Tonight we will be studying Luke 7:1-10. Be thinking about faith - what it is, what YOURS is, etc. Last time we finished up the Sermon on the Plain - and we had some very good discussion about it. These verses are very important to us as Christians and we really barely scratched the surface of what they mean and how to apply them.

After the "Sermon on the Plain", Jesus enters Capernaum, the center of His operations. What was going on there? Well, for one thing, a centurion's beloved servant was about to die. A centurion, a Gentile (non-Jew), was a captain of 100 men, a 60th part of a Roman legion, a position of some authority. They were usually intelligent, capable men in positions of leadership.

Luke 7:3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Certainly clay, he must have been obedient and loyal as well. There was something else unusual about this centurion. Usually the Jews and Romans were at odds with each other, and soldiers were particularly hated because of the power they had over the Jews' daily life. But this centurion was on such good terms with the Jewish elders that he felt he could make a request of them to request Jesus help and they complied. Why did he not go to Jesus himself? After all, he was a leader in the Roman army. He could have just marched up and commanded Jesus to help him. Why did he ask the elders to go to Jesus for him, do ya think?

Z - perhaps not being a Jew, he didn't feel worthy - out of respect? and protocol?
Athie - No faith in the elders, His faith was in Jesus
Cowgirl4JC - He respected their authority?
iamclay - OT, he said he didn't consider himself worthy to come to Jesus.

We are told later that he didn't feel worthy. But isn't this amazing? Most Romans felt very superior to the Jews! He may have thought that it was more "politically correct" to go through proper channels. Perhaps he also hoped that the Jewish elders would have more influence with Jesus because they were of the same religion.

Notice that the Jewish elders based their petition on the man's worthiness. Although they must have believed that Jesus could heal, they did not understand that He healed because of grace, unmerited or unearned favor from God, and not because of someone's worthiness or deeds. Don't we do this sometimes also? Feel like that if we're good enough God will heal us, but if we aren't so good, maybe he won't?

Now although this man was a Gentile, he had shown love for the Jews and had built the very synagogue that Jesus Himself had taught in. This shows that he had a very real interest in Judaism, and may have left behind a lot of his pagan beliefs already. So far, according to what some might consider "proper" doctrine, two errors have been made:

1. The centurion thought he had to go through religious channels to receive from Jesus;
2. The Jewish elders thought that receiving from Jesus was based on works, or earning it.

Luke 7:6 So 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. "

And another important point to ponder is that Jesus was looking for faith, not right doctrine. If a man has faith, you can teach him doctrine. But no faith, you can't do a thing with him. The Pharisees had, or thought they had which is worse, RIGHT doctrine - but no faith!

So Jesus went with the elders, fully intending to go to this Gentile's house, which was not something a devout Jew was supposed to do.

abbey - such faith as that shown by the centurion is remarkable indeed

Ah, now some more of the centurion's character is manifested. It is revealed that he is a humble man, surely a rare thing for a commander of a unit of 100 men. How many army Captains do you know that are humble?

And we see that the reason he went through the Jewish elders is because he did not feel worthy for Jesus to come into his home. And even now, he does not feel worthy to approach Jesus, but sends friends to intercept Jesus along the way.

Not only did he feel unworthy for Jesus to come to his home, which was probably very nice by that day's standards, but he felt unworthy even to come to Jesus to request it. Imagine that! He didn't feel worthy to request help for a dying slave. So we see his humility - certainly a requirement to receive anything from God.

And then we begin to hear his faith talking: "But say the word, and my servant will be healed." SAY the word, Jesus, give the command, and it will be done. That's all you need to do, Jesus, SAY the word, and my servant will be healed. When you open your mouth, is your faith talking or your doubt? Your peace or your discord? Your joy or your pain? What will your friends report that you have said? Does it matter? Oh yes, the Bible says it matters very much what comes out of your mouth.

