A Humble Faith

Loving God, what I have prepared is just a speech if your Holy Spirit isn't present in power.

I pray, Lord God, that by your grace, only the truth would be spoken and only the truth heard.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

I was choking this morning, so I brought some water with me.

Forgive me.

As we were deciding what we were going to preach for these weeks,

George laid out a host of scriptures that we could kind of choose from, which were from the miracles of Jesus.

And the one that we have, if you want to turn to it, Luke 7, was jumped out at me, the faith of the centurion.

Most of you know I'm a military chaplain.

I've been working for about 15 years amongst the soldiers in the army and the special forces.

And so when the faith of the centurion shows up or any of the army guys show up, I usually jump all over that.

So that's why I chose this one.

I wouldn't say I stole it.

I chose this one this morning.

Charles Spurgeon once quipped, he once stated that there's plenty of people in his time,

there was plenty of people who couldn't kill a mouse without publishing it in the local paper.

And he said that the Lord finds modesty so rare that he takes great pains in his word to record it.

And Luke 7, 1 to 10 is one of those places where modesty and humility,

Luke is taking great pains to make sure that he records it.

The story of the centurion's servant is a story of humility and faith.

So let's start there.

Let's look.

I'm going to go right through the passage.

Let's look at 7, 1.

After he finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Jesus has been teaching all over the north of the Sea of Galilee.

If you can picture the Sea of Galilee is in the northern part of the nation of Israel.

It's, you know, all kinds of stories about that.

And so Jesus all along the north has been preaching and doing wonderful, marvelous things.

And it says in chapter 6 that multitudes of people now, multitudes of people are following him.

They're just coming out of the woodwork in order to follow him and see what's going on.

Word is spreading.

And in this time, he actually, it seems that he pops in and out of Capernaum at times.

So he comes in to and pops into Capernaum, probably to do some teaching.

This is a small town.

It's on the northwest of the sea.

We believe archaeologists, from what they find in the ruins, that this was a fishing town.

Although it was a fishing town, it had a synagogue, a place of worship.

We believe it's where the man with the withered hand was actually healed within that synagogue.

So it makes sense that Jesus is popping in and out of Capernaum at this time.

And archaeologists also tell us that this town had about a thousand people in it.

So it was a bustling worship center.

It was a bustling fishing town.

It was a bustling little small town.

Now, I'm from a small town.

My mom is here at the back there.

And if I did something bad on one side of town, my mom heard about it before I even got home.

All right.

Word spreads quickly in a small town.

Everybody knows about Jesus.

Most of them, possibly even the centurion, has witnessed in some way something that Jesus has done.

And pretty much everybody at this point is wondering and trying to figure out for themselves,

who is this guy?

Who is Jesus?

And it seems like the centurion of all people, of all people, the non-Jew, Gentile centurion,

is on to something as far as who this person is, who Jesus is.

And so Jesus enters, verse 2.

Now a centurion had faith who was sick.

The centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death who was highly valued by him.

So Jesus enters and there's this soldier.

And the message, if we look through 7, 1 to 10, is about the soldier's character,

not really about the miracle itself.

The passage spends its time looking at and describing the soldier's character.

So that's what we're going to do.

We're just going to follow through and we're going to look and focus on the soldier's character.

We don't know his background nationality.

Most definitely was not a Jew, though.

We know that.

But a centurion could have been from anywhere within the Roman world.

And there's pretty much a spectrum within Capernaum, according to this passage,

of where we could place this centurion.

On the far side, he could have been a convert.

Can I get someone to close that door for me at the back?

It's great music, but thanks.

On the one hand, he could have been a convert, a full convert, a Gentile, but ostensibly, you know,

a Jew like everybody else in the town, on the one hand.

He could have been what we would call an adherent.

At that time, they call it a God-fearer.

So that would have been someone, a Gentile, who chose to worship like a Jew would,

but really isn't fully invested, isn't going to convert and become fully a Jew.

And then on the far side, over here, he could have just been a soldier who was following the Roman customs.

And the Roman custom was to recognize that the local religions are a force for good,

and we just kind of need to leverage that for the good of the Roman Empire.

I can confirm that, you know, militaries have been doing that for years, for millennia.

For myself as a chaplain, some of us were chosen to be trained down in America

for religious leader engagement and religious leader assessment.

So I went down to South Carolina, and basically what that is,

is to learn how to assess the religious situation within the country,

and then discover which religious leaders it is that we need to be engaging as a military,

and what we need to be saying, what the message is.

And we're trying to leverage religion, leverage whatever faith is present there,

as a force multiplier, we call it, for good.

To kind of use and use religion as a tool to build peace.

