710 They would have had the authority to request somebody 136 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,070 else come and bring the message, but they came themselves, 137 00:10:12,420 --> 00:10:16,930 possibly because they felt it would be more successful outcome 138 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,140 if they went. And when they came to Jesus, 139 00:10:20,150 --> 00:10:24,780 they didn't just ask Jesus if he would come and heal the servant. 140 00:10:25,490 --> 00:10:30,190 This is 3 and 4 tell us they pleaded with him earnestly. 141 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:36,240 The New King James Version says they pleaded and begged him 142 00:10:36,250 --> 00:10:40,470 earnestly. For these Jewish elders to plead 143 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,270 and big before Jesus shows a willingness to humble themselves 144 00:10:45,540 --> 00:10:50,870 on behalf of the centurion before Jesus and lay themselves 145 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:55,490 at his mercy. The interesting thing is that 146 00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:58,980 these men of authority weren't doing this for their own benefit 147 00:10:58,990 --> 00:11:01,760 or gain. They were willing to plead and 148 00:11:01,770 --> 00:11:06,220 big because they had so much respect for the centurion. 149 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,890 Who would you be willing to plead and beg earnestly for and 150 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:16,210 completely humble yourself for when there was number, benefit 151 00:11:16,260 --> 00:11:21,200 or gain for you? I would have no hesitation to do 152 00:11:21,210 --> 00:11:24,400 this for Lisa, my wife, without a doubt. 153 00:11:24,950 --> 00:11:27,990 And I would do it for my children, absolutely. 154 00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:33,020 But if we were really honest with ourselves, who would we be 155 00:11:33,030 --> 00:11:37,500 willing to plead and beg for, apart from those that we really 156 00:11:37,510 --> 00:11:40,860 love? But here we see these elders of 157 00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:45,500 the Jews, these men of authority, come to Jesus and 158 00:11:45,510 --> 00:11:50,880 plead and beg earnestly on behalf of a Roman centurion. 159 00:11:51,450 --> 00:11:55,140 Why? Because they had the utmost 160 00:11:55,150 --> 00:12:01,740 respect for him. Thirdly, he was loving and 161 00:12:01,750 --> 00:12:05,160 generous. First five tells us why the 162 00:12:05,170 --> 00:12:07,860 centurion was so respected by the Jews. 163 00:12:08,230 --> 00:12:13,520 It says he loves our nation and he is the one who built us our 164 00:12:13,530 --> 00:12:16,100 synagogue. There are two separate 165 00:12:16,110 --> 00:12:19,260 statements here. It says the centurion loves the 166 00:12:19,270 --> 00:12:24,260 nation of Israel, which is one statement and he is the one who 167 00:12:24,270 --> 00:12:28,100 built the synagogue. The second statement, the ref 168 00:12:28,110 --> 00:12:31,310 doesn't say that he loves our nation because he is the one who 169 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,290 built the synagogue. The centurion's love for Israel 170 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:39,090 wasn't reliant on him having to build a synagogue. 171 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:44,440 He loved the nation before he built the synagogue, and he 172 00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:47,680 showed that love by building for them. 173 00:12:47,890 --> 00:12:52,780 He backed up his feelings with actions and was saying that his 174 00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:57,930 love of Israel wasn't reliant on Israel loving him back. 175 00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:04,580 Similarly, God has loved us first, and He showed that love 176 00:13:04,590 --> 00:13:09,040 by sending Jesus Christ to redeem us through his saving 177 00:13:09,050 --> 00:13:11,980 work on the cross. This is love. 178 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:17,910 Not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as 179 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,480 an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 180 00:13:21,340 --> 00:13:24,170 This is the beautiful picture of the Gospel. 181 00:13:26,190 --> 00:13:30,640 There's an interesting point. Capernaum still exists today as 182 00:13:30,650 --> 00:13:33,190 a partially preserved archaeological site. 183 00:13:33,630 --> 00:13:36,540 While it is no longer functioning as a residential 184 00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:41,300 village, it is a major tourist destination. 