The title of this message is Say the Word, and here in Luke chapter 7, we're going to
be there for a second, and if you have a Bible, just open it real quick.
We're going to read the first 10 verses and see a man who recognized Jesus for who he really
was, and I just pray that there's some in this audience today, or maybe over the wall there
in one of them homes that will recognize Jesus for who he really is, because he's power, and
he's life, and he's love, and he's all of the above.
He's everything that you and I need, and it has been said that Jesus Christ is the inventor
of life, so I think you need to go to the inventor and get the owner's manual, but it says here
in verse 1, it says,
Now when he, Jesus, concluded all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum,
and a certain centurion's servant who was dear to him was sick and ready to die.
And so when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, pleading with him to come
and heal his servant.
And when they came to Jesus, they begged him, earnestly saying that the one for whom he should
do was deserving, for he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.
And then Jesus went with them, and when he was already not far from the house, the centurion
sent friends to him, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you
should enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to you, but say the word, and my servant
will be healed.
For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.
And I say to one, go, and he goes.
And to another, come, and he comes.
And to my servant, do this.
And he does it.
When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him and turned around and said to the crowd
that followed him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.
And those who were sent returning to the house found the servant well who had been sick.
Let's pray.
Lord, thank you.
Thank you for your authority, Lord.
And as we look at that today, Lord, I pray that we would realize that our lives ultimately
are under your authority.
But there's a intimate authority that you desire that we would all come to.
We would willingly step under the authority of our God and have him control and direct our
lives.
Just as Steve was talking about earlier, Lord, that you could direct our steps.
We might have plans, but we know that your plans are so much greater than our own.
So would you work your plan in each one of us today?
In Jesus name.
Amen.
And so, first of all, there's this centurion and most of the centurions were Roman.
And, and, and, uh, uh, but as we look in the new Testament, every time we see a centurion,
it's like, they've got this, um, they've got this wisdom about them.
They got this, um, um, what would I say?
Uh, integrity.
Uh, the one we see at the cross, right?
You remember when it gets dark and there's an earthquake and, and the Bible says the graves
opened and that, that saints who had died were walking about.
And, and the centurion says, truly, this was the son of God.
It's like these centurions, they just have this knack of re recognizing truth.
And, um, then in, um, in the book of acts, we see a dude named Cornelius that the Bible
said he was a, he was a faithful man.
He feared God.
He, he realized no doubt that, that his life was not his own.
And, and, and, but he didn't know Jesus.
And so the Lord, uh, orchestrated a meeting between him and the apostle Peter and, and Cornelius
and his house gets saved and filled with the Holy spirit.
And, and, um, and then there's this guy, this guy that comes to Jesus because he, he has this,
uh, this servant that he's, is, it says he's dear to him that he loves this guy, even though
he's his servant, he doesn't treat him like a, like a dog or like a piece of meat.
And, um, and he has, has compassion for him.
And so, first of all, we see in this passage, we see three opinions of this guy.
Uh, the guy has a reputation.
What, what's your reputation say?
I don't even want to think about what my reputation is.
I don't really know.
I don't really care though.
I do if it's brought shame to the Lord.
And I know I've probably been guilty of that, but, um, but this guy has, has a reputation and
others have opinions.
No, the Bible says that, uh, the difference between, uh, sanity and insanity when it comes
to you is usually between what others say about you and what you say about yourself.
What you say about yourself compared to what others say about you is usually insanity.
Because you may not see you the way others see you.
And that's why the scripture says, look, let another man's lips praise you and not your own.
Because, you know, you're a super, super humble person.
But as soon as you tell somebody that you're humble, you're not humble anymore.
And so this centurion, he has compassion, uh, for his servant.
But the first opinion we see is the, the reputation that he has with the Jews.
He loves us.
Here's this Roman that loves us Jews.
And the Jews and the Romans didn't like each other at all.
But this guy, this guy had been good to them.
