“A Soldier's Faith”
"For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go', and he goes, and to another, 'come', and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this' and he does it." Matt. 8:9
When Jesus came to Capernaum in Mathew chapter eight, he encountered a Roman centurion who had a sick servant. The centurion asked Jesus' help and when Jesus said he would come and heal him, the centurion said that he was not worthy to have Jesus come into his house but simply speak the word and his servant would be healed. The soldier said he understood authority because he was a man, "under authority". Jesus was amazed at his faith and said he had not seen anything like it in all of Israel.
Understanding authority
Much of modern culture does not understand how authority works because they have never been "under" authority. Many people want authority, but they suck at it because they have never allowed themselves to be under authority. A rebellious heart becomes quickly manifest under that kind of scrutiny, and rebellion and honor cannot coexist in the same vessel; as surely as fear and faith cannot occupy the same space. Ministers that appear to function at a high level of authority without functioning under authority are always destined for shipwreck. Being under authority provides covering that every minister needs. Some ministers seek only a denominational covering because they have no kingdom authority. But the kingdom of God causes you to search out apastolic authority because that is kingdom government. The kingdom of God has its' own government that is not based on elected officials. The church tries to mimic a democracy and fails to recognize its' a kingdom. This is why we have pastoral politicians with powerless plans. Out to sell ideas that don't include power. When you come completely under the authority of Christ and become subject to true obedience, you have entered into a power structure that functions "under authority." Many “would be” ministers spend a lifetime trying to interpret authority without truly understanding how it works. But a solder understood it and made one of the most powerful faith statements in recorded history. "Just speak the word and my servant will be healed."
Ruminate. Selah.
Bro Rusty