And so the Romans did it, and for 2,000 years, militaries have been doing that.

So he could have just been purely a soldier who was doing that,

not out of the goodness of his heart, but seeking to engage towards peace.

So he's somewhere along that spectrum.

Either convert, adherent, or just being a soldier.

The facts that the passage lay out, I would say he's probably a God-fearer,

but let's not kid ourselves, he's also using religious engagement to win over the local populace.

That's pretty much what we could understand about this centurion.

Being a centurion was roughly equivalent to what, in the army, we would call a captain.

He is in charge of, he's nobody's fool.

Okay, this is the guy who is in charge of the garrison in Capernaum.

He's got a century, about 100 people who are underneath him, 100 soldiers.

So in this town of 1,000 people, he's the guy who is in charge of 100 soldiers.

He's a pretty important person.

You know, it talks about the Jewish elders in here, but, you know, he's the guy who's in charge, really, when it comes civilly.

A Greek historian, Paul Abias, stated that what they looked for in a centurion

was not someone who was out there looking for danger and seeking for glory.

What they wanted was someone who was steady, reliable, and not over-anxious to go running into a fight.

They wanted someone smart to be a centurion.

That's who they chose.

But when this person was hard-pressed, they were hard as a rock.

They were ready to hold their ground and die at their post, if need be.

That's who you had to be to be a Roman centurion.

And the Roman army was brutal.

We know that.

The Romans were brutal.

So he came through all that and became a captain, became a centurion.

We find throughout the scriptures that centurions were men of fortitude and integrity.

Do you know when soldiers are spoken about in the New Testament?

They're always spoken about positively.

Always spoken about positively.

So this is most probably, when we talk about the character of the centurion,

he's most probably a shrewd, thoughtful, intentional individual.

And further to his character, we see in verse 3,

when the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews,

asking him to come and heal his servant.

And then we hear what it is that they have to say about Jesus.

And the fact that he highly values, we go back to verse 2,

he highly values some, at least some, if not one of his servants, all his servants together.

And when this term says highly valued, it's not like,

I highly value this guy because he knows how to make my coffee.

This is, he's invested in this person.

He highly esteems this person.

And I don't know why most of the Bibles translate it like that,

but he's invested personally in this servant,

which is a little bit unusual for the time.

A little bit unusual for the time.

And his worthiness, as I just read, is witnessed by the elders.

Verse 4, when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him,

earnestly saying,

he is worthy to have you do this for him,

for he loves our nation,

and he is the one who built our synagogue.

So they're probably not,

these elders are probably not the religious elders,

or the religious leaders at that time.

The elders were those who were chosen civilly to act as judges within the town.

So it's even the civil leaders of the Jewish nation there

are the ones who are coming and pleading with Jesus.

And they say, like, he built this synagogue.

When we talk about the building of the synagogue,

the captain is wealthy.

He has more money than the soldiers would have.

But he's not that wealthy.

Building a synagogue would have taken a lot of his personal wealth to do that.

It hurt financially for him to have built the synagogue.

So we see, you know, he actually,

yeah, he's engaging as a soldier within the local religious populace,

but, you know, he actually cares about this worship life.

He's invested somehow in the worship life.

And so we see here this man of integrity,

this thoughtful individual,

who's probably very intentional about how he goes about doing things.

He goes to Jesus through intermediaries.

And so Jesus went along with them,

even though he's going to the home,

to go to the home of this Gentile.

As he approaches the house,

even more friends,

more of the friends are sent to him.

These are probably Jewish friends that the centurion has,

because they're approaching a Jewish teacher.

Tells you again something about how he's invested within this community

that says his friends were probably Jews.

And so they come and they approach Jesus.

Now, these go-betweens are an important factor.

When Matthew tells this story,

he doesn't include the fact that there was intermediaries there.

It's not an important factor for him.

But Luke includes this detail,

that there was intermediaries that came.

Because he's trying to make a point.

Friends, when we look at the passages,

the way the different Gospels tell,

the different stories,

the different nuances they give,

any kind of differences,

anytime you see a difference,

it's basically the author,

or the Holy Spirit saying,

okay, knucklehead, slow down.

There's something important here that you need to notice.

And so Luke is saying to us,

okay, he didn't go himself,

even though he was this big, important person,

he actually sent people twice.

Twice he sent people.

To go in between,

because he didn't feel worthy to go up to Jesus.

Luke is highlighting for us,

the humility of the centurion.

He's highlighting the role of humility,

in this kind of faith.

And so the soldier highlights Jesus' word,

as an instrument that affects his purpose.

We look at verse 7.

Therefore, I do not presume to come to you,

but say the word,

and let my servant be here.