OlePappy - Praise Him who Saved us

Luke 7:8 For 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 message from the centurion continues with an illustration from his daily experience. He has authority over his soldiers and his slaves and they obey his orders. "Go" here is literally "travel". So he's saying, at his mere word, a soldier would have to take a long journey.

Likewise, he is demonstrating that Jesus has authority over disease, and only has to speak the word of command, and His will is done! These words expressed absolute faith in the power of Christ. "I have authority over 100 men who obey me to the letter when I speak. You have authority over demons and one word from you will be enough to heal my servant." What faith!

Well when Jesus heard this, he was AMAZED. Wow! Wouldn't you like to have faith that amazes Jesus? That all Heaven exclaims at? With all the right doctrine and religious fervor of Israel, they didn't have the faith of this Gentile, a Roman centurion, a pagan. We should give much attention today to anything that Jesus marveled or wondered at. We are told that Jesus marveled at two things only: the faith of this Gentile, and the unbelief of the Jews in His hometown, Nazareth.

The Greek here is thaumazo - to admire, to have in admiration, to wonder. Jesus admired and wondered at this Gentile's faith. Oh, to have kind of faith that Jesus admires! Lord teach us what this faith is, how to get it, how to keep it and how to use it! AMEN

The verb found in v. 9 indicates that Jesus was looking for just this kind of marvel, this kind of faith. In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks: "...When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" When He comes, will He find faith in you? Oh dear Lord, I want to be found with faith when you return in glory!!!

leen - The centurion said, "I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers" I think he recognized that Jesus was sent by the Father.

Good point leen! And didn't that take awesome spiritual discernment!

Jesus said "Go" and the illness went that very hour!

And of course, due to the centurion's faith, working with Jesus' power, the servant was healed, Matthew says, at that very hour. So how can we get that kind of faith, faith that would cause Jesus to marvel? I mean if a pagan soldier could have that kind of faith, why can't we?

Let's look at the centurion's character. Roman soldiers were hardened men, trained to instantly obey and kill without question. They were not known for gentle emotions, particularly to those under their authority and most particularly, the Jews. Yet this soldier cared immensely for his servant to the extent that he "lowered" himself to come to an itinerant Jewish rabbi for help.

Here we already see exhibited the unusual traits of love and humility for he beseeched or begged Jesus for help, and demonstrated a certain amount of faith to come to Jesus in the first place.

leen - Faith is not of ourselves it is the gift of God. And faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The Father of the demon possessed boy said, "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief."

True leen, so another way of asking is: Since this faith is a gift, how do we receive it? What were characteristics of this centurion that allowed this level of faith to be manifested in his life?

Athie - Why pray if you do not have faith?
Kinzie's Mom - Trust and Faith work hand in hand I think. If there is no trust there can't be faith
Cowgirl4JC - Yes that is why I read daily and saturate myself in his word...
ServantJC - Faith is knowing God can always come through for you no matter what the circumstances.
Cowgirl4JC - Amen ServantJC Trusting in him knowing He will come through for us...
Kinzie's Mom - I have found that by asking for little things and getting answers builds up to asking and trusting for bigger things.
OlePappy - If we had that level of faith we would not need these computers to be in THIS Bible Study
ServantJC - Doubt is something the enemy often tries to attack us with that's why we shouldn't base things on what we see and feel but what God promises us in his word that is why faith comes through hearing the word.

First of all the centurion exhibited humility - a willingness to step down from his position of authority and seek help for a slave. He did not trust in doctors, Roman gods or himself. He sent for elders of Jews to go to Jesus because he felt he was not worthy, although he was a "noble, Roman soldier". He was not proud or arrogant because of his position. And he also asked Jesus not to come to his house.

So his first character trait was humility, which God says in His Word is very valuable. It sets the stage to receive so to speak. After all if you can do it all yourself, or think you can (PRIDE), why would you come to God in the first place?

leen - God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Kinzie's Mom - My faith has grown by leaps but I also have to watch Pride. I have found myself praying for someone and thinking the prayer will get answered my way and just because it was me praying. (wasn't coming humbly.)