It says, uh, you know, it says, so when they, um, when they heard about, uh, when he heard
about Jesus, he sent elders to the Jews pleading with them.
Obviously they had a relationship with these Jewish people that they obviously believe different
things.
Do you have relationship with people that believe differently than you?
I think it's really important.
Uh, not that you have to force your way all the time, but I think that they, they need
to hear what you have to say when the opportunity arises.
But if we just are so stuck or as pastor Gordon used to call it, we have hardening of the categories.
It's hard to get along with others that don't believe the way we do.
Now, it's not that we necessarily hang out with them all the time, but, but I love having, having
relationship with people in the community that are, have a much different view on God and
life and death than I do.
Because many times the Lord opens an opportunity for us to share with them.
And this guy was, was seemed to be fairly faithful to just be, uh, show kindness to the
Jews, though he may not have believed what they believed.
And so they said that, um, um, for he is deserving.
This guy's deserving of us to help him, of this Jesus to help him because he loves our nation and
he built us a church.
And so they had a awesome opinion of this guy.
They, they recognize that he was, he was, he was an intercessor, but because he cared about
his servant, he, he had compassion and kindness and extremely generous.
Some believe that he actually built it with his own money, the synagogue for the Jews.
The Bible says that's a, uh, the fruit of this spirit is, is love.
But within that love is a, is a thing called kindness that we don't see a lot of today, but
it usually sticks out.
If somebody shows kindness, it, it's, it's rare.
So it's, it's, it's very obvious.
The second opinion was this guy's opinion of himself.
In verse six, it says, uh, and when he was not already far out, he's from the house.
He sent friends out to him saying, Oh, don't, don't come to my house.
Maybe his wife was in his ear.
You can't have this man come to our house.
He said, mess girls.
Have you ever done that?
My wife looked at me, you did what?
I don't invite people over very often.
Cause I lived there.
So it, uh, my wife said it was a full-time job cleaning up my messes, but he said, I'm, I'm
not worthy.
I've heard about you.
I've heard about this Jesus and I'm not worthy.
And I'm with this guy.
I'm not worthy.
We're not worthy of him at all.
Not even close.
And my family members aren't worthy of him.
You know what?
But he's willing to come.
He's willing to come.
He's willing to come to you and me.
And he was willing.
And, and, and this guy is just, um, he's examined himself.
That's an important thing to do.
I think I mentioned it last week and I know pastor Steve talked about it on, on Wednesday.
He, he had examined, he knew that he wasn't worthy of this Jesus, but he did recognize something
very powerful.
And that was the authority of Jesus.
And last of all was Jesus's opinion of this guy.
He marveled.
Jesus was impressed with this man's faith because this guy had an understanding of authority that I think maybe hardly any of us understand when it comes to Jesus Christ and his authority.
The authority of Christ.
It's, it's, it's second to none.
To none.
There, he has no rival.
There is nothing that come, can come against his authority successfully.
It's impossible because of who he is.
And this man recognized that, right?
He, he recognized the authority of Jesus and that you just speak a word and it, and it happens.
And, uh, and, um, the Bible tells us a lot about authority.
If we'll read it, this word right here that we're reading is authoritative, right?
It's the authority of my life.
I either believe it or I don't.
And because I believe it, I try to read it and put it in there because it gives life to those who read it.
And may I say, keep it, which is much easier or excuse me, much harder than reading it, much easier to read than to do.
But the Bible says we should be doers of the word and not hearers only.
Paul tells us that all authority comes from God.
All of it.
Every authority you see in heaven and on earth comes from God.
Romans 13, one, let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God.
And the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
You mean I got to submit to the sitting building department?
Here we are.
That's why we're outside.
But listen, it's all appointed by God.
God's in control of it all.
Good, bad, and indifferent.
God is in control of all authority.
And Jesus, after the resurrection, he proves his authority.
Notice it's after the resurrection that he says this.
In Matthew chapter 28, he says,
This is after the resurrection.
And Jesus came and spoke to them saying,
All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All authority has been given to him.
