A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                    NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART IV

"I, Jesus, am in Capernaum.... While here I met some Jewish elders.... They told me about the ill servant of a Roman Centurion.... My heart was filled with compassion for this servant.... So I started walking to the home of the Roman Centurion... However, while I was on my way I was stopped by some of his friends.... They told me that the Roman Centurion did not feel himself worthy of My visit to his home.... He asked that I simply speak a word of healing for his servant... For he understands that I have authority to heal his servant by simply speaking a word.... I am amazed at his faith... I have spoken the word of healing...... And he will find his servant well."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus is amazed by the level of faith of the Roman Centurion.....

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                    NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART IV

The Roman Centurion asks some of his Jewish friends to meet Jesus on his behalf to pass on to Him the request that He simply speak a word of healing over the servant for that will be sufficient for the servant to be made whole. The Centurion understands the principle of rightful authority for in his own life he simply speaks the word and those under his authority will do what they have been told. Likewise, he understands that Jesus has authority over sicknesses. Therefore, when Jesus simply speaks the word for the sickness to go, it must go. Jesus' response to the request of the Centurion can be found in Luke 7:9-10

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Jesus is amazed at the level of faith of the Roman Centurion who, no doubt, is very grateful to the Lord when he returns home to find his servant well.

 

 

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART III

"I, a Roman Centurion, did ask my friends to speak with Jesus to heal my servant.... And they did.... And Jesus actually started to come to my home.... But when He got close to my home I once again had some Jewish friends speak to him.... For I needed Him to know I understand that I am not worthy for Him to enter my home since I am a Gentile... I may be important in rank.... And He may not be more than a Rabbi.... But I know that He is Someone special sent from God... I believe that He only needs to speak a word of healing for my servant... That will be sufficient for my servant to be well....For I understand that He has authority.... Just as I have authority over my soldiers."... Please read the typed out attachments when you will learn that the Roman Centurion understands the issue of authority...

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                   NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART III

Jesus listens to the plea of the Jewish elders and in response goes to the house of the Roman Centurion. However, the Centurion, knowing that he is not of the chosen race, does not think that Jesus, who is of the chosen race, should enter his home as you can read in Luke 7:6b-8

He was not far from the house when the Centurion sent friends to say to Him, "Lord, don't trouble Yourself, for I do not deserve to have You come under my rood. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word and my servant will be healed.For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it."

The Roman Centurion does understand the issue of authority and shares his insight with Jesus through his Jewish friends.

  

                                    A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART II

"I, a Roman Centurion, live in a town called Capernaum... Life is good here.... I have made many friends among the Jewish people even though I am not Jewish.... I am a Roman citizen..... However, I am very concerned about my servant for he is very ill..... And the doctors have not been able to make him well.... But I have heard that this Man Jesus has come to our town.... And I have heard that He heals people and delivers people from demonic spirits.... I am sure He can heal my servant.... The problem is that I am not Jewish... And His ministry is among Jewish people.... So I have asked some of my Jewish friends to go to Jesus and speak to Him on my behalf..... Perhaps they can plead my case before Jesus.... And He does not even have to come to my home for I am not worthy for him to enter my home."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a Roman Centurion's concern for his ill servant....

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART II

The Centurion is a Roman soldier and, therefore, not one of the Jewish chosen people. One of his servants is very ill and in, in fact, on the point of dying. What is he to do? He has done everything possible so far and no medicine has worked. He is really at his wit's end. But he then learns that Jesus has entered Capernaum and he has heard that this Jesus can and does heal people. It is true, he as a Roman citizen, does not belong to the Jewish people and Jesus' ministry is among Jewish people. However, his situation is very desperate for his servant is near death. Perhaps, Jesus may have mercy upon him and will minister to his servant even though he is not worthy to receive Him in his home as an "unclean" Gentile. Not feeling worthy to even speak to Jesus in person, he asks some of the Jewish elders if they are willing to plead his case before Jesus on his behalf as you can read in Luke 7:4 - 6

When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with Him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.

The Jewish elders speak favourably of the Roman Centurion because he is kind and loving towards them.

 

                                 

 

                             A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART I

"I, Jesus, have gone to Capernaum... I did not go there because I decided it would be nice to go there.... No, I went there because My Father directed Me to go there.... For I only do what My Father wants me to do.... While here I met some Jewish elders..... I spoke with them.... I asked them what I could do for them... They told Me they had not come for themselves.... They had come on behalf of someone else.... Someone they very much respect.... But he is not Jewish... He is a Roman Centurion.... His servant is very ill.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus has gone to Capernaum where He meets some Jewish elders who have befriended a Roman Centurion....

 

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                        NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART I

Jesus has gone to Capernaum, no doubt led by His Father for He only does what He sees His heavenly Father doing as you can read in John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He can only do what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

You can find the reason for His going to Capernaum in Luke 7:1-3

When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. There a Centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The Centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant.

At Jesus' arrival in Capernaum He is visited by some Jewish men, friends of a Roman Centurion.

 

 

                                A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    FAR FROM HOME PART XVIII

"I, Daniel, am living in the Medo-Persian kingdom where I serve at the court of king Darius the Mede.... But I am not a Medo-Persian... I am a Hebrew... I have served at this court for many years... Not too long ago I spent a night in the lions' den because I disobeyed the king's order to pray to him.... I can only pray to my God, the God of Israel... God sent an angel to take care of me while I was in the lions' den so I was not hurt by any of them... The king was overjoyed that I had not been hurt... I continue to serve him as his administrator.... He has placed me over his whole kingdom.... I would like to encourage other believers who come after me to follow my example by making God the Lord of your life even if you are misunderstood or mocked for your stand.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that you must never give up doing what you know to be right....


