MATTHEW 8:5-8: “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Just say the word! This is one of the most powerful statements in the Bible. This is not just my opinion. Listen to what Jesus said after this Roman officer spoke these words.

Matthew 8:10: “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” NLT

Why did these four words impress Jesus so much? What do these words have to do with faith? The Roman officer was convinced of both the identity of Jesus and the authority of Jesus. This was amplified by what the Roman officer said after these four words.

Matthew 8:9: “I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” NLT

If the soldiers under his command would respond to his command, surely heaven would respond to Jesus’ command. Unlike so many, the Roman officer did not need to “see” Jesus do something. He took Jesus at His word. Jesus’ word was sufficient for him. This is why Jesus marveled at his faith.

Many today confuse the truth of this Scripture. For some reason, we have inverted the understanding of this passage. We have begun to put faith in what we say rather than in what God says. An extreme distortion of faith is the teaching that what we proclaim, we will receive. This is not what we are to glean from this account.

The Roman officer did not place his faith in his request or his confession. His faith was solely anchored on what Jesus said. He did not need Jesus to come to his home to believe. He only wanted to hear Jesus’ words and Jesus’ command. As the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus fully represented the Father and all the power of heaven. That is why the Roman officer could say…

“Just say the word!”

We don’t have the privilege of having Jesus physically present with us today. Yet, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. And, we have the Word of God in our hands and in our hearts. Whenever we are in need or face great difficulty, all we need to do is place ourselves prayerfully before God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to…

Just say the word!

This is not a call to treasure hunt promises in the Bible that say what we want to hear. This is a call to seek the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through the Word of God in the moment of our need and to reveal His will for that moment. This is the difference between the “logos” Word and the “rhema” Word of God.

The “logos” Word of God is the entire revealed and written revelation of God in the Bible. The “logos” of God never changes. There is one interpretation of the “logos” of God. This interpretation of God’s Word remains the same even though my circumstances or needs change. God’s Word stands as the ultimate source of truth in all matters of faith and practice.

God never changes! His Word never changes!

Yet, the Word of God is living and active. The “rhema” Word of God is when the Holy Spirit breathes upon the Word and gives us a personal application for our individual situation. This does not change the interpretation of God’s Word, but it makes the application personal and living. It is as personal and living as Jesus’ interaction with the Roman officer.

The question before me today is, am I willing to believe God’s Word and stand on it without any other change in what I see, feel, or hear? Am I like the Jews who cried out, “Show us a sign!”? Or, am I like the Roman officer who responded to Jesus…

“Just say the word!”

I don’t want to use the Word of God to manipulate God into doing what I want Him to do. Rather, I desire the Word of God to speak to my heart, to change my life, so that I can do what He wants me to do. I am not seeking the promises of God. I want to seek the God of the promises. Running to His Word, opening it each day, I am positioning my heart as I cry out…

Just say the word!

Paul prayed for the gift of revelation. Revelation is not discovering something new or something that we decide on our own. Revelation is when God unveils the unchanging truth of His Word in our hearts so that we can clearly see, hear, and obey Jesus.

Revelation is Jesus!

Ephesians 3:16-19: “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Heavenly Father, as I open Your Word each day, help me to see, hear, and obey Jesus! Open my understanding to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is! Help me to believe as You…

Just say the word!

In Jesus’ Name!