Stand Firm: What is Your Over Under? - Dan Deeble
What Is Your Under/Over?
Standing Firm in a Culture of Independence
What does it actually mean to be a strong man?
Our culture offers countless answers. Strength. Success. Status. Influence. Money. Power. Confidence. Image. But beneath all the noise is a deeper question many people are asking:
Who am I really becoming?
In this week’s message from our Stand Firm series, we explored the life of a Roman centurion in Luke 7 and discovered a surprising picture of godly strength—not rooted in ego, dominance, or performance, but in humility, submission, responsibility, and faith.
The Search for Identity
Many of us spend our lives comparing ourselves to the wrong things.
We compare our lives, our success, our relationships, or our leadership against cultural models that ultimately leave us empty.
The world tells us:
Be stronger.
Be richer.
Be more impressive.
Be more successful.
Never answer to anyone.
But Scripture paints a completely different picture.
As G.K. Chesterton famously said:
“We need boys who are gentle at a dance and heroic in a shipwreck.”
That tension matters. Real strength isn’t about domination or passivity. It’s about becoming the kind of person who can stand firm with humility, compassion, courage, and conviction.
The Centurion Who Amazed Jesus
In Luke 7:1–10, Jesus encounters a Roman centurion—a military leader with authority, influence, and power. Yet what amazed Jesus wasn’t the man’s strength or status.
It was his faith.
The centurion understood something many people miss:
He knew what it meant to live both under authority and over responsibility.
He recognized:
He was under God’s authority.
He was responsible for the people entrusted to him.
Leadership and submission were never meant to be separated.
This man:
cared deeply for his servant,
loved people outside his own culture,
served generously,
walked in humility,
and trusted Jesus completely.
And Jesus responded with amazement.
A Culture That Rejects Submission
One of the greatest struggles in modern culture is our resistance to accountability.
We often celebrate independence as the highest form of freedom:
“No one can tell me what to do.”
“I answer to nobody.”
“I’m in control of my own life.”
But when we reject all authority and accountability, the result is often:
isolation,
insecurity,
dysfunction,
confusion,
and relational shipwreck.
From the very beginning, humanity has wrestled with the temptation to become our own god—to live independently from God’s design and order.
Yet Scripture consistently shows us that healthy submission is not weakness. It is part of God’s created order.
Submission Is at the Center of Creation
Throughout Scripture, we see beautiful examples of mutual love, honor, and submission.
Jesus Himself modeled surrender to the Father:
“Yet not as I will, but as you will.” — Matthew 26:39
The Trinity reveals perfect unity, humility, and interdependence between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And as followers of Jesus, we are called to:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” — Ephesians 5:21
Healthy biblical submission is not about control, manipulation, or oppression. It is about trust, humility, love, and responsibility.
So… Who’s Your Under/Over?
The core challenge from this message is simple:
Who are you under?
And…
Who are you over?
Who speaks into your life?
Who holds you accountable?
Who are you serving, leading, protecting, encouraging, or discipling?
A healthy life includes both:
Right Relationships
Real Responsibility
God calls us into relationship with Him as our loving Father, but also into responsibility as representatives of His Kingdom in the world around us.
The Goal: To Amaze Jesus
Near the end of the story, Scripture says something incredible:
“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him.” — Luke 7:9
What if that became our goal?
Not impressing culture.
Not gaining status.
Not building influence.
But living with the kind of faith, humility, compassion, generosity, and courage that amazes Jesus.
That looks like:
loving your family well,
serving others quietly,
praying for people who hurt you,
fighting for restoration,
standing firm in difficult moments,
showing compassion when strength would be easier,
and remaining faithful when nobody else sees.
Reflection Questions
Do you have someone in your life who lovingly challenges and guides you?
Are you carrying responsibility for others in a healthy, godly way?
Where might pride or independence be keeping you from deeper growth?
What would it look like for your life to amaze Jesus?
If you missed this weekend’s message or want to watch again, visit our YouTube channel and join us as we continue the Stand Firm series at Westside Family Church.
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
The Joy - The Belonging Co.
Worthy Of It All - CeCe Winans
Who Else - Gateway Worship
Abide - Aaron Williams
WFC Speedway
Do It Again - Elevation Worship
Cornerstone - Hillsong
Who Else - Gateway Worship
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!