185 00:13:41,490 --> 00:13:46,240 One of the main attractions here is a well preserved 4th century 186 00:13:46,310 --> 00:13:49,430 synagogue. During the excavations of the 187 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:53,560 Sports Century Synagogue, they found it had been built directly 188 00:13:53,570 --> 00:13:57,580 on top of a 1st century synagogue, which would have been 189 00:13:57,590 --> 00:14:01,320 the synagogue that Jesus taught in, and most likely was the 190 00:14:01,330 --> 00:14:05,100 synagogue the centurion built either personally or with his 191 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:08,310 own funds. But that's, I think that's 192 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,690 pretty cool. I think that's pretty neat that 193 00:14:10,700 --> 00:14:14,150 we can actually go and see with our own eyes part of the 194 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,500 synagogue that has actually been mentioned in these verses. 195 00:14:18,410 --> 00:14:22,270 These words of the Bible that we read here can be backed up by 196 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:26,730 excavations that we can still see today with our own eyes. 197 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:32,310 One thing we do need to note is we look at this character of the 198 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:38,310 Centurion is a good character won't save you caring for 199 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:43,290 others, being respected by others, or being loving and 200 00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:46,000 generous. It won't save you. 201 00:14:47,100 --> 00:14:51,610 We aren't saved because of our good character. 202 00:14:52,020 --> 00:14:55,680 Our good character should show that we are saved. 203 00:14:57,510 --> 00:14:59,980 Ow. In these first 5 verses we see a 204 00:14:59,990 --> 00:15:04,880 man who cared for others, was well respected, and showed love 205 00:15:04,890 --> 00:15:09,140 and generosity. He lit his character reflect his 206 00:15:09,150 --> 00:15:13,680 faith in God. He lived in a way that made him 207 00:15:13,730 --> 00:15:18,940 different to his peers. He was a godly man who showed 208 00:15:18,950 --> 00:15:23,350 his faith and God through his actions and his character. 209 00:15:24,450 --> 00:15:30,420 The challenge for us as we read these verses is how is your life 210 00:15:30,470 --> 00:15:33,620 reflecting the Saviour you serve? 211 00:15:35,420 --> 00:15:39,410 When we are in the workplace or the lecture hall or the 212 00:15:39,420 --> 00:15:44,810 retirement village library, do people see a man or woman of 213 00:15:44,820 --> 00:15:47,980 integrity and character when they meet us? 214 00:15:49,110 --> 00:15:54,220 Do we have a reputation of someone who loves God or is our 215 00:15:54,230 --> 00:16:01,140 character something else? About 5 or 6 years ago, I got an 216 00:16:01,150 --> 00:16:04,260 e-mail completely out of the blue from a former work 217 00:16:04,270 --> 00:16:08,700 colleague who was in the same office as me when I was about 19 218 00:16:08,710 --> 00:16:12,050 or 20 years old. He worked in a different area to 219 00:16:12,060 --> 00:16:16,170 me, but we were on the same open plan office, so we weren't 220 00:16:16,180 --> 00:16:21,960 close, but we knew each other. He said that at that time he had 221 00:16:21,970 --> 00:16:26,350 been an occult and when he found out I was a Christian, he 222 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:31,990 started watching me really closely to see how I reacted to 223 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:37,100 things, to see what I said, see how I treated people. 224 00:16:37,570 --> 00:16:42,320 He wanted to see if my character and actions backed up my faith 225 00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:46,730 in Christ. At that time I had no idea he 226 00:16:46,740 --> 00:16:49,970 was doing this. Then went on to say that he had 227 00:16:49,980 --> 00:16:53,470 gotten out of the cult and he had accepted Jesus Christ as his 228 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,990 own personal Lord and Saviour and was happily following. 229 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,760 The Lord just wanted me to know that the way I lived my life 230 00:17:01,770 --> 00:17:05,530 back then had an impact on Him and made Him think that there 231 00:17:05,540 --> 00:17:09,980 was something more about Christianity that He needed to 232 00:17:09,990 --> 00:17:15,440 check out now. I wish I got emails like this 233 00:17:15,569 --> 00:17:20,839 all the time, but I definitely don't because I know that my 234 00:17:20,849 --> 00:17:25,440 life doesn't always reflect the amazing God that we serve. 235 00:17:25,589 --> 00:17:28,560 You can just have a chat with my wife and children to confirm 236 00:17:28,569 --> 00:17:32,510 that. As I have read these verses and 237 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:38,600 Luke, I know I fall short of this so often, but it's my 238 00:17:38,610 --> 00:17:43,560 prayer for each of us that we will strive to be a light for 239 00:17:43,570 --> 00:17:48,380 Christ and show a character that points people to Jesus. 