And so the soldier highlights that Jesus' word

is the tool that he uses to affect his purpose.

You just saw here,

like this microphone is a tool that I'm using

to affect my purpose,

which is to preach to you.

And the soldier is saying that God,

that Jesus' word is what he uses

to affect his purpose that's out there.

And we see this throughout the Gospels.

This interplay between Jesus and his word.

They become synonymous.

In the beginning there was what?

The word.

And we see this throughout the Gospels,

how in the scriptures

are actually the very word,

and that's where the presence of God is.

And the soldier seems to get that.

In the military,

in the military where I am,

I'm a major,

when my lieutenant colonel

says something to me,

tells me to do something,

that lawful command

is literally a law for me.

The word of the person in charge

is the law.

If I don't follow it,

I get court-martialed

and bad things happen.

Right?

It is literally the law.

And so the soldier seems to get

the importance of the word of Jesus.

And I want us to notice, though,

exactly how the soldier says it

in the passage.

Because Luke, again,

saying,

slow down, knuckleheads.

Let's notice something here.

Verse 8.

He doesn't say right away,

I'm this big important person

who says something

and people do it.

What does he highlight first?

I am someone

set under authority.

He doesn't have to say that.

It's the captain.

But Luke is,

in quoting him exactly like that,

Luke is showing for us,

highlighting for us,

humility.

The role of humility

in the faith of this centurion.

And Jesus

marvels at the man's faith.

Humility

is at the root of that faith

that Jesus marvels at.

You know this is one of two places

in the entire Bible

Jesus marvels at something.

Usually it's him

that's surprising people

and people are marveling at him

walking across the water.

Next week I'm going to talk

about the loaves,

about the feeding of the 5,000.

People marveled at that.

This is one of two places

where Jesus actually marvels at.

He's here

with respect to humility

and faith,

but also he marvels

in his hometown

with respect to

lack of faith

and their pride.

when he went to Nazareth

to preach,

what happened?

Who are you?

You're just a carpenter's son.

Who are you to preach to us?

Who are you to think

that you're a big,

important person?

And the Bible says

that Jesus has famous words,

a prophet is not without honor

except in his hometown.

And he could do no miracles

because of their unbelief.

So here,

in our passage,

he marvels because of humility

and faith,

and there he marvels

because of pride

and unbelief.

He says he's found faith like this

nowhere in Israel.

For all the soldiers'

lack of the knowledge of Judaism

as the religious leaders

would have had

or maybe these magistrates

would have had,

here he grasps

the very heart

of God's purposes

for Israel

and for the world.

And it points to Jesus.

The one true God

was active

in the person of Jesus.

He responds,

and as he looks to Jesus,

he responds realizing his place,

which is not even to be

in God's presence.

And then because of that,

you know,

when he's at home,

he's not able to do

any works of power.

Here,

because there's a faith

that he even marvels at

from a Gentile,

he's able to do

a very unique miracle.

Usually,

when Jesus does a miracle,

he's right there.

He's right there

with the loaves

and the fishes.

He's right there

with the man

with the withered hand.

But here,

and in the ancient world,

this is very weird,

it's a miracle

that happens over a distance.

He doesn't even have to see.

He's so amazed.

There's so much faith there.

He doesn't have to see this servant.

The servant's just healed.

Luke is highlighting for us

that dichotomy

between those two things.

In today's lesson,

a key attribute

of the faith

that Jesus is seeking from us

is humility.

The definition would be

understanding God's holiness

and power

as a soldier sees

and our place

in response

and in comparison

to that.

Why does this matter?

In a world of political

and social

and corporate hierarchies,

humility can be

a very tough sell.

You know,

I work within the machine

here in Ottawa

and I've got to tell you

when it comes to public service

or the military,

humility can be

a very tough sell.

There's a fear

of being overlooked.

There's a fear

of being underutilized

or overutilized

by the machine

and just run over

by the big political machine.

But this is important

because humility

cuts across that jungle,

cuts across our false selves

we buy into

when we start playing that game

and it opens room

for the Holy Spirit

to bring out

our new selves,

renewed,

as Ephesians 4.24 says.

Cuts right across it,

opens it up,

humility does in faith,

and allows our true selves

to blossom.

Jesus prizes humility

whereas our culture

is a battle royale

of who has the most

social merit.

Some people,

it's just important

that they be seen

as the most powerful

and the most important.

And oddly enough,

for others,

it's a battle

to see who's the most oppressed.

Because if I'm the most oppressed,

that means I'm

the most important voice.

But on both sides,

it's all about

who's on the top

of the heap

and who's the most important.

My kids are really,

I don't know if you've ever seen this,

my kids are really into people

who stream video games

on the internet.