The centurion's second character trait was a heart that was seeking God. First of all he loved the Jewish nation - almost unheard of in a Roman soldier! Somehow he overcame the unbelievable enmity of his day between Jew and Gentile. He also went so far as to build a synagogue - unusual for a Gentile also. Apparently he had shown his love for the Jews in many ways, for they readily responded to his pleas for help.

OlePappy - Jesus said that if You had faith the size of a mustard seed you could move a mountain

Faith DOES come through hearing the Word if your heart is prepared to receive it. We're talking about how to prepare your heart to receive. There are multitudes who have heard the Word, but faith has not resulted. Why?

Cowgirl4JC - Revelation knowledge
Z - it's not just hearing...but as James says " be a doer of the Word" this centurion shows that he walks in love
Kinzie's Mom - OT...because they have HEARD the work but not put in action or not put it in their hearts
leen - Some seed fell along the path where the birds came and ate it up.

This centurion had HEARD of Jesus - evidently hearing with the ears of faith; and sent for the Jews to seek Jesus with his petition. How many have HEARD of Jesus and it did not change them?!

Centurions and their men were often posted when crowds gathered for crowd control, and it might have been that this centurion himself or some of his men had heard Jesus teach and witnessed miracles of healing. At any rate, he had heard about Jesus and had believed that Jesus could and would help his slave.

So far, we've seen that the centurion was humble and had a seeking heart. The third character trait that the centurion had was love for his servant. He had demonstrated love for God's people, and we can infer that he also demonstrated love for those under his command.

What a man that most have been to follow! Where did he learn such love? It had to be God working in his heart to bring him to Christ. We are told over and over in scripture how important love is. In fact in I Corinthians 13, we are told that if we don't have love, no matter what our "spiritual" accomplishments are, even if we die for Christ, we have nothing. Faith WORKS by love.

MzG - I wish i had even a small amount of that kind of love

So humility, a seeking heart, love... what else can we glean from this man about faith? The fourth character trait that the centurion had was wisdom - the ability to relate the natural to the spiritual. He had an understanding of authority and ability to relate it to Jesus authority over sickness.

How many of us glean wisdom from the every-day knowledge we possess? We do not have to acquire deep esoteric truths to be spiritual and to receive from God - we can relate faith to events in our every day lives. In fact, people that can do this with ease - relate faith to washing dishes, or cutting wood, or something every day - those people are tremendous witnesses for Jesus because they can relate to every day people the awesome love of God.

Along with the wisdom concerning spiritual authority, the centurion was able to relate his love for the servant to God's love for the people shown through Jesus. Wait a minute, a SOLDIER understanding God's love in Jesus? Amazing, like Jesus said. So humility, a seeking heart, love, and wisdom ... any thing else we should take note of?

The fifth character trait that this centurion had was unselfishness. He did not ask for any favors for himself - he petitioned Jesus on behalf of his slave. Most Romans would have been embarrassed to lower themselves to ask help of a Jew for anything, much less a slave. But the centurion's concern was not for his own needs, but relief for the terrible suffering of another human being who he valued highly.

Humility, a seeking heart, love, wisdom and unselfishness were the soil, if you will, out of which this amazing faith sprung, the kind of faith Jesus had been looking for in his home town of Nazareth and all of Israel.

Father, we ask that you produce this type of character in our own hearts in lives: humility, a seeking heart, love, wisdom and unselfishness. We too want to manifest faith that is amazing! AMEN

So then we see the faith that amazed Jesus. The centurion recognized Jesus' authority over illness. He realized that all Jesus had to do was speak the word, and His commands would be carried out.