240 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,870 This isn't something that we can do on our own strengths, but it 241 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,160 is something we can desire to do with the help and guidance of 242 00:17:57,170 --> 00:18:02,950 the Holy Spirit. It is also something we can pray 243 00:18:03,140 --> 00:18:07,570 for each other, that we will walk, and a manner worthy of the 244 00:18:07,580 --> 00:18:11,000 Lord. Paul wrote this beautiful prayer 245 00:18:11,210 --> 00:18:14,560 to the church and Colossae, which we can read in Colossians 246 00:18:14,570 --> 00:18:20,250 19 to 10, and it says this. And so from the day we heard, we 247 00:18:20,260 --> 00:18:25,230 have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled 248 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,930 with the knowledge of His will, and all spiritual wisdom and 249 00:18:29,940 --> 00:18:36,170 understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 250 00:18:37,390 --> 00:18:42,400 fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit and every good work, and 251 00:18:42,410 --> 00:18:44,780 increasing in the knowledge of God. 252 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,630 May that be our prayer for each other and for ourselves, that we 253 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:55,830 may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, 254 00:18:55,940 --> 00:19:00,410 and bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in our 255 00:19:00,420 --> 00:19:04,270 knowledge of God. What a wonderful blessing it is 256 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:08,060 to be able to be prayed by bike like that by other people. 257 00:19:09,390 --> 00:19:14,980 So let's look at the remaining 6 to 1016 verses where we will see 258 00:19:14,990 --> 00:19:19,950 that Jesus marvels at the centurion's faith. 259 00:19:20,850 --> 00:19:25,090 And this is 6 to 10. So the earnest pleading and 260 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:27,450 begging from the Jewish elders pays off. 261 00:19:27,540 --> 00:19:32,290 And Jesus went with them on the way to the centurion's house. 262 00:19:32,740 --> 00:19:36,670 And when he was not far from the centurion's home, the centurion 263 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,680 sent out another group, this time friends of his. 264 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,810 And the message they had for Jesus from the centurion was 265 00:19:46,380 --> 00:19:51,930 Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you 266 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:54,650 should enter my roof under my roof. 267 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:59,640 Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. 268 00:20:00,820 --> 00:20:04,610 The thing I find interesting here is the difference of how 269 00:20:04,620 --> 00:20:09,270 the people see this centurion and how he sees himself. 270 00:20:09,740 --> 00:20:15,430 In various 4 we see the elders of the Jews say he is worthy to 271 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,890 have you do this for him asking when asking Jesus to come and 272 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:24,230 heal the centurion's servant. They felt the centurion was 273 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:30,250 worthy of Jesus, visiting him and healing his servant because 274 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,530 he loved the nation and built them a synagogue. 275 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,280 Contrast this with the Centurion's view of himself. 276 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:45,060 He felt he was completely unworthy to have Jesus come into 277 00:20:45,070 --> 00:20:48,580 his house. He felt he wasn't even worthy to 278 00:20:48,590 --> 00:20:51,120 come to Jesus and meet him as he walk. 279 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,230 What different views of the same person? 280 00:20:55,950 --> 00:21:00,820 The elders of the Jews based their view of the centurion on 281 00:21:00,830 --> 00:21:05,540 who he was and by what he had done. 282 00:21:05,930 --> 00:21:12,620 It was all about the Centurion, but the centurion based his view 283 00:21:12,630 --> 00:21:19,100 of himself on who Jesus was and how unworthy he was in 284 00:21:19,110 --> 00:21:24,950 comparison to Jesus. The centurion had a right view 285 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,890 of himself and his own strength. The centurion was completely 286 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:32,630 unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus. 287 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:38,940 For him it was all about Jesus. Since we shouldn't measure 288 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:44,040 ourselves against others or by the good things we do, we should 289 00:21:44,050 --> 00:21:47,720 start to measure ourselves against who Jesus is and what 290 00:21:47,730 --> 00:21:51,740 the Bible says. And when we do that, we realise 291 00:21:51,750 --> 00:21:56,910 how fallen we are and how much we need Jesus in our lives. 