Fortified by Faith—Walking Boldly in God’s Truth
"Just say the word, and my servant will be healed."
—Luke 7:7b
Introduction: The Warfare Over Our Minds
Let me tell you something about me that’s simple but true: I believe in looking presentable wherever I go. And not just presentable—I mean polished, intentional, dressed to the T. This isn’t something I picked up later in life; it’s woven into who I am. I grew up around siblings who had a natural flair for fashion. I remember watching them walk out the door looking sharp, confident, and prepared, whether it was for school, church, or a random day at the grocery store. That environment shaped me. It taught me that the way you present yourself speaks volumes about how you see yourself.
To this day, I don’t step outside unless I’m dressed like I mean it. It doesn’t matter if I’m headed to a business meeting or making a quick run to the store—I show up looking like it matters, because I believe it does. I believe that excellence should follow you, even in how you carry yourself. So you’ll never find me looking halfway put together, because the way I dress reflects what I believe about myself and my purpose. And here's the key: I don’t dress this way just for appearances—I do it because I believe something. And because I believe it, I live it.
In the same way, our spiritual lives are meant to reflect what we truly believe. If we say we believe in the power of God, in the authority of His Word, and in His faithfulness to act on our behalf—then our lives should show it. Belief is not passive. It is not silent. It is not still. If I believe in looking excellent, and that moves me to dress like it, then how much more should believing in the Almighty God compel us to move, speak, and live like we trust Him? This chapter is an invitation to examine how our faith—our real, actual belief—translates into the actions of our everyday lives.
In the unseen realms of spiritual warfare, the battleground is not merely external—it is intensely internal. The mind, that sacred seat of thought, imagination, and belief, is a favored target of the adversary. Satan’s ancient strategy, which began in Eden, continues with unrelenting precision today: to corrupt our perception of God, to sow seeds of doubt, and to erode the integrity of our faith.
The enemy knows what many believers have not yet fully realized: a mind set on the truth of God is a fortress, and faith is its unbreakable gate. A God-centered, Scripture-anchored mind is not merely inspirational—it is devastating to the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, the enemy works not first to destroy our bodies or steal our possessions, but to cripple our confidence in the character and promises of God.
If he can distort our view of the Lord’s nature, identity, and power, he can draw us away from truth, compromise our obedience, and neutralize our God-given authority. Faith weakened becomes authority forfeited. And once authority is relinquished, identity is diminished.
The Faith That Stopped Jesus: A Centurion’s Revelation
Among the multitude of miracles recorded in the Gospels, few are as theologically dense and spiritually instructive as the account of the Roman centurion in Luke 7. Here stands a Gentile soldier—an outsider to the covenant, a man of status and strength—who yet displays a revelatory depth of faith that causes Jesus Himself to marvel. The text reads:
"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!" (Luke 7:9)
The centurion’s servant was gravely ill—perhaps even at death’s door. This was not a distant employee but a beloved companion, someone who mattered deeply to the Roman officer. We must not read this narrative too quickly, lest we miss its humanity. The agony of watching a cherished friend suffer, the helplessness of exhausted options, the desperate hope against despair—all this was his present reality.
Yet amid this crucible of pain, the centurion does not collapse into despair. He chooses to believe. Not merely in the stories he had heard about Jesus, but in the authority behind those stories. He appeals not to proximity, but to divine sovereignty. "Say the word," he tells Jesus, “and my servant will be healed.” Here is a man who understands the nature of true authority—both his own as a commander, and Jesus’ as the incarnate Word.
He knew the power of a command in the military world. Soldiers obey words, not presence. Likewise, the centurion believed that diseases obey Jesus not by touch, but by utterance. He had no need for a visitation; he sought only a declaration.
And Jesus marveled.
Why? Because the centurion believed something that even many of God’s covenant people did not: that God’s word is sufficient. He believed, and he acted. He did not merely assent to the idea of God’s power; he lived as though it was real.
Faith That Acts: Belief is More Than Assent
This is the vital truth: belief in God’s authority must provoke action. Faith that does not move the heart or the feet is not faith in biblical terms—it is sentiment. The epistle of James makes this abundantly clear: “Faith without works is dead”(James 2:17). The centurion’s belief caused him to send for Jesus. It compelled him to humble himself, to acknowledge his unworthiness, and to lean on Christ’s sufficiency. He did something because he believed something.
And this is the call to the modern believer: to take God at His word and to act in accordance with that conviction. Whether we are praying for healing, stepping out in a divine calling, enduring spiritual warfare, or facing financial adversity—our actions must reflect our professed faith.
Fortified Minds and the Authority of Belief
The enemy’s foremost tactic remains the assault on our mindset—because what we think about God shapes how we relate to Him. This is not merely psychological; it is profoundly theological. In Eden, Satan’s first recorded words question God’s integrity: “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). He succeeded not by overpowering Eve but by undermining her trust in the character of God.
To walk in the fullness of our calling, our minds must be fortified by truth. As Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” A transformed mind is a dangerous mind. A renewed mind cannot be manipulated. A sound mind is the launchpad of authority.
When we believe rightly, we live rightly. When we anchor our thoughts in the Word of God, we walk in boldness, clarity, and divine confidence. We do not shrink back in fear, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
Biblical Portraits of Faith in Action
Let us not romanticize faith as mere feeling. It is gritty, active, costly. Consider:
The woman with the issue of blood, who broke social protocols to touch the hem of Christ’s garment—her faith made her whole (Luke 8:43–48).
Jairus, who journeyed with Jesus despite the report of his daughter’s death—his faith saw her resurrected (Luke 8:49–56).
David, who stood before Goliath with a sling and unwavering confidence in God's covenant—his faith secured victory (1 Samuel 17).
Peter, who stepped out of the boat and walked on water because he believed Jesus’ command—his faith defied natural law (Matthew 14:29).
The Canaanite woman, who contended with Jesus for her daughter's healing—her persistent faith was commended and rewarded (Matthew 15:28).
These were not passive recipients of blessing; they were active participants in God’s miraculous movement. Faith prompted them to move. And when they moved, God responded.
Faith for the Present Hour
Dear reader, what is your “it” today?
Is it healing? Provision? Restoration of a family member? Direction for your life or ministry? A business idea? An open door?
Let the centurion's declaration be your refrain: "Just say the word." For the Word of God has not diminished in power. It is still living and active (Hebrews 4:12). The authority of Christ has not been weakened. What He was able to do then, He is still able to do now. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
You do not need God to show up in a vision or descend visibly into your room. You have His Word. You have His Spirit. You have His promises. And that is enough.
Faith Anchored, Authority Activated
Let us resolve this day to resist the enemy's lies and reclaim the power of a God-aligned mind. Let us think truthfully about who God is—holy, sovereign, merciful, just, omnipotent—and about who we are in Him—redeemed, commissioned, empowered, and loved.
Let our faith no longer be an abstract doctrine but a living reality, demonstrated in how we pray, how we speak, how we wait, and how we act. May we walk boldly in the truth of God, fortified by faith, and unshakable in our confidence that His Word is enough.
For when the Word speaks, creation obeys. Demons flee. Sickness vanishes. Provision flows. Hearts are healed. And our circumstances must yield to divine command.
Let it be said of us, as it was of the centurion: “Not even in Israel have I found such faith.”