He saw that in the spiritual world, as in the natural world, there is a "chain of command" - and that Jesus was the Head of that chain. And he believed that Jesus loved him enough to act. He had trust in Jesus power, and in Jesus' willingness to use that power for the Centurion's benefit.

leen - When he needed help he looked to the Lord. "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

So what were the centurion's characteristics that led to this amazing faith?

Mikey - Did he have faith because his military experience allowed him to comprehend God's chain of command? That if Jesus gave the command the forces in the heavens would obey?
Z - humility, a heart seeking God, love, wisdom, unselfishness
Kinzie's Mom - humility for one
Servant - humility
Servant - wisdom
OlePappy - love
Servant - seeking heart

ZISTA was listening! Yes! Mikey, he used wisdom to apply every day knowledge to spiritual truths.

Mikey - First of all he was humble before God and man.
Athie - Understanding authority.
leen - He recognized Jesus.

Yes Mikey the centurion understood authority, and applied that to Jesus' authority over illness. Secondly, he had a heart for seeking God. Third, he had a great love for all things, from the generally despised Jews to his own slave. Fourth, he had wisdom - was able to glean truths about God from his every day life. And fifth, the centurion was unselfish, caring more about meeting the needs of others than he did his own honor in the community. All these things caused faith to spring up within him, and he was granted the desire of his heart.

Mikey - Amazing for a gentile who was not raised in scripture isn't it?
ron50 - OT is this centurion the same one at the cross?

We aren't told that ron, but I suspect it is NOT, because I don't believe that this one would have done that, even at the risk of death. There were MANY centurions in Judea in that day.

So what is this thing we call faith? How would you define it?

Kinzie's Mom - Faith is trusting and depending on God to answer our prayers or requests.
Servant - believing small things
ron50 - totally believing in the performance of the word?
leen - He came to His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God.
Mikey - Heb 11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." does that help?

How did you come to that place KM? How did your faith start? Have you ever thought how you came from hearing about Jesus to trusting in Him totally for eternal salvation? Faith is one of those things we talk about allot, but what does the word really mean in a Biblical sense?

Kinzie's Mom - by asking for little things and seeing them answered, such as a good parking place at the mall. LOL then asking for bigger things like a healing or something like that. I know that I can trust him for anything now. I also have to remember to come humbly before him and praise him for the things he does for me.

So KM, you're saying that there was a progression - from trusting God in the little things, then bigger?

Kinzie's Mom - Yes, for me it was.. If I could trust him with a little thing that was not of super importance how much more would he Help me with when it was more important. He is an awsome God who loves us no matter what.

Faith in the Greek is pistis, and it means persuasion, credence, conviction, commitment, assurance, belief, fidelity, specifically of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation, and by extension, determination to follow this profession.

ron50 - absolute knowing that God is not lying to us in his promises and what he has inspired by others to lead us into eternity

Ron - that's good - "knowing that God is NOT lying". Cuz the devil wants us to think that God IS lying! So we have to tell the devil to shut up, basically, to have faith. Faith is being SO persuaded that the things of God are true that you that you not only know it in your head, but live by that truth everyday.

Mikey - Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
OlePappy - Faith is the power to KNOW something can and will be done even though we cannot see, touch, smell, taste or hear it
leen - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Kinzie's Mom - It's one of those head/heart things...a lot of times we know it with our head and need to get it down to our hearts.

You can find plenty of people that basically agree with what the Bible says - but are they committed to it? Do they obey the Word? Do they live it everyday? The demons believe in God, but it doesn't bring them salvation by any means! Our faith must be more than just mental agreement.

Faith includes a willingness to submit to God's Word and change! Biblical faith is also contrasted with an unproven opinion or untested assumption. Everybody has an opinion about the Bible, if you don't believe me, just ask them! LOL But opinions don't save you either.

Sunshine - Anything is possible in you have faith in God above....

Criswell says "… this does NOT imply that faith is a blind leap in the dark. Rather, faith is a confident commitment to One about whom abundant evidence bears ample testimony. Faith is a leap-a leap forward into light and comprehension."

