LUKE 7:1-10

PRAYER LESSONS FROM A SOLDIER

Life of Christ #20

 

A SOLDIER’S PRAYER

BY MICHELE SHIVER

 

Whenever you see this star, please pray for me,
For on a lonely journey, I will be.
Serving my country by protecting this land,
Created so uniquely by the Master's Hand.

Pray for my protection and safety as I go,
Deliverance from the evil snares of my foes.
Pray for my courage to stand brave and strong,
But humbleness to remember to whom I belong.

Pray I'll be the man God created me to be,
Cleansed by the blood on the cross at Calvary.
Pray that I'll take up daily the full Armor of God,
To guide and protect my footsteps wherever I may trod.

Pray for wisdom and discernment in every decision I make,
That I'll seek His will before each step that I take.
Pray I'll find comfort in knowing He's always there,
Trusting Him completely with all my burdens to bear.

Pray for endurance as I bravely answer this call,
Remembering that for me, He gave His One and All.
Pray that I'll lean not on my own understanding,
For only in Him is victory and true honor gained.

Pray for my family while I'm away from home,
Help them to remember that they're never alone.
Pray they'll trust the Sovereignty of His unseen Hand,
Focusing on the One who has a Master Plan.

Pray I'll find hope renewed and in Him, the strength,
If my spirit begins to grow weary and faint.
Pray that on wings like eagles, I will soar,
If I begin to feel that I can take no more.

Now, as this nation's freedom I go to defend,
Pray for my swift and safe return in the end.
Pray that in Him, I completely trust and obey,
As I fulfill the mission of "Enduring Freedom" for the USA!
Michele Shiver ©2003 http://www.plantinghisseeds.com/patriotic/asoldiersprayer.htm

 

Since the earliest days of the world’s history, there have been soldiers.

There have been good soldiers and there have been bad soldiers.

There have soldiers who were upright and moral, and those who were not.

There have been those who have been loyal and those who have not.

There have those who trusted God and those who have not.

There have been those who have prayed, as the poem written by Michele Shiver indicates, and those who have not

 

As we continue our series on the Life of Christ, we find an event that happened shortly after Jesus chose the 12 Apostles.

 

This story involves a centurion, who was an officer in the Roman military, the equivalent of a captain today.

The centurion in our Scripture reading this morning was a good man. And although he was not praying, in the strictest sense, because Jesus was literally walking around on earth, his example gives us some lessons about prayer.

 

One of the most important duties a Christian has is to pray.

 

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.

 

Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

One of the most difficult things we have to do in the Christian life is to pray!  Why would that be?

 

I personally believe that Satan would rather have you read your Bible than pray. 

I believe he would rather have you witness for Christ than pray.   

I believe that he would rather have you doing good works than praying.

 

The reason I say these things is because the secret to a Christian’s success is based on his communication with and dependence upon God! Jesus, who is God, said, “For without me ye can do nothing.”

 

If you do not pray, you will have no power.

If you do not pray, you will have no comfort.

If you do not pray, your hope will be limited.

If you do not pray effectively, you will not live effectively for your Master.

 

Satan will fight your prayer life.

He will give you excuses for not praying.

You will be too tired, too busy, too worried, too upset, too something to pray.

But, as someone has said, if you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy!

 

Satan will distract you as you try to pray.

All sorts of things will pop into your head that don’t belong there.

He’ll get you thinking about anything that’s important to you.

You will find yourself worrying over, and trying to figure out, the very things that you should be bringing to the Lord in prayer.

   

That’s the bad news!

Now, here’s the good news!

God always gives you the power to do what he tells you to do.

 

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

God will give you the power to pray.

God has given us patterns for prayer from which we can learn

God has given us examples in the Scriptures of those who prayed, or showed us how to pray.

 

Now, let’s go to our text and let’s learn some lessons about prayer from a soldier.

 

TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE BURDEN BEARER

 

Vss. 1-2 – During much of Jesus’ ministry Capernaum was his headquarters.

In Capernaum there was a soldier.

The soldier had a servant that was evidently like a son to Him.

The servant was very sick and about ready to die.

The Man had a burden.   

 

Life is full of burdens.  Some burdens are bigger than others, but we all have burdens.  In this room this morning, there are many burdens. 

Some of you are burdened for your parents.

Some of you are burdened for your children.

Some of you are burdened with financial woes.

Some of you are burdened with physical problems.

Some of you are burdened with work problems or school problems.

Some of you are burdened with a sin problem.

Some of you are burdened with your friends’ problems.

Some of you are burdened because you have been hurt or offended.

We don’t lack for burdens.

 

Job 5:7 - Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

 

What do we normally do with these burdens?

There are various ways of handling burdens.

 

Some will sit, and stew, and pout, not saying a word.

Some will talk and talk and talk to others about their problems.

Some will worry themselves sick over problems.

Some will become grouchy and irritable over their problems.

Some will become withdrawn over their problems.

Some will develop ulcers.

Some will do what this centurion did.

 

HE TOOK HIS BURDEN TO THE BURDEN BEARER   

 

Vs. 3 – If you read Matthew’s account, you’ll find that it says that the centurion went to Jesus.

