The disciples saw how Jesus simply rebuked the demon to get rid of it, because they could not. Then he said every believer should easily do this even with seed-size faith. And do more.
"Nothing will be impossible for you."
Photo by Jill Heyer on Unsplash.
Nothing will be impossible for you! Do you understand what this means? Because no less than the Lord Jesus Christ declared it, it's permanently established in the spiritual realm. And nothing--not even demons, principalities or church smart Alecks--can change it. It's one thing to say that nothing is impossible to God, but quite another thing to say, nothing is impossible for you.
Two Things About Spiritual Warfare
Fresh from an awesome supernatural experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples Peter, James and John, along with Jesus, were greeted by a crowd around a demon-possessed boy with the rest of the disciples who failed to drive the demon out. I saw the look of disappointment on the disciples' faces. Yup, I was "there" as I meditated that portion of the Gospel. I saw the scene like I was in it.
I know the disciples tried their best to "heal" the kid (demon possession sometimes takes the form of an illness), to no avail. I can imagine how they tried to rebuke it with heavy, high-sounding spiritual words you usually hear in spiritual warfare. Or spoke words with an authoritative, majestic voice. But nothing happened. With disappointment, the boy's dad told Jesus: "I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
The thing is, it's not enough to "try." Jesus never "tried" to do miracles, see if they would work. He performed them. Demonstrated. He showed them how the power of the Kingdom worked. The wrong attitude is to "consider" miracles among other solutions to remedy a situation. If trying miracles doesn't work, then we have Plan B and C ready. This is why miracles never work today--we're never dead serious about them. Miracles are just one of our options, often our last. Then we conclude that miracles are already obsolete because they don't happen anymore.
Another worse thing we do is hear God's Word but do things our own way. This is far from being faith. It was how the disciples probably did it, so Jesus said they were "unbelieving." Believing without putting it to work is unbelief.
Why couldn't the disciples drive the demon out?
“'You unbelieving and perverse generation,' Jesus replied."
Unbelieving
Driving out demons is not through some formula or steps or procedures or words uttered. Or voice tone. Or prayer warriors. Definitely not through denominational titles or degrees. A lot of spiritual warfare seminars teach you methods and formulas as if demons are scared of them. Jesus said it plainly in the Matthew 17 passage--nothing but your faith will make it work. And faith comes only by "hearing" the Word, said Romans 10--not reading or being learned in Sunday school or sermons.
Real faith comes by hearing God Himself speak his Word in the bible to you. Specifically to you. I heard Jesus say it like this:
"Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes out of the mouth of God." [Matthew 4.4] and...
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. [Matthew16]
About his Word and healing, the bible says:
He sent out his word and healed them. [Psalm 107.21]
God sends out his rhema healing Word from his own mouth. We have to believe it and really do it. And there are dozens of promises in the bible released for our use. We have to meditate them, put them to heart, and really apply them. It's no use learning about miracles just to know how Jesus healed people in the bible. Jesus demonstrated them so we can do them correctly. It all starts with serious meditation.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. [Joshua 1.8]
As you meditate the Word, the experience is that you hear it straight from God's mouth and hear it in your heart. Bible studies, Sunday schools and sermons are good, but they are mere "snacks" compared to the grand, filling "feast" you get from meditating God's rhema (spoken) Word in your quiet times with HIM. This is what feeds your faith to believe God's signs and wonders and miracles. This has been my experience, enabling me to operate in signs and wonders (though the consistency is not yet enough).
Perverse
It's quite clear. If your faith cannot command demons, you are "perverse" or wayward or unyielding (insubmissive), even "villainous" said one dictionary. That's how God sees you, no matter if you're a bible school or seminary graduate or super active in church or in the ministry. Remember, the disciples were with Jesus in person, no less, learning straight from him and active in his ministry. But they were "perverse" because their faith couldn't drive out demons or move mountains.
Yes, they heard Jesus' Word straight from his mouth but failed to combine it with genuine faith--faith that actually applies, demonstrates and performs God's signs and wonders to actual situations. Doing it precisely according to His Word. Faith without doing is dead. It's one thing to know that a medicine works and you can even buy it and have it in your possession. But unless you actually take it, it won't work for you either.
Or if the meds should be taken orally but you use it topically. It won't work. You have to do it as prescribed, not in your own ways or how you see it fit.
Perverse Generation
Yup, the church mostly still belongs to the perverse generation. Most church folks don't know about rebuking demons, much less commanding them out. Most of us cannot even command headaches, colds, cough and fever--or toothache--to leave. Church does not prioritize the supernatural things God has given it, although Jesus has given the hint that God's supernatural is the key to prevent the church from being "perverse."
If you are perverse, then everything about the supernatural becomes impossible to you. But if you're not perverse, Jesus promises that "nothing will be impossible for you." Everything in the supernatural will work for you, 100 percent. Your imagination will be your limit. If you have God's imagination, then "nothing will be impossible for you." It's important, then, for faith to radically grow. And it does not grow except by hearing the Word of God, straight from HIS mouth, and believing and doing it.
It All Starts with Surrendering
All this may sound overwhelming to you. Well, don't let it. God's Word and promises are really very simple. They're about faith, the same as Jesus had. No rituals, membership, sacrifices, hardships, self-punishment or anything like that. No pledge or vow to go to church on Sundays from now on. Just genuinely believe. And part of it is surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. It all starts there.
Surrendering to Jesus
Ask forgiveness and repent of your sins. Believe God's forgiveness. It is promised in the bible. Receive Jesus Christ into your heart as your sole Savior and Lord. Then be assured of heaven, not because of anything you have or do (not your good deeds or religion or church), but because of God's grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. In Jesus alone is salvation.
Jesus is: “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4]
Surrender to Him by intently studying the bible daily (ask guidance from the Holy Spirit) and applying in life everything you learn. And then pray that God lead you to the right person who'd disciple you, one who is totally surrendered to Jesus and living His words in the bible.
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