Faith is a leap into the LIGHT! I think that is a GREAT definition, don't you?

OlePappy - doubt is the destroyer of faith

Right OP, and someone has also said, that doubt is belief in the NEGATIVE, it is faith turned upside-down, it is believing that what God says is NOT going to happen.

Servant - its kind of like when you just know you are going to get that special gift on your birthday

OH boy, oh boy, oh boy!!! What good thing is the Lord going to do for me TODAY!!! JUMPING up and down joy, servant, amen!

Faith makes life worth living! Glory, and gives us a "handle" on what we can't see! Reach out and grab that handle, it's there!

Faith's SUBSTANCE is the foundation upon which we believe. Criswell says that "The meaning is that faith is the solid, unshakable confidence in God which is built upon the assurance that He will be faithful to His promises." This unshakable confidence is progressive I think, like KM says, you trust God in the little things, and then ask for a little more, and a little more, until BOOM something big hits ya, but your FAITH IS READY FOR IT!

EVIDENCE is proof that a thing is so. So what are the evidences upon which you base YOUR faith? If someone were to ask you WHY you believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, what would you say?

Could you say, I was sick and He healed me? I was lost and He found me? I was broken and He mended me? Glory! How about my mother was barren, and God healed her and she conceived me? I'm pretty BIG (literally) evidence! LOL

The Doctor told mom she it was impossible to conceive - remember this was way long ago in the dark ages, and she tried anyway for 9 years - but God supernaturally healed her and a year later she had lil ole me? Only I wasn't old yet then. Mom's womb was turned backwards - this was confirmed medically, it was physically impossible for her to conceive EVER. HEY MOM< can I get a witness????

Athie - That was good evidence OT and two brothers too. Believe it. I was married almost 10 years. And the Lord knew the desire of my heart.

And how about my aunt that was also barren, Dr said couldn't have babies, God healed her, and she had 5 kiddoes!

How about - He made a way for me when there was no way? When I was financially bankrupt and had no job??? Glory.

OlePappy - God's everlasting love
Christluv - faith!!!!!!!:)
Kinzie's Mom - Because through him I can accomplish things that otherwise would be impossible....with him ALL things are POSSIBLE!
OlePappy - I WAS SICK, and through faith He HEALED me. Medical science had written me off! One day it was all I could do to move a few feet, and after praying with another brother in Christ with faith the next day I WAS TOTALLY HEALED and am to this day. blood tests show the disease is still within me, but there are no symptoms, no pain and no damage...there was damage there but it is not there now...a medical impossibility. As a matter of fact, about two weeks later, my x had a flat tire on her Maverick...no jack... I lifted the back up until the tire was changed...never could do that before
Christluv - no one else cares enough to help us!
Kinzie's Mom - There are jobs that we have bid and gotten that we absolutely had no way of doing except by the grace of God!!!! We are a two person business doing $130,000 jobs with no backing except the Lord...
Christluv - God is the only one who cares enough and loves enough to help in our time of need

God healed mom of arthritis in her elbow, was so painful she cried and meds did not help - how many years ago mom?

Kinzie's Mom - I know a person that had confirmed bone cancer and was totally healed, the x-rays showed the cancer and the next ones were completely clear
Christluv - What other explanations are there but God's divine work in and through us?
Kinzie's Mom - Faith and trust are linked together...having faith and getting answers builds your trust in him to ask for bigger and better things.

Well if hope could get us there, I'd be dead now. The love of the Lord delivered me supernaturally from sure suicide. There is no earthly reason why I didn't do myself in. All my earthly hopes were smashed and try as I might I felt no reason to go on. But I can't say if it was a vision or a literal thing, but I know I felt the arms of the Lord pick me up and fill me with love.

Faith brings God's approval. And the first evidence for our faith is the universe itself - testifying to the existence of an intelligent Creator, who created out of unseen things. Since we know that this evidence is real, we can infer from it that the other unseen things the Bible speaks of are real, based on the credibility of God.