 

I believe that Matthew was just making the story briefer. Rather than explaining that the centurion had representatives, Matthew simply says that the man went himself.  There is really no contradiction. Matthew simply chose not to give us all the details.

 

Why did the centurion come to Jesus?

He knew that Jesus had healed others.

Perhaps he had believed on Him as his Savior, or as the Messiah.

Whatever the other reasons, the centurion knew that Jesus was capable of bearing this burden of his servant’s sickness, and that Jesus was capable of healing his servant.

 

The centurion brought his burden to the burden bearer!

 

My friend, God is a burden bearer. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are burden bearers.

 

If you are one who is saved this morning, one who knows that your sins are forgiven, and that you are going to Heaven, it is because Jesus bore the burden of your sin.

 

1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

If you are not saved this morning, sin is your biggest burden.

But relief from that burden is free. It is simply a matter of faith.

 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Now Christian, if Jesus as your burden bearer, has taken care of your greatest burden, sin, won’t he take care of all your other burdens too?   

   

Shouldn’t we bring every burden to Him?

 

Psalm 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

When a good friend or a beloved family member comes to you and shares a problem, do you consider it an inconvenience or that you are being “bugged”? 

 

I doubt that you do.

 

You are probably glad that the person felt the liberty to share that problem with you.   

 

In the same way, you are not bugging God when you bring any burden or problem to Him.  No doubt, he is glad that you feel the freedom to bring Him your burdens.  No doubt He is glad that you are being obedient by casting all your cares upon Him.

 

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Some of you like to fish using a lure.

When you use a lure, you actually cast the line out into the water, away from you.

 

Imagine casting your burdens on the Lord as being like fishing.  Bait your hook with your burdens and “cast” them up to the Lord.  However, different from fishing, in your mind, cut the line!  Once you cast the burdens on the Lord, you don’t want to reel them back in!

Lord, I’m so discouraged
I don’t know what to do
I have so many burdens
And I gave them all to you.

But you didn’t take them Jesus
Will you tell me why that’s so?
The answer’s simply, “little one
Because you won’t let go”. Source unknown http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=188

Prayer lessons from a soldier:

TAKE YOU BURDEN TO THE BURDEN BEARER

HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE HUMBLE ONE

 

Vss. 4-5 – The Jewish leaders who had been sent by the centurion assured Jesus that this man, though a Gentile by birth, was a worthy man. He loved the nation, Israel, and had even built them a Synagogue.  Believe me this was high praise coming from the Jews concerning a Gentile!

 

Vss. 6-7 – Jesus went, I feel, not because the man loved Israel or built a synagogue, but because Jesus is the “burden bearer”.

 

And the ironic thing is that the centurion sent and said, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, or for me to come to you myself.”

He knew that he was not as good as the Lord Jesus.

He knew that he was a sinner.

He knew that he did not deserve anything from the Lord Jesus, especially his presence.

 

The Centurion was humbling himself before the humble one, who left the splendor of Heaven to come to earth for us, and who would eventually humble himself to the point of death for our sins.

 

Philippians 2:5-8 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

This same humble mind of Christ is to be in his followers.

And although we are invited to come boldly before the “Throne of Grace”, we are also to come humbly before God.

 

We need to be humble enough to confess any know sin.

We need to be humble enough to admit that we can’t bear the burden ourselves.

We need to be humble enough to realize that we have no merit in ourselves. But can only ask in the name of Christ.

 

James 4:6 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 

John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

 

It is possible to try to be bossy with God.

It is possible to think God owes us something.

It is possible to pray without the Lord Jesus’ stamp of approval.

This is all pride!

 

And imagine what a difference there would be in America today if we Christians took seriously the challenge of  2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE BURDEN BEARER

HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE HUMBLE ONE   

TRUST THE ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED   

 

Vs. 7 – The Centurion is saying, “You don’t have to see my servant. You don’t have to come to my servant. You don’t have to touch my servant. I trust that you word is sufficient to get the job done.

 

That is faith.

 

Vs. 8 – The Centurion recognized that Jesus was under God’s authority.

He also realized that Jesus had authority.

Just as the Centurion was under authority and had authority, and could make commands, so it was with Jesus.

Jesus had to say the Word and the servant would be healed.

 

The Centurion is showing us that faith is essential to prayer.

Mark 11:22-24 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. [23] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. [24] Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 

Beloved, so often when we pray we don’t look for answers.

It is like the old story of the preacher who called for a prayer meeting during a great draught.

 

When the people showed up he admonished them for not bringing their umbrellas! They didn’t have faith!  

 

Vss. 9-10 – Jesus had never seen greater faith in Israel.

The servant was healed.

 

Beloved, have you trusted Jesus with you soul?

You have trusted Jesus with you soul, if you have trusted Him as you Savior.

Romans 10:9-10 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Beloved if you have trusted Jesus with you soul, can’t you trust Him with your problems too?

Can’t Jesus be trusted with every burden that you have?

Of course He can!

 

Who is it that should be showing great faith today?

It is you and I who as God’s children should be boldly coming before the Throne of Grace, getting God’s work accomplished on our knees!

 

John 14:12-14 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. [13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

 

PRAYER LESSONS FROM A SOLDIER:

TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE BURDEN BEARER

HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE HUMBLE ONE

TRUST THE ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED