DAY 30 - New Faith: Total Trust in Jesus' Authority (Please go to FaceBook(silastyng) to watch my video of this blog)

           

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people
3.   Open your heart to praise the Lord

           But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
               let them ever sing for joy,
           and spread your protection over them,
               that those who love your name may exult in you.
                                                 Psalm 5:11

Confession and repentance

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

The Word

     When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

                                                        Matthew 8:5-13

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

My Listening

     Today we have a passage about how a Gentile army commander recognized Jesus' authority by comparing it to his own authority to a soldier. 

     This is a sort of faith that Jesus has not found among his own people. This kind of faith also leads to the advancement of the gospel to the gentiles in later time.

     The commander called Jesus as Lord and had that total trust. We also call Jesus as Lord. Do we have that total trust in Jesus' authority? 

      What I got from Jesus today is a big, big reminder of our trust in him. There are so many times in life we have been caught up with unexpected crisis that lead us to feel insecure, depressed and discouraged. If we have this kind of total trust in Jesus' authority, do you think we would still have that insecure, depressed and discouraged feeling? 

     Remember, when we address Jesus as our Lord, we really need to trust in our Lord's total authority that nothing is impossible in Him.

     Dear Lord Jesus,

      Lead us to have that total trust in your total authority.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.     

Reflect on these questions:

1. If you were one of the Roman army commander’s soldiers, what would you think? What would that soldier who was being healed feel? What would Jesus’ disciples feel?

2. Have you been caught up with an unexpected crisis leading you to feel insecure, depressed and discouraged recently? Can you pray about that right now?

3. If you have this kind of total trust in Jesus' authority, do you think you would still have that insecure, depressed and discouraged feeling?

Family Corner:

1. When was the last time your family had to trust in Jesus' authority in a time of crisis? How did you trust him? Or, did you take matters into your own hands without waiting for his guidance?

    Praise and Thanksgiving

Let's give thanks for God with us. Let us praise Him:

10,000 Reasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E