IT

It - Audio/Visual

It

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way — never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of a life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. (2 Cor. 10:3-6 – MSG)

It troubles you, fatigues you, and shames you. It’s the disease you can't heal, the job you can't stomach, the marriage you can't fix, and the rage you can't tame. It hurts. It looms over your life. It’s IT – two towering letters, tall and defiant. IT. They march like Frankenstein's monster. Each step a thud; each thud an earthquake. "Look out! Here IT comes!" "I can't take IT anymore!" IT overshadows and intimidates everyone – everyone, that is, except people who take IT to Jesus. People like the Roman soldier mentioned in Matthew’s gospel.

He was a centurion, a Captain in the Roman army. He held unquestioned authority over men. Yet there was something special about this particular officer. He loved his servant. “’Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’” (Matt. 8:6-7) The soldier’s prayer was unembroidered. Frank and factual; direct and to-the-point: “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” IT was killing the Captain’s servant.

And IT was enough to set Jesus in motion. So, Jesus turned and immediately began to walk in the direction of the centurion's house. But the officer stopped him. "’Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’" (vv. 8-9)

The centurion understood the dynamics of authority. He was a man under authority, and a man with authority. His superiors sent directives to him, and he obeyed. He gave commands, and his soldiers obeyed. They didn't question his decisions. The Roman army respected the chain of command. So, the centurion knew authority when he saw it, and he saw ultimate authority in Jesus Christ. "’Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.’ [Jesus] marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! . . . Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” (vv. 8, 10, 13)

The centurion's confidence in Jesus ran deep. Jesus could not only handle IT, but handle IT long distance. Just a word from Jesus would suffice. Jesus was stunned. “Finally,” Jesus’ apparent response seems to imply, “someone finally understands my authority.” Do we?

Jesus has unimpeachable authority. "He sustains everything by the mighty power of his command." (Heb. 1:3) "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name." (Phil. 2:9) The Roman government tried to intimidate him. False religion tried to silence him. The devil tried to kill him. All failed. Even "death was no match for him." (Acts 2:24) Jesus "disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." (Col. 2:15) He wasn’t kidding when he declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matt. 28:18)

Jesus is the command center of the galaxies. "Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it." (Matt. 10:29) He occupies the Oval Office. He called a coin out of the mouth of a fish. He stopped the waves with a word. He spoke, and a tree withered. He spoke again, and a basket became a banquet. Economy. Meteorology. Botany. Nutrition. Everything. "All things have been handed over to me by my Father." (Matt. 11:27) And that includes Satan.

The devil was soundly defeated by Christ on the cross. Jesus outranks him in every situation. He must obey Jesus, and Satan knows it. Prayers offered in the name of Jesus have "divine power to demolish strongholds." (2 Cor. 10:4) Demolish. Not damage or hamper, but demolish. Prayer falls on strongholds like a lit match on a grass hut in a Santa Ana. The devil fears prayer. Just imagine this scene.

He sat in the back of the room during a strategy session. A dozen demons had gathered to hear a report on the life of a particularly stalwart saint. "He won't stumble," groused the imp responsible for his demise. "No matter what I do, he won't turn his back on God." The council began to offer suggestions. "Take his purity," one said. "I tried," replied the fiend, "but he’s too moral." "Take his health," urged another. "I did, but he refused to grumble or complain." "Take his belongings." "Are you kidding? I've stripped the man of every penny and possession. Yet he still rejoices." For a few moments no one spoke. They were stumped.

Finally, from the back of the room came the low, measured voice of Satan himself. The entire council turned as the fallen angel rose to his feet. His pale face was all but hidden by a hood. A long cape covered his body. He raised his bony hand and made his point. "It's not enough to take his purity. It's not enough to take his health. It's not enough to take his belongings. You must take what matters most." "And what’s that?" asked the subordinates. "You must take his prayer life."

Prayer handcuffs Satan. Prayer takes problems out of the domain of the devil and into the presence of God. Prayer confesses, "God can handle IT, and since he can, I have hope!" When we pray in the name of Jesus, we come to God on the basis of Jesus' accomplishment. "Since we have a great high priest [Jesus] over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." (Heb. 10:21-22) As our high priest, Jesus offers our prayers to God. His prayers are always heard. "Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you." (John 16:23)

I’ve heard some say, "Prayer changes things because it changes us." And I agree – to a point. Prayer changes things because prayer appeals to the top power in the universe. Prayer is not some magical formula, or mystical chant. It’s the “Yes” to God's invitation to invoke his name.

Suppose I were to say to the manager of a car dealership, "I want a brand-new car – for free." He would likely show me the closest exit, or call security. If, however, I carry a letter signed by the owner of the dealership that states, "Randy’s my friend, and I’m giving him a new car of his choice," guess who drives away in a new car? So, what makes the difference? The authority of the one who signed the letter. In the same way, when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, we present a letter signed by our Friend.

We access the throne room of God by virtue of the name of Jesus. Heaven sees his signature and throws out the welcome mat. Mark it down: IT won't have the last word. Jesus will. “God raised [Christ] from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything.” (Eph. 1:20-22) He’s in charge of IT all – all of IT.

The phrase "In Jesus' name" is not an empty motto or talisman. It’s a declaration of truth: my illness is not in charge; Jesus is. The economy is not in charge; Jesus is. The grumpy neighbor doesn't run the world; Jesus does. Jesus is the Head Coach, CEO, President, King, Supreme Ruler, Absolute Monarch, High and Holy Baron, Czar, Overlord, and Rajah of all history.

So, pray. Since God works, prayer works. Since God is good, prayer is good. Since you matter to God, your prayers matter in heaven. You're never without hope, because you're never without prayer. And on the occasions when you can't seem to find the words to say, let your spirit cry out to Jesus. In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away. In Jesus’ name we’re rescued, we are saved. In Jesus’ name there’s freedom for the broken-hearted. In Jesus’ name there’s healing for the hopeless.

Let IT go and rest your days in Jesus’ name.

Grace,

Randy