Very specifically.
And he proved his authority by what?
By rising from the dead.
Nobody else did that.
That seals this statement that all authority in heaven and on earth is given to him.
The one who conquered death.
The one who owns life.
He owns it.
It's his.
Do you have it?
Have you asked him to share his life with you?
Have you given him the authority of your life?
Because see, you have authority too.
You and I, we have authority.
And in this part, neck of the woods, here in southeast Idaho,
many of us preachers, we get asked all the time,
Dude, where do you get your authority?
Right?
I mean, the answer is like, any preschooler can answer it, right?
Jesus.
Where do you get his?
I get my authority from Jesus, right?
And it's found in John chapter 1, verse 12.
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right.
It's interesting.
That is the exact same Greek word that this authority word we see in Luke.
It's the exact same word.
It's exosia.
But it says, but as many as received him, he gave them the right or authority
to become the children of God to those who believe in his name.
Do you believe in the name of Jesus?
Not just that it's a name that J-E-S-U-S, that you can spell,
but it's a name that is the foundation of your life, that has power in your life.
Because at the name of Jesus, every knee is going to bow,
and every tongue is going to confess to the glory of God the Father.
Why?
Because he's Mr. Authority.
Jesus is.
And so this authority that we're under, it's ultimately we're going to be under his judgment.
Every human being is under the authority of Jesus.
And you're either under his judgment or you're under his grace.
And you have eternal life existing in you even now as you walk with Jesus.
Because everyone stands before him.
He's going to judge the quick and the dead.
Those who are alive and those who are dead.
It's interesting that we're all born under authority, right?
You're born under the authority of your parents.
Being at the school for 20 years, my wife was a first grade teacher.
And within that first week, she knew what kind of authority was in the home of that child that was in her class.
There were exceptions.
But for the most part, she could tell really quick those who were under authority and those who were vying for authority.
We call them them little rebels, right?
And by the time they're in first grade, they kind of get an understanding of, oh, mom and dad, what they say, you know, goes.
What they say goes.
And that translates really well in the classroom.
Right?
That translates.
They're under authority of mom and dad.
They're under the authority of their teacher.
But a lot of parents didn't want to do that.
It was.
And I got a bum rap because they would wanted me to be the authority.
Because, you know, for the most part, we still swung the rod there.
And they.
So I was the I was their leverage.
We're going to tell Pastor Scotty on you.
Your parents are going to tell Pastor Scotty on them for something they did naughty at home.
That ain't right.
Right?
I had to whoop my kids.
You whoop your kids.
But the fact is, his authority is going to rule over that kid's life, his whole life.
So either his parents will usurp authority over his life and teach him right.
Teach him right from wrong.
Because he's a desperately wicked little fella.
Right?
Or as the Minnesota Crime Commission statement from 1926 says, every child is born a little savage.
Right?
And you better get a hold of him quick.
Right?
But the thing about it is, is if parents don't discipline, then the school will.
The school doesn't get anywhere disciplining them.
Right?
Then truancy with juvenile courts will discipline.
If that don't work, then the police, right?
They'll get chaped wrists from the handcuffs being on a lot.
Or eventually a prison guard and warden will rule over their life.
Somebody's always going to rule over your life.
And God comes along with the Lord Jesus Christ and says, hey, can I rule your life?
Will you let me?
You ever been around them people?
They just buck authority at every turn.
It starts when they're little at home and it's all the way through their whole life.
They get nowhere.
They get nowhere, but behind bars or in the grave, an early grave.
I heard one pastor say that no man or no person can rule until they have been ruled.
Right?
No person can rule until you've been ruled.
Who rules you?
Some people will say, well, nobody rules me.
I am an island.
Right?
I'm my own man.
Nobody rules me.
Yeah, they do.
You just don't know it.
But Satan's got you by the throat, buddy.
Or sister.
Whatever the case.
Because Paul talks about it.
In chapter 26, when actually it's Jesus that's talking about it.
Because he's talking to Paul about the call that he has on Paul's life.
And Jesus says, I will deliver you from the Jewish people.
This is what he's telling Paul.
Because Paul's kind of getting beat up a little bit since coming to Jesus.
Right?
It wasn't too bad when he's beating up the church.
But once he gets converted and starts telling people that, oh, this Jesus dude, he's real.
And he knocked me to the ground.
And he proved he has authority over my life.
And so I'm serving him now.
And it didn't go well with him.
And so Jesus says, I'm going to deliver you from the Jewish people.
As well as from the Gentiles, the Romans who wanted to put him in prison.
To whom I send you, listen, to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light.
And from the power, exosia, same name, authority, right?
Of Satan to God.
So you're under one of those two authorities.
You and I.
Have you given your heart to Jesus?
Then you're under the power of Satan.
I'm sorry you are.
And he's going to kill, steal, and destroy you.
So why not come to Jesus?
Who loves you?
Who has a plan for your life?
Who gives you everlasting life?
And I will deliver you in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power, authority of Satan to the authority of God.
Because to be neutral is to be under Satan's control.
Listen, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
That's what Jesus told Paul.
He says, this is going to be your life, dude.
You're going to lead people from darkness to light.
That's my prayer for this building, that it goes from darkness.
It's been pretty dark.
It's still dark.
But to light, the light of Jesus.
The light of God.
And from the power of Satan to the power of God.
So, it's such a simple thing.
And then this guy, right?
Because he recognizes authority, he says, listen, Jesus, just speak the word.
Now, there's two accounts of this centurion servant getting healed.
The one is in Matthew 8 and the other one is here in Luke 7.
In Matthew 8, we get a little different picture.
It appears that the guy didn't go to Jesus at all.
But it was just his servants that represented him that went to Jesus.
And that when he heard Jesus was coming, he sent his other servants out there and said,
Oh, no, don't tell him.
I'm not worthy to come in.
But to do what?
Just say the word.
This guy recognized that if Jesus just said the word, be healed, that his servant would be healed.
He says, because I understand this authority thing.
I say to this guy, go.
And he goes.
I say to this guy, come.
And he comes.
And do this and do that.
And they do it.
At a word.
Do you believe that about God's word?
That it's that powerful?
That the word that Jesus says actually changes your life?
Do you believe that he has the authority to change your life?
To maybe break some of the bondages that you're in?
The power to forgive your sin and wipe them away, that they're gone forever?
As far as the east is from the west, do you believe that?
It's a powerful belief.
It truly affects the way you live.
And it's obviously causes you to reflect on your own life like this guy did.
Just say the word.
Now, it's interesting.
I've been in a lot of prayer meetings over the years.
And, you know, we need a little cash or something.
Lord, we need five bucks.
Oh, Lord, you know, I know you could provide five bucks.
In fact, I might even find a five dollar bill walking across the parking lot.
Lord, I know you can do that.
But how about 25,000?
Oh, Lord, 25,000.
I mean, you're on your face.
No, just say the word.
Lord, we need 25 grand.
Right?
Just say the word.
You don't have to get weird.
Or just like, you know, we got to convince God now.
The five dollars is no big deal.
But 25,000?
Yeah.
We're pathetic people.
You know?
Or then you pray and God does something.
And you go, oh, he did what?
Well, didn't you say a word?
Didn't you pray and ask him?
Well, I got an awesome report from Rosemary, her daughter-in-law.
We've been praying for her.
She's had stage four breast cancer that has metastasized to her bones.
And she, Tuesday, got a report that all the cancer is dead.
It's just dead.
And we've been praying, you know.
And then Rosemary said, well, how do you say thank you?
Thank you just seems so cheap.
You know?
The power of words, right?
Isn't words powerful?
So powerful.
In fact, I did a ceremony last night.
And all of a sudden, these two became something with the word of their mouth that they've never been before.
It was like their metamorphosis assistant.
She became a wife.
She'd never been a wife.