This is why there is such an attack on the truth of Creation. If the devil can make you believe that the evidence of your senses isn't what it seems to be, if the devil can seed some doubt there and make you believe this all happened by accident, then he has a foothold in your mind to destroy your faith.

Can you please God without faith? No, first you must believe that God exists and that there is a profit in sincerely seeking Him. I have talked to people that become angry because they "try" to be a Christian and it doesn't "work". I'm never quite sure what to say to these people. But if we truly believe that God exists, and that He is our Creator and sustainer, our only hope of salvation in a lost and ugly world, then to me that is enough reason to seek Him, without thought of personal gain from it.

To know God - to me that is the ultimate adventure. Sure, there are many good things that come from having a saving relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. But to have the chance to really know Him - that's worth spending a lifetime of searching to me.

Faith then is being persuaded and convicted of the truth respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, including trusting in Him and fervently following Him.

Mikey - Going to God without faith is like going to the store without money. You won't get a thing.

Relating to God - faith is the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. And relating to Christ, faith is a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God through confession of sin, and profession of Jesus as Lord.

OlePappy - Faith grows with interest through the power of God

According to Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: "Genuine saving faith is a personal attachment to Christ, best thought of as a combination of two ideas - reliance on Christ and commitment to Him. Saving faith involves personally depending on the finished work of Christ's sacrifice as the only basis for forgiveness of sin and entrance into heaven."

Faith receives what God's gift of grace, His unearned favor and mercy, has provided through Jesus Christ. Salvation is by faith alone, not by good works.

The key to faith is keeping your eyes on Jesus from start to finish. He is who we trusted in at first when we began this race, and He is not only encouraging us along the way through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but He is waiting for us at the finish line to wave our flag of triumph when we win the victory!

abbey - Jude 3 talks about the "faith once and for all delivered to the saints." But wasn't there more faith to be delivered? Two young men came to my door and told me there was another testament of Jesus Christ. What does Jude mean when he says this?

Abbey there are some that believe there is another testament of Jesus, but the New Testament says "IT IS FINISHED". When it says faith ONCE and FOR ALL, it means what it says. This is it! I don't understand why people go rushing around for ANOTHER testament, when we don't fully believe and obey the one we've got!

abbey - But what does Jude mean when he says that?
Kinzie's Mom - I think because it doesn't say what they want it to say OT

Faith in that sense abbey is the totality of what we believe as Christians - the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been "delivered" to us - so that we can in turn share it with others.

No more revelation in the sense of the written Word. God can and does reveal things to His servants, but they must ALWAYS line up with the written revelation in the Bible.

Mikey - They had lost their focus on Jesus and were practicing false doctrine that someone had planted in their church (Parable of wheat and tares?) He is trying to bring them back to what they started with, the doctrine of Christ.

I don't care how many angels somebody says they've seen, or even if they've claimed to talk to God Himself, if what they tell you or write about does not line up with the Bible, spit it out, it ain't milk and it ain't meat!

abbey - so is this also meaning, Jude is telling us that the full message of God has been revealed?

Right abbey, how could you contend or fight or the faith if you weren't sure of what it was? If it wasn't complete like Jude said?

Kinzie's Mom - thank you Lord for giving us even a small measure of faith to start the bigger process of building our faith daily. It is through reading the bible and the daily things happening in our lives that buid faith I believe
Athie - Lord increase our faith.

Praise the Lord, every time I read about this faith man, the Roman centurion, it makes me want to dig deeper so my faith can grow! AMEN KM, we develop our faith by reading and DOING the Word - small things at first, then build on that. AMEN MOM, Lord INCREASE our faith - let us have faith like you did Jesus, when you faced the cross with a forehead of diamond and a steady eye, KNOWING the joy that would come afterwards, trusting God to raise you from the dead!!!