An Intercessory Prayer Warrior!

And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, “ Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “ Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and 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.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.  Matthew 8:5-10 

Did this guy believe in Jesus, or what!

This wasn’t just a test to show if his faith was placed correctly. No, this was ALL IN – MAKE IT OR BREAK IT – NO OTHER OPTION faith.

I’m not sure there are many of us, in our world today who have even a mustard seed of this kind of faith. I’m talking faith in Jesus. A Person the centurion was neither associated with by race, religion, nor relationship. In fact, a Person whom being seen with, probably would’ve ruined his career as a Roman commander of a hundred military men, should he be tagged as a follower or something of equal scandal in the day.

Where as one of us might SECRETLY believe, one of us might even take an opportunity or two, to cautiously test the Man while taking care to have an escape plan should our belief be questioned because of results. Jesus called this soldier a true man of faith… “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. “Not just faith but, but great faith! The kind of faith Jesus hadn’t found in anyone in Israel (those who did have an association by way of race, religion, and for many, relationship).

But Mary, that was “back in the day”! Israel? Our “Christian Religion” has replaced Israel as God’s favorite! Ummm… no… WE ARE ONE with Israel.  Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Ephesians 2:12-16 The kind of faith Jesus found in this centurion would not have been found in us, either!

What kind of faith? The kind that cared for (loved) those who were in his “household”. “ Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” LOVE DRIVEN FAITH!

The kind of faith that asked with passion, the kind that came to Him, imploring Him, PASSION DRIVEN FAITH!

The kind of faith that knows its weakness. Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “ Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”HUMILITY DRIVEN FAITH!

The kind of faith that bows to the authority of God, knows the power of God, and trusts the Will of God will be done. “I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and 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.”  SUBMISSION DRIVEN FAITH!

By now, y’all know I have a favorite line from the movie God’s Not Dead! It has become my mantra for those times I question “Why me, Lord?” For those times I feel God is remiss in answering my prayers. For those times I strongly feel I know best and God just doesn’t “understand”. For all those times I choose to be His bratty child…

“God is good, ALL THE TIME! And all the time, GOD IS GOOD!”

This is the foundation for love/passion/humility/submission driven faith.

I bring my loved one before the One I love and I say, “Please Lord, the one I love is paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented (isn’t that all of us who need intercessory prayer?) and I KNOW You, the One I love, knows and loves this one I love.

“Lord God, We KNOW You respond ALL THE TIME with, “I will come and heal the one we love.” 

Like the centurion, we can easily proclaim, “Lord We are not worthy to receive You, but only say Your Word, and we will be healed.”

Through Your Word and our own life experience, we TRUST and therefor SUBMIT to You, because Your PERFECT WILL, will be done all the time, and all the time, it will be PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!

We don’t have to become a Roman Centurion, we can put on the armor of God and become His army of children, growing in Prayer Warrior faith.

A love driven faith, loving God with our whole heart and soul and mind.

A passionate faith, pursuing God’s will as the only will to pursue.

A humble faith, realizing that with us life is impossible at best, but with God all things are possible.

And a submissive faith that gives God the glory for every detail of our life.

With faith the even the size of a mustard seed, we can grow up to become God’s Intercessory Prayer Warriors. (if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.  Matthew 17:20)

Let’s.Be.An Intercessory Prayer Warrior!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.