Tag: Bible

Healing: A Centurion’s Faith

theheartofapreacherskid2 Comments

Back again with a new addition to the Healing Series, we are going to dive into the faith of the centurion.

Let’s look at Matthew 8:5-13 (NKJV).

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Whew! Let’s unpack this.

Looking at the centurion, he is considered a high-ranking army official in the Roman army. Mind you, the centurion is a Gentile, someone who is not a descendent of the Jews. However, this did not stop him in asking Jesus to heal one of his servants.

It’s important to note that Jesus was willing to go with the centurion to heal the servant. During that time, it was like fraternizing with an enemy. However, in God’s book everyone has grace and can be redeemed.

Knowing this, the centurion said to Jesus to “only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (verse 8). The faith that the centurion had in this conversation was so great that even Jesus marvelled at it! The centurion trusted in not a laying of hands from the Lord, but just the words that he spoke!

Jesus honored his faith. In verse 13, Jesus healed his servant at the same hour because of the man’s faith.

I don’t know about you, but it convicted me. How much faith do we have just in the words of God? Everything is written out for us: healing, deliverance, love, peace. The word of God is tried and true, all we have to do is speak it, just as Christ did for the centurion.

At the end of the day:

Have Faith and Speak the Word!

Weekly Soap

theheartofapreacherskid1 Comment

Hey Y’all! It’s already week 2 in March and for some (me) it’s also spring break! Although it is my vacation, the work doesn’t stop.

In the previous blog, I mentioned going above and beyond just existing in this world and in church. But what does that look like?

All last week, God impressed upon me to fast from Monday to Friday. Now my first thought was “Now Lord hold up! You know it’s around the first and I like to take myself on a date?”. My second thought, “Lord, I am content with things in life right now. Why do I need to fast for more?”.

Little did I realize that I had much to learn this week as a Christian.

First rule of God calling a fast: It doesn’t matter when or what. Just do it. We all know obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

Second rule of God calling a fast: It is normal. It should be a regular part of your lifestyle. It allows you not only to turn down unhealthy food, but it draws you closer to God. Not only closer, but it allows us to see what more God has in store for us. God’s vision goes far beyond man’s (Isaiah 55:8-9).

From Monday to Friday, God dropped gems in my lap that I never even asked for, but I needed. He blessed me with so much clarity and focus that entire week that it left me speechless. And not just in days, but minutes. I heard God speak clearly about my lifestyle choices, my purpose, the Bible, and much more.

I just want to encourage you to fast as part of your daily walk with God. Whether it be for 5, 10, 21 or 40 days, fasting is so necessary for growth in God.

Scripture: 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18 NIV)

Observation: Fasting was originally an outward expression to the public by the tearing of clothes and smeared ashes to show repentance to the Lord. However, in this context, Jesus was talking about those who did it not genuinely. Now, those who fast should go about it normally. Dress normal. Look normal in fasting. Even though your fasting is between you and God in secret, there will be a reward, openly. It is not done in vain.

Application: Fasting is a normal duty in our Christian walk. We should not go around saddened or make others aware of what we’re doing. God sees us, and our actions in drawing near to him. Fasting is an act of humbling ourselves so that God can step in and take over our lives. Notice in verse 17, that Jesus said to his disciples when they fast, so it is expected. Our relationship becomes stronger, we dig deeper in Christ, and we are rewarded publicly.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for not only the responsibility of prayer and petition but also for pray. Lord, I understand that as I fast, it is an action of humbling, consecration and bonding that draws me closer to you. Forgive me for not fasting as regularly as I should. God, don’t let my fast be in vain, but let it be in your perfect will. I understand that what I do in secret will be rewarded, openly. I thank you for the many blessings you are sending my way through this duty. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Weekly Soap

theheartofapreacherskid6 Comments

Happy February! It’s a brand new day and a brand new month and I am so thankful to God for it. This month, there are many holidays, celebrations, etc. that we observe, but I wanted to focus solely on one thing this month: LOVE.

Now I know what you’re thinking. “Oh, how cliché!”

But hold up!

How many of us crave love or want to give love in some form or capacity?

With that being said, why don’t we learn from our Father in Heaven what it means to love, how we’re supposed to love, and most importantly what love is.

Scripture: 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.‘ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 34-40

Observation: Although the question asked may have come from curiosity or to tempt, Jesus gave the answer that covered the basis of all law. He told us to love God with every fiber of our being, which is our heart, soul, and mind. Loving God is always first which includes knowing to not put any other thing before Him (Exodus 20:3-5). Secondly, Jesus called us to love our fellow brothers and sisters like we love ourselves. Check out 1 John 3:16. Overall, the two commandments that Jesus spoke among the people were the foundation for all the other laws written. They could not follow everything else if they didn’t love the Father or the people.

Application: Now that we know the greatest commandments of the Law, how do we carry this out? Jesus told us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (vs. 37). To do this, we have to allow God to move in our lives on every level. With our hearts, we seek the Lord daily to develop a lasting relationship (Psalms 24:6). In learning more of God, his Word penetrates our soul and transforms us. We realize that He has been faithful to us, even when we were not; who wouldn’t love a God like that? (2 Timothy 2:13). However, we can’t let our love stop there. In the same passage, we are called to love our neighbors, the surrounding people, strangers or not. Not to just love them, but to love them the way we want to be loved. What does love look like among fellow man? We look out for each other. We take care of each other. We are helpers one to another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Take into account that the self-love described here is not selfish self-love. Our society tends to lean towards the “I’m gonna do me, and you do you” mentality, but this self-love requires an awareness of who we are and takes into account the welfare of ourselves. Self-love should reflect in love we share for others: to build, to grow, to learn.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I am so grateful for the love you have given us. Thank you for teaching us the greatest commandments of all: to love you and to love others as we love ourselves. Lord, I ask right now that if I struggle with any of these that you help me. Help me learn to love you more. Help me love others. Help me love myself so I can love others. God, I know that your love covers a multitude of sins, so let me operate only in the love of Christ. I pray that even now my heart is changing to be more compassionate than I was before. Thank you, God, for showing me the way to love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Be Blessed!

–Chan