I’m testing out new video equipment. Where the video turned out good. I got to work on the audio. So in case you can’t understand the audio here is the amazing jist of the message:

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This is the beginning of a series of message shorts entitled “I Tell You The Truth” where I will be looking at every instance where Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life made a statement which included the words ‘ I tell you the truth”, “assuredly”, “truly I tell you”, etc.

In a world where we are being bombarded with lies, it feels so good to be able to consider something that is truth and that we can hold onto.

In this lesson, found at Matthew 8:5-13 we see something worth taking note of – Jesus interaction with a Gentile.

In these verses we see the willing heart that Jesus had towards the Gentile (a person who is not of Israelite descent).

In this world, often we might come across some who present that unless we are of Israel descent, that we are not acceptable to God. That statement is totally untrue and I encourage you to not receive that based upon what Jesus himself said at Matthew 8: 11,12
: And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the king of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ” (NKJV)

The motiviating factor behind this statement was faith. Jesus said that in all Israel He had not found anyone to have faith like this GENTILE – a Roman Centurion.

This Roman Centurion who was not a follower or believer, in the manner of the Jews, knew and recognized something of importance – authority.

He recognized that Jesus had authority. He spoke to the authoirty of Christ Jesus.

He also spoke with humility, recognizing that he was not worthy to be in the presence (under the same roof) with Christ Jesus.

This makes me think of how we tend to take for granted the privileges we have extended to us.

What privilege do you currently have that you might be taking for granted? Who is in your life that you might be taking for granted?

The centurion says to Jesus, just speak the word, and I know it will be done.

Let me interject this, spirit recognizes spirit; and authrity recognized authority. Jesus didnt have any special garments that he wore. Jesus didnt have any college university degrees. He was not lettered in the  manner of men. Yet, He had a commanding presence that was recognized by this Roman centurion.

Do you know who else really saw Jesus? The woman who  had the issue of blood. She is the oly one who took her healing.

This leads me to ask another question: Do you really see Jesus? or Is you recognition of Jesus a programmed response?

Jesus is the Way.
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus is the Life of men.

What do you know about Jesus?
What do you believe about Jesus?

Just like with the centurion, and the woman with the issue of blood, so be it with us, Jesus words – “As you have believed, so let it be done for you.”

What are you believing?

This is truth.

Now catch the significance of this …

We are discussing here Matthew 8 : 5 – 13 about the Gentile centurion who recognized the authority that Jesus had to command.

So, Jesus now says to his “followers,” I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.

Understand that by this time Jesus was famous. He was known for his teaching. He was known for his preaching. He was known for healing. So multitudes followed him.

So catch this:
So many people are following him; and yet he says I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. Understand that people followed Jesus for what they could get. They followed Jesus to be connected to someone great so that they can have a position because of the name.  But did they really know him.

You got to understand this following that Jesus had.

The best way that I can explain it to you is this:

How many people are on your Facebook page or any of your social media pages that you “do not know”?  How many people are connected to you, and following you, just so that can they can see the next thing that you do, or the next thing that you say?

There are a lot of people that rack up many followers, and yet that does not mean that the follower knows the person, let alone that the person knows the follower.

Some people today go after followers just so that they can say that they have a bunch of people following them.  They look to gain more followers just so that they can feel important, but they have no accountability to the people who are following them. It is just about numbers for them.

But that was not the case for the Jesus.   Matthew 4: 23-24 says “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” (NIV)

This was a show for the followers.

They wanted to be amazed by the next miraculous work done.

They wanted to be acknowledged by Jesus, noticed, called upon – just like people do today when a “prophet” comes in the church.

“Call on me. Speak to me. Single me out. Speak over me. Heal me. Deliver me. Bless me. Give me…”

Insert songs here :
1. Deliver me

2. Bless me

3. Give me by Jill Scott (notice hers is not a Christian song. Notice also that Jesus was not being notices only by Israelites. See Matthew 4:12-16, 25)

There are some who heard and simply want to see – Zacchaeus who climbs a tree to get a glimpse only to have Jesus call him by name.

Insert song
1. He Knows My Name

Or what about blind Bartimaeus who heard that Jesus was passing by and he began shouting out to Jesus, and those with him tried to stop him. He had a need so he kept shouting and Jesus answered him and healed him.

So you see there is a vast mixed company of people following Jesus then and today.

Let me show you someone else who was always present and in the front seats…

The Pharisees

Why were they there?
They didn’t want nothing?
They weren’t trying to get healed and delivered.
So why were they there?
Why were they in the front seats taking up space?

Why did the 4 friends of the paralyzed man have to go up on the roof and lower him down because they couldn’t get in the door?

Why was all them people in the way, blocking the door, when they didn’t want nothing?

When you have a need that is great, why are people trying to get in the way of you and King Jesus?

Why do people feel like you need to go thru someone to get to King Jesus? Why are people blocking?

Do you know how to climb up on the roof and dig a hole in the roof so that you can be lowered down?

When is the last time you climbed a tree?

Insert song here
1. Don’t do it without me

Do you know how to cry out to the Lord in a way that will catch his attention and cause him to stop or pause for you.

Insert song here
1. Pass me Not oh Gentle Savior

And if he passed by you do you know how to touch the hem of his garment so that you can get your healing.

Insert song here
1. Touch the Hem of His Garment

There are a lot of people following Jesus. And yet Jesus says, at Matthew 8:10…

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following Him, “I tell you truthfully, I have not found such great faith [as this] with anyone in Israel. – Matthew 8:10 AMP

Many were following, but who actually saw Jesus was a Gentile.

And Jesus blessed that Gentile with answering the request of his heart – healing, not for himself, but for another.

Let me tell you something about this that stands out to me…

I have seen the comments of some who say that you have to be an Israelite in order to be approved by God.

Let me tell you that those who say that might call themselves following Jesus but trust me they can’t SEE Jesus because if they could they wouldn’t speak such untruth about Jesus nor HIS Kingdom.

Now let me show you what Jesus who is the way and the  truth and the life said about Gentiles.

Matthew 8:11-12

11 I say to you that many [Gentiles] will come from east and west, and will sit down [to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [because they accepted Me as Savior],12 while the sons and heirs of the kingdom [the descendants of Abraham who will not recognize Me as Messiah] will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place [which is farthest removed from the kingdom] there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger].” – Matthew 8:11-12 AMP

This is why you need to read your Bible for yourself.

Open your Word.

If you don’t have a bible, go to biblegateway.com. you’ll find many translations and languages there.
If you can’t read, it will read to you.
There is no excuse for why you can’t hear Gods word for yourself.

Now let’s get back to this Gentile centurion who stood out in the midst of all of the followers.

What caused him to stand out was his faith.

He was a Roman. A Gentile. Not a follower.
Yet He saw Jesus.
He recognized the authority of Jesus and he spoke to that authority. With respect. Humbling himself before Jesus.

Can you see Jesus?

How do you see Jesus?

(Don’t just give the programmed response here. But really think about it. How do you see Jesus?)

A Gentile saw him in his authority and spoke to that and got favor

A Judean woman who suffered for many years with an issue of blood saw Doctor Jesus and she reached for her prescription, and took her healing.

Insert song here
1. Come on in the Room

2. Touch the Hem of His Garment (shown above)

How are you seeing Jesus?
Can you see him for your situation ?

It requires more than following.

Catch.