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About-Him.Com Devotional 05-29-2004
John 20:31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
A word about our devotionals. We are following the Life of Christ from His baptism to His ascension, generally following the Harmony of the Gospels found in the Thompson Chain Bible . We offer our thoughts and certainly don't claim to be exhaustive. We try to include scriptural references that are applicable to each study. Some weeks are sure to be more meaty than others.
The four gospel writers felt that is was most important to record the events in the life of our Lord. I feel it is very important to study the life of Jesus, for in doing so we will find that His life is imparted to us (John 20:31 above).
Your comments are always welcome.
137: The Healing of the Demoniac Son Mt. 17:14-21; Mk. 9:14-29; Lu. 9:37-42
Matthew 17:14 ¶ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Jesus returned with Peter James and John, from the mountain of transfiguration to find His other disciples surrounded by a crowd and by scribes who were questioning them. Jesus inquired as to just what was going on. A man stepped forward and stated that he had brought his demon possessed son to the disciples for deliverance and they had failed.
Jesus questioned the man as to just what was wrong with his son. The boy was possessed. The devil would cause him to foam and cast him into the fire. He had been this way since his childhood. Jesus told the man that if he could but believe, his son would be delivered.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Jesus honored this man’s imperfect faith and granted his request. The boy was healed and delivered. Later the disciples asked Jesus why they had been unsuccessful. Very simple, it was because of their unbelief. Jesus then used the metaphor of faith the size of a grain of mustard seed being able to move mountains. However there was also another reason, this kind of spirit only came out by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Conclusion and Application:
These disciples had been given prior authority to heal the sick and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13 see http://www.about-him.com/life/life_07.html#117 ) , and they had been successful. Is it possible that they had let their success go to their head? When they came up against a demon who was higher in the hierarchy of hell, they were powerless.
We too have been given authority over evil spirits and commissioned to heal the sick (Mark 16:15-18). Sometimes we succeed and more often we fail. Are trying to live on yesterday’s blessing and success? If so, we are doomed to failure. Are we willing to pray more and to include fasting with our prayer? That’s a question that we all need to ask ourselves, as we measure our waist bands.
What do you think?
Somebody Has Said
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
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Humor
A college student with a young child was pleased when her daughter became eligible to attend the day care center at the University.
The director of the day care gave the mother a tour of the facilities. To assure herself of the center's high standards, the young mother asked about the curriculum.
"Well," said the director, eyes twinkling, "today we are studying the children's favorite philosopher: Play-Doh."
Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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