“These then are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you” - Titus 2:15 (NIV).

When soldiers go out to battle one thing they dare not question are orders. This is of course necessary since in a war situation you can easily lose ground if you opened up orders to debate while under enemy fire. A good officer always expects his orders to be executed at once.

Just as today, so was it with the Roman army which at the turn of the first millennium controlled much of Europe and Northern Africa. Roman soldiers were feared for their might, discipline and ability to conquer any territory at ease.

Once a Roman soldier met Jesus with a servant who lay sick at home. He had heard about the power of Jesus. “Lord, he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly” (Mat 8:6). When Jesus said “Shall I come and heal him” (verse 7), the trained soldier would have none of that. “Lord, I do not deserve you come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed” (verse 8). Jesus was startled by his faith. “Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go let it be done just as you believed it would. And his servant was healed” (verse 13).

This passage of faith reminds us of the authority and power believers have in the mighty name of Jesus to speak to any situation troubling them. That authority is not about begging for Jesus has left it in our hands. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19).

Today, whatever situation we may be facing, let us remember the faith of the Roman soldier and bodily speak to it, arrest it, for we have that power Jesus left with us!

Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that any situation oppressing me is now silenced, in the power of His name.