Have you seen this?

It's bigger than sports, folks,

and it's bigger in cable.

Kids aren't interested in that.

They're interested

in going on YouTube

or this thing called Twitch

and watching someone.

It'll be up here.

It's basically them

them playing the video game

and a little box

of their head up there

talking to you

while they're playing

that video game.

Sounds funny,

but it's a huge thing.

Now, because my kids

are into this,

Amy and I are into this.

Right?

You want to kind of

be able to be involved

in whatever it is

that your kids are into.

But something

they always talk about,

these streamers,

always talk about

on social media

or on their streams,

is something called clout.

Basically,

the more clout you have,

the more people pay attention.

It's people paying attention

to your social media

or they're watching

or want to watch

your stream

and so you become

an influencer.

And the more clout you have,

the more advertising dollars

you get

because the advertisers

want their little logo there

and they want you

drinking their Coca-Cola

on stream.

So it's just,

they want clout.

People pay attention to you.

You get these advertising dollars,

you get invited

to the biggest tournaments,

you get invited

to the biggest conferences

and the dollars roll in.

We see them

constantly grinding

against each other.

I watch this with my kids.

They're grinding

against each other

for this clout.

And I think,

you know,

just to get more eyeballs,

more eyeballs watching.

And I think that is

an image,

we can laugh at it,

but it's an image

of our society at large.

people trying to convince

each other

of their social clout,

their importance

in the eyes of the world.

And it's a battle

to see whose voice

is more important.

And it is so easy

to get caught up in that.

I'm a minister

who works within

a rank structure.

It is so easy

to get caught up

in that.

But in light

of the gospel,

complete nonsense.

Complete nonsense.

It's an anathema

to the message of Jesus.

Humility

is the root

that our true selves

and faith

grow that of.

Thomas Akempis said,

the more humble

a man is in himself

and the more obedient

towards God,

the wiser he will be

in all things

and the more

shall his soul

be at peace.

Are you looking

for peace

this morning?

Humble yourself

before almighty God.

That's where peace

is found.

So what are we called to?

I believe this morning

we are called

to a deep understanding

of our place

before God.

A deep understanding

that there is a God

and you or I

aren't him.

Not even close.

Humility,

friends,

is a social,

is a spiritual practice

that we're called to.

We often think of it,

you can see in the

growing of grace

section

or the to do section,

we often think

of humility

as kind of one

of the fruits

of the spirit,

something that grows

out of our faith,

which is true,

but even more so

we are told

to put on humility,

to be humble.

This is an act

that the Bible

tells us to do.

A means of grace,

a spiritual practice

through which

our faith is grown.

And so I want to

challenge us this week

to practice

humility.

I wonder if we might

prayerfully look

at how we're managing

our own image

this week.

If you journal,

this is a perfect

opportunity to use

your journal.

If you don't,

perfect opportunity

to start journaling.

Listen,

friends,

to how,

I'm going to do

this this week,

I need it as much

as anybody else,

can we listen

to how we talk

about ourselves

this week?

Can we journal

when we kind of

spin the story

about ourselves

to make ourselves

look better?

I want us

to pay attention

to what comes

out of ourselves

when we meet

someone new.

What do we want

to come out?

Do I want my rank

to come out

when I'm talking

to someone new?

We want to journal

how we respond

to praise or blame.

And any one

of those things,

just focus on

one of them.

And to offer

to God

those moments

and ask Jesus

to root us

in his love

instead,

so that through

faith and humility

our true selves

can blossom up

in this world

that needs you

to be so.

We call this

keeping watch.

As Jesus commanded

in Matthew 25,

13,

he said,

watch therefore

yourself

because you

don't know

the hour.

Spiritual practice

of living in

watchfulness

when we're

constantly asking

these questions

of ourselves

and our interactions

and in our lives

and offering

those moments

to God,

that's walking

in watchfulness,

actually paying

attention to

what it is

that we're doing

in light of God

in our lives.

we pray

always for the

desire to

become more

like Jesus

who,

as Jonathan Edwards

said,

is infinitely

greater than us

but also

infinitely

more humble.

Jesus humbled

himself,

I mean,

Jesus is on high

but he humbled

himself

to a death

on the cross

so that those

of us who are

humbled

and faithful

before him

are raised

up

to our new

selves now

and to

eternity then.

Thanks be to

God.

Amen.

Let's pray.

Loving God,

we just pray

for your presence.

We pray that you

would walk with us

this week,

Lord God.

Help us to keep

watch on ourselves

by the power

of your spirit

and to know

those times

when we need

to offer it to you.

In Jesus' name

we pray.

Amen.