He became a husband.
He's never been a husband.
With the word of their mouth.
Right?
What you say.
Be careful what you say.
That's why the Bible.
Solomon, right?
Solomon was a pretty wordy fella.
But when he came before the Lord, he says, you are God in heaven.
And here am I on earth.
So limited.
And so I'm going to let my words be few.
But there is a time for you and I to come and bow down before Jesus.
And with your words of your mouth saying, Lord, I need you.
Just like the song we sang just a little bit ago.
Lord, I need you.
And as simple as that sounds, it's much like the I do that that bride and groom said last night.
In front of God and all those witnesses, they said I do.
And so for this man to see the power of Jesus, for him to really see the power of Jesus, he had to come to him.
And he did it by representative.
But he came to Jesus.
That's what Jesus invites you and me.
He says, you guys come unto me.
All of you who are weary and heavy laden.
And I'll give you rest.
And he's powerful enough to do that.
But do we have the brass to come to him?
Well, I don't know what people think of me if I come to Jesus.
Who cares?
They're not going to be there on the day of judgment when you stand before him and give an account for your life.
They're not going to be there.
You're going to be there all by yourself.
And maybe he'll ask you, hey, what did you do with that invitation that I gave you to come to me?
How come you didn't come to me?
It's like the scripture we read last week, right?
Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and you don't do what I tell you to do?
Why?
It's a great question.
But he had to come to him.
And he did.
He recognizes that Jesus could fill his every need.
So come to Jesus and live.
Come to Jesus and be healed.
Come to Jesus and be delivered.
Come to Jesus and find rest for your soul.
And so we're going to have a time of baptism.
But first, I want to just give you an invitation.
If you've never received Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Right?
You say, well, I've been coming to church and I've really been thinking about it.
But okay.
You've had your opportunity.
Now come.
Come to Jesus.
And you can put the icing on the cake by getting baptized.
Saying, Lord, I identify with your death, burial, and resurrection.
I realize you are the ultimate authority.
And I need to be submitted to you.
The Bible says count the cost.
Right?
Think about that.
Might take a while.
Of you kind of letting that ruminate and stew in your heart, in your mind.
But ultimately, we're all going to stand before him and give an account.
And some may even have to give an account for this very day.
This 28th, 29th, I guess it is now, of June, 2025.
So would you pray with me?
If you've never received Christ.
Here's your opportunity.
Maybe you've just been struggling.
Maybe you're backslidden.
Maybe you just want to surrender it all.
I want to give you an opportunity to do that right now as we pray.
And if that's you and you just feel like you know that you need Jesus or more of him.
Can I just ask you to stand to your feet?
Right where you're at.
Just stand to your feet.
Somebody says, I'm already standing.
That's fine.
I'm standing with you.
You just want to go deeper.
Lord, I want you to have my life, not just some of it, but all of it.
Lord, we thank you that, Lord, you offer yourself to us.
Willing to walk to this man's house.
And yet you didn't take his unworthiness, nor were you offended at it.
Lord, nor is there any degree of difficulty that you're limited by.
And that's even saving our wretched hides.
And so, Lord, I just pray for those standing.
Lord, that you would give them your strength and your power.
Lord, that they would realize that, Lord, you have more and better for them.
Lord, that you came to give us this authority that greater are you that is in us when we come to you than he that is in the world.
Because honestly, all of us at one time or another were children of darkness under this way of the devil.
And it's time to come to Jesus and to be freed from that.
And live a life of freedom that we don't even understand until we're in a relationship with him.
So, Father, as we enter into this baptism time, I pray that you would, Lord, touch lives.
You might even be knocking on the door of someone's heart that hasn't done it yet.
Maybe they've been saved for years but never been baptized.
Lord, that they would follow you and identify with that incredible power and authority
that you have given to us because you overcame the grave.
And you purchased and paid for our sin on that cross.
So, Lord, we love you.
We praise you.
Pray that you would bless now in Jesus' mighty name.
Amen.