on July 18, 2013
Luke 9:37-43 – The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
Luke is very good with time references. He tells us what happened the very next day after Jesus, Peter, James and John came down from the mountain. His attention to these kind of details (time, places, people, events) help us to know that he is a man of truth and allow us an opportunity to verify his accounts with other historical data and sources. Anyway, the next day, a LARGE CROWD met Him coming down from the mount of transfiguration. They always seemed to know where to find Him! A man from the crowd begged Jesus to help his only son who was under the control of an evil spirit. The man had tried getting help for him from Jesus’ disciples, but they weren’t able to. Jesus had some choice words (some scholars think that these words were aimed at the disciples, I’m not so sure). I tend to think that these words were meant for all of them and all of US! “O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?” Ow! The unbelief of generations has contributed greatly to the loss of godly faith and conduct, and has given way to the increasing influence and control of demons and evil spirits over succeeding generations. Faith has become perverted – and the culture has been corrupted and deviated from what is right and good. How long should Jesus (the personification of God’s glory) remain in such a culture and, how long should He put up with it? Thomas Jefferson authored the following words, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Jesus directed the man to bring his son to Him. Even while he was coming, the boy gave a first-hand demonstration of the condition he was in. “The demon threw him on the ground in a convulsion.” (I think I’ve seen a few of these demons in kids during my lifetime!) Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. Jesus overcame evil with good! He demonstrated the power of God to rebuke and overcome the work of the devil, to bring healing to a life damaged by evil, and to restore family relationships! Do we believe He can do that in OUR generation? The crowds know where to find Jesus, but we are an unbelieving and perverse generation – damaged by generations of unbelief and corruption of faith! We have large numbers of our culture who throw fits whenever someone tries to bring them to Jesus! How long should He put up with such faithless behavior. Little do we know how far we have fallen from the glory that we were originally created with. Yet, many can still testify to His transforming power to destroy the devil’s work in their lives, to His power to heal the sicknesses wrought by evil, and to restore family relationships! Maybe you’re one of those miracles! The end result of Christ’s intervention? Everyone was amazed at the greatness of God!
Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday: Pray for the Good News families of the week: Dave & Sarah George (Nathanael, Rachael), Jon & Suzan George (Hannah, Abby, Jacob, Samuel), Matt & Megan (Nicole).
Saturday: Recognize the glory of Jesus in comparison with the unbelief and corruption of our generation.
Sunday: Worship the One who has destroyed the work of the devil.
Monday: Give thanks for the One who can heal us from generational sin and unbelief.
Tuesday: Look to the One who can restore family relationships and reunite parents and children!
Wednesday: Give praise to God that He still remains with us and puts up with us!
Prayer Challenge: Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! Pray that Christ will continue to extend His mercy to our world and that our unbelieving and perverse generation will “get it!” Pray that He would forgive us of our sins and lead us in paths of righteousness. Pray that He may deliver us from evil and rescue us from the destructive work of the devil. Pray that He will work in us to purify our hearts, to perfect righteousness, to destroy the devil’s work and fully establish His great kingdom, which is forever!