292 00:21:58,110 --> 00:22:01,940 But praise God that through the redemptive work of Christ on the 293 00:22:01,950 --> 00:22:06,340 cross, we are made worthy to be able to stand before God. 294 00:22:06,830 --> 00:22:10,500 But it's not from anything that we can do or have done. 295 00:22:10,510 --> 00:22:15,750 It is all about Jesus. We receive Christ's 296 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:20,590 righteousness at the point of our salvation, when we accept 297 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,610 Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, and it is his 298 00:22:24,620 --> 00:22:29,570 righteousness that covers us. When God looks at us as 299 00:22:29,580 --> 00:22:34,450 believers in Jesus Christ, he doesn't see our sinfulness and 300 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:38,330 dirty nature. He sees the righteousness of 301 00:22:38,340 --> 00:22:45,150 Christ covering us, Flipping 39 says Be found in him not having 302 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:49,750 a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that 303 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,970 which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from 304 00:22:53,980 --> 00:23:00,800 God that depends on faith. The centurion then goes on to 305 00:23:00,810 --> 00:23:04,920 make a statement that confirms he is a man who faith is in 306 00:23:04,930 --> 00:23:08,000 Jesus Christ. And the second-half of verse 7 307 00:23:08,010 --> 00:23:13,130 he says, but say the word and let my servant be healed. 308 00:23:13,830 --> 00:23:18,030 And one statement he establishes that he knows who Jesus is and 309 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,060 that he has the power to change lives. 310 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,750 The centurion then goes on to explain and verse 8 that he 311 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,930 understands what it is like to have authority with soldiers 312 00:23:30,940 --> 00:23:35,150 under him who will do whatever he asks them to do. 313 00:23:36,050 --> 00:23:40,510 He isn't saying that he is the same as Jesus, but he 314 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:46,310 understands what authority looks like and he has complete faith 315 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:50,570 that Jesus can say just say the word and his servant will be 316 00:23:50,580 --> 00:23:53,550 healed. He knows that Jesus has complete 317 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,830 authority over all things and that the utterance of Jesus word 318 00:23:59,180 --> 00:24:03,010 it will happen. Then after this we see this 319 00:24:03,020 --> 00:24:05,820 wonderful passage in verses 9 and 10. 320 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:08,790 Fears. When Jesus heard these things, 321 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:14,850 he marvelled at him and turned to the crowd that followed him 322 00:24:14,910 --> 00:24:18,910 and feared. I tell you, not even in Israel 323 00:24:18,980 --> 00:24:23,690 have I found such faith. And when those who had been sent 324 00:24:23,700 --> 00:24:27,790 returned to the house, they found the servant. 325 00:24:27,860 --> 00:24:36,110 Well, what an incredible thing to see Jesus marvelling at the 326 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:41,190 faith of the centurion. It was a wow moment. 327 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,870 Jesus amazed at the faith of this Roman soldier, even to the 328 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:51,930 point that he sees that even in all of Israel he had not found 329 00:24:51,940 --> 00:24:56,680 such faith. So, you know, you want to know 330 00:24:56,690 --> 00:25:00,240 what makes God marvel? It is faith. 331 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,990 It means to be extraordinarily impressed, astonished or moved 332 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,680 by wonder. And the same word is recorded 333 00:25:11,690 --> 00:25:16,440 one other time in the Gospels. And again it is talking about 334 00:25:16,450 --> 00:25:20,150 faith. But the Mark sex for the sex. 335 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:24,290 Jesus marvels at the lack of faith. 336 00:25:25,510 --> 00:25:29,520 Nice verses, it said. Jesus said to them, a prophet is 337 00:25:29,530 --> 00:25:33,560 not without honour, except in his hometown and among his 338 00:25:33,570 --> 00:25:36,180 relatives and in his own household. 339 00:25:37,060 --> 00:25:40,870 He could do no mighty work there except he laid his hands on a 340 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:47,260 few sick people and healed them, and he marvelled because of 341 00:25:47,270 --> 00:25:52,570 their unbelief or their lack of faith, and he went about among 342 00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:58,080 the villagers teaching. The Jesus was in his hometown of 343 00:25:58,090 --> 00:26:02,280 Nazareth, where people were offended by him and failed to 344 00:26:02,290 --> 00:26:07,720 recognise his authority, largely due to their familiarity with 345 00:26:07,730 --> 00:26:13,060 his upbringing. We read here of Jesus marvelling 346 00:26:13,330 --> 00:26:17,820 at their lack of faith or their unbelief among the people of 347 00:26:17,830 --> 00:26:22,460 Nazareth. Contrast this with the centurion 348 00:26:22,580 --> 00:26:26,680 who totally understood Jesus's authority and power. 