A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (March 30,2018)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
In the realm of the spirit there is a substance that can activate God’s Word and put into action His promises in your life. Although it cannot be easily seen, it is powerful. When applied properly, this substance can increase and become the key to deliverance and victory. This substance is faith.
In Matthew 8, Jesus was approached by a Roman centurion who pleaded with Him to heal his servant who was at home paralyzed and tormented. When Jesus offered to travel to the centurion’s house and heal the servant, the centurion gave a surprising response. Instead of allowing Jesus to come to his home, which in most people’s eyes would have assured the healing of the servant, he said:
“Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I am also 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” (Matthew 8:8-9).
When Jesus heard the centurion make this statement, He marveled and made a proclamation that certainly astonished everyone with Him. Even though the centurion was not from the house of Israel and although he had no covenant with God, Jesus said, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (v.10). What was the key to the “great faith” that the centurion had? What quality was there that he possessed that caused our Lord Jesus to commend his great faith?
If we examine the centurion’s statement, we will find that he understood the concept of submission and authority. He knew that in order for his men who served under him to honor his commands that he must himself be submitted to those with a higher rank. He knew that authority did not exist without submission and because of that, Jesus singled him out in front of all of His disciples and proclaimed that the centurion was a man of great faith.
The principles in God’s kingdom have not changed. Faith is still activated today in the same manner that it was 2,000 years ago. Of course, man has increased in science, mechanics, and medicine. But nevertheless, God’s kingdom has not changed. Many study the Word of God and understand the principles of submission and authority, but few put into action the principle of submission to authority. In order to have mountain-moving faith, true submission to God’s Word must be a lifestyle.
The centurion said, “For I am also a man under authority.” He knew that Jesus was not doing His own will but rather following the commands of His Father. Jesus said that He had never spoken a word or performed an act unless the Father had told Him to do it first. That’s true submission to the leadership of the Father. Because Jesus submitted to the Father, great miracles took place at His hand. Without the submission, there would have been no authority.
Now don’t take me wrong. I’m not advocating that Christians should blindly submit themselves to every person who calls themselves a leader. But as a Christian, you know who has been placed in authority both in the world and in the church. Authority is needed to move the mountains in your life. But submission is required to activate the faith that moves the mountain. Submission first, and then authority.
