Six prototypes arrived in Belgium less than a month after the war in Europe ended in May 1945. It was a very popular tank with good armour, manoeuvrability, and armament.ĭevelopment of the Centurion began in 1943 with manufacture beginning in January 1945. The chassis was also adapted for several other roles, and these have remained in service to this day. Introduced in 1945, it is widely considered to be one of the most successful post-war tank designs, remaining in production into the 1960s, and seeing combat in the front lines into the 1980s. The Centurion was the primary British Army main battle tank of the post- World War II period. Let me say you are investing in God’s work like the centurion at City Harvest AG Church, Bangalore. Many of you are taking leadership, praying for the ministry, winning souls, donating for the building fund, tithing etc. I thank God for your participation in City Harvest AG Church ministries. You will find out which medium God is using nowadays and try to invest your time and money for the extension of God’s work. If you have faith you will participate in God’s work. He knew God was using the synagogue to spread the good news and he voluntarily built a synagogue, in other words he voluntarily participated in God’s work. The centurion knew if a synagogue could be built many could come to the saving grace of Jesus. In the time of Jesus the major way God spread the good news was though the teaching in the synagogues. Listen, only the Jews could go to the Temple in Jerusalem but anyone could go into a synagogue. Read v4&5, the centurion built a synagogue with his own money. Definitely this centurion must have been different than other Romans. When we look into this context we can find the Jewish elders approaching Jesus on behalf of the centurion. We must understand that the Jewish people hated the Romans as the Romans ruled them, more so the soldiers as they tortured them. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, 'This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.'

Luke 7:3-5 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. Jesus was amazed with this centurion’s selfless act in asking for help. We are all one and God wants us to see everyone equal like the centurion. Then there is no separation for language, religion, caste, culture, or status. When we are in Christ we are a new creation. Our faith must be like the centurion’s faith, it must cross all barriers. He cared about his servant and he is taking a risk of doing a service to a servant. In other words the centurion was not self-centered. The centurion crossed all social, racial, and ethnic barriers to appeal for help. They never ask for help, it is below their dignity. Remember at this time the Romans are ruling the Jews. Secondly, the centurion asks a Jew, Jesus for help. This centurion took time to care for a servant. People always like to associate with the other people of the same status or of a superior status. A servant always has low status, less money, and less value in society. He had many servants to replace the sick servant but he took his time out to care for a servant. Listen, the centurion was a very busy man. The centurion sent his representatives to Jesus asking him to come and heal his servant. The Bible says he had a servant who was ill, he was about to die. He was the person responsible to maintain law and order.

He was an employee of the Roman government. He has the rank of a present army captain. A centurion is a Roman official who is in charge of 50-100 soldiers. There was a Roman centurion in Capernaum. When we look at the background we find Jesus just completed his teaching, ‘The sermon on the mount.’ He entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. Luke 7:1-2 1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Jesus told about him, “I tell you I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” In our devotion today we are going to see how we can achieve such faith? What is the speciality of this Roman solider that Jesus was amazed at his faith? Do you have this faith? How can you exercise this faith? In our text today I am speaking of a Roman centurion who had a great faith.

Our faith is not based on our present situation but it looks forward to the future. Hebrews 11:1 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. How is your faith now? Faith can bring changes in our situation. He wants us to look at our circumstances through the eyes of faith. Introduction: God expects his children be people of extraordinary faith.