349 00:26:27,050 --> 00:26:30,780 He had more faith than anyone in Israel. 350 00:26:32,460 --> 00:26:35,840 So what is faith? It's a word we throw around a 351 00:26:35,850 --> 00:26:39,880 lot in Christian circles, but how do we define it? 352 00:26:41,770 --> 00:26:46,720 Faith is the total dependence on and trust in Jesus Christ for 353 00:26:46,730 --> 00:26:50,190 salvation and a right relationship with God. 354 00:26:50,930 --> 00:26:56,160 If it is faith that makes Jesus marvel, then it must be really 355 00:26:56,170 --> 00:27:00,310 important. If it is so important to Jesus, 356 00:27:00,780 --> 00:27:03,880 then it should be important to us now. 357 00:27:03,890 --> 00:27:08,700 The apostle Paul spoke a lot about faith first. 358 00:27:08,710 --> 00:27:11,820 Romans 18. First, I thank my God through 359 00:27:11,830 --> 00:27:17,020 Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed 360 00:27:17,090 --> 00:27:21,910 in all the world. Romans 321 to 22 But now the 361 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,350 righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, 362 00:27:26,430 --> 00:27:28,320 although the. Although the law and the 363 00:27:28,330 --> 00:27:32,060 prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through 364 00:27:32,070 --> 00:27:36,360 faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 365 00:27:36,470 --> 00:27:39,540 Romans 51. Therefore, since we have been 366 00:27:39,550 --> 00:27:45,020 justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 367 00:27:45,030 --> 00:27:49,090 Jesus Christ. Colossians 2/5 for those. 368 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:53,510 For though I am absent in body, yes, I am with you in spirit, 369 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,790 rejoicing to see your good order and firmness of your faith in 370 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:03,480 Christ. Galatians 311 Now it is evident 371 00:28:03,490 --> 00:28:08,000 that no one is justified before God by the law, for the 372 00:28:08,010 --> 00:28:14,120 righteous shall live by faith. Friends, when we are struggling 373 00:28:14,250 --> 00:28:18,900 with problems and issues and we feel like it is getting us down, 374 00:28:19,230 --> 00:28:24,340 we need to come back and remember who Jesus is and what 375 00:28:24,350 --> 00:28:28,100 He has done for you. We need to get back to being 376 00:28:28,110 --> 00:28:32,410 totally dependent on and trusting and Christ. 377 00:28:33,870 --> 00:28:39,310 We need to be built up in our faith, but what does it look 378 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,850 like to be built up in our faith? 379 00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:46,870 How do we do that? It sounds like great advice, but 380 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:51,930 how do we get there? We do it by being in the Word of 381 00:28:51,940 --> 00:28:56,440 God. Romans 10/17 says so. 382 00:28:56,450 --> 00:29:01,990 Then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 383 00:29:03,060 --> 00:29:10,320 If we want to strengthen our faith, then we have to be in the 384 00:29:10,330 --> 00:29:14,180 Word of God in a way that builds us up. 385 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:19,930 Don't just read it for reading sake, read it so that it changes 386 00:29:19,940 --> 00:29:23,030 you. The important thing is that we 387 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,890 don't need to be in the Bible all the same way. 388 00:29:27,180 --> 00:29:30,060 There are different ways to study the Bible. 389 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:34,870 Some people love to journal and write things down when they are 390 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,070 in the Word. Others like to read in the 391 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,090 morning. Others like to read at night. 