“The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.’ When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, ‘Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’” , Matthew 8:8-10
Have you ever found yourself standing in the wreckage of a broken promise, wondering if the words you once trusted were nothing more than empty echoes? Have you felt the sharp sting of betrayal, where the "authority" you relied upon crumbled like dry sand beneath your feet? In those moments of deep emotional devastation, when our circumstances feel like a firebrand searing through our peace, we often find ourselves searching for something, anything, that carries the weight of Truth.
We have all been there. We have all looked at the mountain of our problems and felt like a small, trembling bird caught in a winter gale. We ask ourselves: "Is there a power greater than my pain? Is there a voice that actually holds sway over this darkness?"
In this 1999 archive teaching from Pastor Anthony Joseph Massotti, Th.M., we dive deep into a moment that stopped the Son of God in His tracks. It is a moment that redefines how we view our struggles and, more importantly, how we view the One who speaks over them.
The Marvel of a Clear-Cut Faith
Behold the scene: A Roman centurion, a man of worldly power, a representative of the most formidable empire on earth, approaches a humble itinerant Teacher. Yet, he does not come with the arrogance of his rank. He comes with a revelation that many of us, even after years of walking with the Lord, still struggle to grasp.
Jesus "marvelled." Imagine that! The Creator of the stars, the Word made flesh, was struck with awe by a human being's response. What was it that moved the Heart of God so profoundly? It wasn't the centurion's title, his wealth, or his military record. It was the simple, pragmatic, and clear-cut nature of his faith.
For many of us, faith has become an abstract "opinion" or a fluctuating emotion. We think faith is a feeling we must manufacture, or a charisma we must exhibit. But for the centurion, faith was a matter of Authority. He understood that in the Kingdom of God, just as in the Roman army, there is a chain of command that cannot be broken.
A Word Study: Authority vs. Power
To understand this archive message, we must look at a vital linguistic distinction that Pastor Anthony Joseph Massotti, Th.M. emphasizes. There is a profound difference between "I’m sorry" and "Please forgive me," and there is an even deeper difference between Authority and Power.
In the original language of the Word, we see two distinct concepts:
- Authority (Exousia): This is the legal right to act. It is the delegated rank. A traffic officer has the authority to stop a semi-truck, not because he is physically stronger than the engine, but because he represents the government.
- Power (Dunamis): This is the actual ability or force required to perform the act.
The centurion’s brilliance lay in his recognition that Jesus was "a man under Authority." He saw that Jesus didn't just have power, any magician or deceiver might claim that, but He had the Authority of the Father behind Him. He understood that because Jesus was under God's Authority, He had the right to command the elements, and therefore, the power to heal must follow.
When the centurion said, "Speak the word only," he was declaring that distance, time, and physical touch were irrelevant. If the Commander speaks, the universe must obey. Either Jesus is the supreme Authority, or He is not. There is no middle ground. You must choose to believe in the Word alone, or you will forever be chasing the shadows of "signs and wonders."
Moving Beyond Theatrics
Too often in our modern walk, we treat God like a cosmic performer. We want the lightning, the thunder, and the emotional high. We want to see the "dirt in the vase" stirred up before we believe the water is being cleaned. But the centurion’s faith was a quiet, resolute trust in the spoken command.
"Speak the word only."
These four words are a dagger to the heart of the "wolf cloaked in sheep’s clothing" that seeks to make faith about the performer rather than the Promise. If we are to grow, we must move away from the need for theatrics. We must realize that when God speaks a thing, it IS. It does not "become" over time; the Authority is established the moment the breath leaves His mouth.
The Choice of Life
We are faced with a logical dichotomy every single day. We either live by the Authority of the Word, or we live by the authority of our Circumstances.
If you believe your sickness, your debt, or your broken relationship has more authority than the Word of God, you have effectively placed those things on the throne of your life. But when you align yourself with the Truth found in Scripture, you are stepping into a different Kingdom.
YOU must do something today. You must decide if you will continue to be a victim of the Enemy's whispers or a recipient of the King's commands. The devil, that ancient personification of pride and chaos, wants you to focus on your unworthiness. He wants you to think you are too far gone to hear the Word. But remember the centurion: "Lord, I am not worthy… but speak the word only."
Your worthiness is not the issue. His Authority is the only issue.
Make Jesus Marvel
As we reflect on this 1999 teaching, the call for us in 2026 remains the same: make Jesus marvel.
In a world filled with noise and "churchy words" that often lack substance, a simple, unwavering trust in the Bible stands out like a Light of God in a dark forest. It is a faith that says, "I don't need to see it to know it's done. I don't need to feel it to know it's True. I have His Word, and that is enough."
Let us stop trying to help God do His job. Let us stop trying to "power" our way through life and instead start "authorizing" our way through it by speaking what He has already spoken. When you align your mouth with His Mind, you become a conduit for the restorative Power of the divine.
Spiritual Action Steps
- IDENTIFY the area in your life where you have allowed "circumstances" to have the final word.
- SUBMIT yourself under the Authority of God, recognizing that you cannot exercise authority until you are truly "under" it.
- CHOOSE Life by speaking the Word over your situation, even when your emotions scream otherwise.
- TRUST that the Power (Dunamis) is already in motion because the Authority (Exousia) has already been established in the Heavens.
Behold, the Word is near thee, even in thy mouth. Speak it. Believe it. Walk in it.
© Anthony J. Massotti Th.M. 4/25/1999.
For more archival teachings and deep theological studies, explore our Writings and the Pastor's Corner at Presence Of The Lord Ministries USA.
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