                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               FAR FROM HOME PART XVIII

You are to live this life of faith in God on a daily basis and it ought to affect the way you think, how you speak and how you act. You are not to compromise on your faith in any way for that would mean you are denying the Lord the place you have given Him in your life. If He is your Lord then He is to be your Lord for all times and in all circumstances. Regardless of what that might mean. It may mean you will be misunderstood or even mocked for your stand. If that is so, then you are to simply forgive those who do these things to you for they do not know what they are doing. Jesus is your example for He forgave those who crucified Him as you can read in Luke 23:34

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

And you are not to give up doing what you know to be right as Paul writes in Galatians 6:9

Let us not be weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

P.S. We have come to the end of the story on Daniel. In my next post I will start to share a story from the New Testament "Not Worthy Of Attention."

 

                                    
                                  A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                      FAR FROM HOME PART XVII

"I, Daniel, have experienced God's faithfulness once again in a special way... King Darius had made a decree that all the people in his kingdom were to pray to him only for the next thirty days... I serve king Darius as one of his administrators... I respect him greatly.... I understand the importance of obeying him.... However, I knew too that I could not obey him in this respect.... I can only pray to my God, the God of Israel.... I have served Him all my life....I intend to do so until I die.... My God has been good to me all my life.... I have no doubt that He will continue to be good to me.... So I prayed to my God knowing my disobedience may well be reported to the king... In fact, I was expecting this to happen... I was, therefore, not surprised when the king came to see me..... I could see in his face that he was very distraught.... The reason he was distraught was because he had to tell me he would have to give the order to have me thrown into the lions' den... That is what happened..... But I knew that my God would be with me even in the lions' den. And He was.... And His angel protected me from any attacks of the lions... Likewise, if any of you, who may live after I, Daniel, am gone, are going through challenges then I would like to encourage you to be obedient to God just as I was."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a spiritual being that acts like a lion....


            ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           FAR FROM HOME PART XVII

So we know from this account that Daniel obeyed his God throughout his life. Likewise, God wants you to live a life of obedience regardless of the challenges you may face. As a believer, you will face a being that acts like a lion as Peter writes in I Peter 5:8

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

This "lion" is obviously not a physical lion as Daniel had to deal with but is the devil who is a fallen angel. Moreover, this fallen angel makes himself look like an angel of light as you can read
in II Corinthians 11:14

And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Therefore, the devils' ways are very deceptive and that means you are to have a close walk with the Lord in order to be able to withstand him as James writes in James 4:7

Submit yourselves then to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

                                    A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  FAR FROM HOME PART XVI

"I, king Darius the Mede, had a terrible night last night... I cannot remember another night like the one last night.... The reason I had such a terrible night was because of what I had to do that evening.... I had to send my very best official, the man I completely trust, to the lions' den... His name is Daniel.... He is a Hebrew who has served here at the Court since he was a young man.... I was tricked into declaring a decree that he could not obey..... Consequently I had to have him thrown into the lions' den... It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.... I dragged myself to his house to tell him where he had to spend the night....I told him I could only hope that his God would keep him safe.... I then went back to my palace.... I could not eat my dinner... My servants tried to lighten my mood but they could not.... I then went to my bedroom but I could not sleep....So I got up very early in the morning.....I rushed to the lions' den.... The moment I got there I cried out to Daniel.... And Daniel answered!!.... My heart filled with joy and gratitude to Daniel's God.... He had protected him just as I had hoped He would!"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about Daniel's night in the lions' den....


                    ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  FAR FROM HOME PART XVI

That night sleep evades king Darius the Mede and as soon as it is light, he gets up to check on Daniel, his number one administrator whom he had to throw before lions in accordance with a written decree, hoping against hope that he is still alive as you can read in Daniel 6:19-23

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel answered, "O, king, live forever! My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O King." The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Words cannot describe how the king feels when he hearts the voice of his trusted servant Daniel declaring that, yes, he is alive and well for his God has watched over him and has not allowed him to be touched by the lions.

                                     A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  FAR FROM HOME PART XV

"I, king Darius the Mede, had had to make a decision today I wished I never had to make.... I had to send my very best official to the lions' den... His name is Daniel... He is not a Medo-Persian.... He is a Hebrew.... But he has lived here in this kingdom even before I took it over from the Babylonian king Belshazzar....He has told me he came here when he was taken captive by king Nebuchadnezzar as a young man.... He is now an old man.... But he is a very wise man.... I rely on his wisdom so much... I was planning to make him administrator over my whole kingdom.... But my plans may never happen.... I now realise I was tricked by Daniel's colleagues, the other administrators.... They came to me with a proposal yesterday.... I was pleased with their proposal.....It would bring me great honour... And it might bring my kingdom together.....Their proposal was that I would make a decree for everyone in my kingdom to pray to me only for the next thirty days.... I was happy to do so.....However, I forgot one thing....I forgot that my most important official Daniel would not obey that decree....But my administrators had not forgotten.... And they had caught Daniel praying to his God... They were only too pleased to report his "crime" to me.... I had no choice but to obey my own decree,,, I have just been to see Daniel... I can only pray and hope that his God will protect him from the lions.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that king Darius the Mede has no choice but to obey his own decree....


              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               FAR FROM HOME PART XV

Daniel, the number one administrator in the Medo-Persian kingdom, once again makes a choice to continue to obey his God, regardless of the cost, knowing full well that his action will bring him before lions according to the decree put out by king Darius the Mede, as you can read in Daniel 6:16

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

King Darius the Mede has no choice but to have his administrator Daniel thrown before the lions. All he can hope for now is that Daniel's God will keep Daniel safe.