392 00:29:41,420 --> 00:29:45,590 Some will listen to the audio Bible in the car on the way 393 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,580 home. The important thing is to find 394 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:54,070 the way that works for you where you can be built up in the faith 395 00:29:54,160 --> 00:30:00,250 in the Word of God. Find a way to be in the Word 396 00:30:00,260 --> 00:30:05,630 that works for you and how you best receive the Word and make 397 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:12,900 it a regular daily activity. So the question for each of us 398 00:30:13,050 --> 00:30:19,630 is how is your faith? Take some time this week to pray 399 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:25,530 and let the Holy Spirit remind you of who Jesus really is and 400 00:30:25,540 --> 00:30:31,560 what He has done for you and rekindle that first love that 401 00:30:31,570 --> 00:30:35,730 you had for Christ. Challenge yourself to be in the 402 00:30:35,740 --> 00:30:40,270 Word daily if you're not already, and find a way that 403 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:45,060 works for you to grow and your knowledge of God and His Word. 404 00:30:47,330 --> 00:30:51,980 So in these 10 verses, we see two parts of the Centurion's 405 00:30:51,990 --> 00:30:56,730 life. We see his character and we see 406 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:01,540 his faith. These aren't 2 diametrically 407 00:31:01,550 --> 00:31:06,330 opposed aspects of his life that never overlap. 408 00:31:07,230 --> 00:31:09,960 We see them interlinking in his life. 409 00:31:09,970 --> 00:31:15,060 In a way, they're both aspects. Show others that he loves God. 410 00:31:16,010 --> 00:31:20,460 You can have good character and live a good life. 411 00:31:20,510 --> 00:31:23,960 Loving and caring for others. Being respected. 412 00:31:23,970 --> 00:31:28,010 Going to church every Sunday and not have faith. 413 00:31:29,790 --> 00:31:33,680 Ultimately, people will think that you are a really good 414 00:31:33,690 --> 00:31:39,350 person and you will be loved by many, but it won't save you. 415 00:31:41,020 --> 00:31:46,130 We don't get to heaven by being a good person or coming to 416 00:31:46,140 --> 00:31:50,230 church every Sunday. There are many think that this 417 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:53,760 is the case. There's a saying I heard when I 418 00:31:53,770 --> 00:31:56,650 was a very young Christian, which I've shared before, but it 419 00:31:56,660 --> 00:32:01,030 really stuck with me. And it goes at Going to church 420 00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:04,150 doesn't make you a Christian, just like going to McDonald's 421 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:09,800 doesn't make you a hamburger. Jesus feared and John 14-6 that 422 00:32:09,810 --> 00:32:13,810 no one comes to the Father except through me. 423 00:32:14,570 --> 00:32:18,540 There is only one way to be saved and that is through the 424 00:32:18,550 --> 00:32:22,730 faith in Jesus Christ. Just doing good things and being 425 00:32:22,740 --> 00:32:27,410 a good person of good character is not enough. 426 00:32:28,050 --> 00:32:31,550 Jesus himself made that really clear to us. 427 00:32:32,730 --> 00:32:36,900 But when we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, 428 00:32:36,970 --> 00:32:42,040 and we have genuine saving faith in him, then our lives should 429 00:32:42,050 --> 00:32:46,980 reflect the Saviour we serve. We should be people of godly 430 00:32:46,990 --> 00:32:51,850 character and action, motivated by our faith in Christ. 431 00:32:53,010 --> 00:32:57,740 And as mentioned earlier, we aren't saved because of our good 432 00:32:57,750 --> 00:33:02,020 character. Our good character should show 433 00:33:02,210 --> 00:33:09,060 that we are saved, or as James says and James 2/26 For as the 434 00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:13,480 body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. 435 00:33:13,490 --> 00:33:18,570 Also. The way we live, our character, 436 00:33:18,850 --> 00:33:25,390 our words, our actions should be a light to those around us 437 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,840 because of our faith in Jesus Christ. 438 00:33:30,050 --> 00:33:35,400 Friends, may that be our prayer for ourselves and for each other 439 00:33:35,410 --> 00:33:40,090 this day. May our faith and Christ change 440 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:46,270 our character in such a way that people will want to know Jesus, 441 00:33:46,940 --> 00:33:50,030 and may that all be for the glory of God. 442 00:33:50,540 --> 00:33:55,330 Let's pray any Father, we come before you humbly. 443 00:33:55,340 --> 00:34:00,230 We thank you for your word. We thank you for the truth of 444 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,330 the saving faith we can have through Jesus Christ. 445 00:34:03,940 --> 00:34:07,250 Lord, we are nothing and in our in our own right, but through 446 00:34:07,260 --> 00:34:12,290 you, Lord, you make us worthy because of your righteousness, 447 00:34:12,580 --> 00:34:17,070 when your righteousness covers us until we give all praise and 448 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,250 thanks. Lord, we pray that our faith 449 00:34:19,260 --> 00:34:23,449 will shine out and the people that we are and that we will be 450 00:34:23,460 --> 00:34:27,750 men and women, young people of character, not because of 451 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:32,290 ourselves but because of our saving faith in Jesus Christ. 452 00:34:33,050 --> 00:34:37,020 A We be lights for you and the places that we have to you. 453 00:34:37,090 --> 00:34:41,060 They all want our own glory be given in Jesus name, Amen.