After Jesus and His three disciples come down from the mount of transfiguration, they are met by a large crowd. It’s obvious that a lively discussion has been taking place, and when Jesus asks what it’s about, a man shouts that his son, his only son, was tormented by an evil spirit that constantly threw him to the ground and bruised and convulsed him (Mark 9: 14-29; Luke 9:37-43). Then the man goes on to say that he had begged the disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t. Jesus’ response reeks of frustration. “Oh faithless and perverse generation,” He says, “how long do I have to put up with you?” That word “faithless” in Greek is apistos and means a heathen, untrustworthy. And the word “perverse” is diastrepho and means to distort, corrupt, misinterpret, to turn back again to former ways. Then, in a few words, Jesus rebukes the demon spirit and heals the boy. When all the commotion dies down, the disciples ask Jesus why they couldn’t deliver the boy. The answer: it required prayer and fasting.

The first thing that struck me was this boy was an only child, an only son. What a contrast to this scene and the one before it on the mount of transfiguration when God proclaimed Jesus His Beloved Son then issued the command to “hear Him” to listen to Him! (Mark 9:7). And how vastly different were the two sons: the Son of God and the son of man. While Jesus is clothed in glory and power and majesty, we, the sons of men are constantly brought low by Satan and the trials of life, often bruised, reduced to trembling, and impotent in the face of our adversary. It is the common condition of man. Yet all the while we have God’s Word, the promise of His indwelling spirit if we but believe, and all the power that that represents. So why is so much of our generation faithless, heathen in heart, and more willing to cling to their old ways, choosing to wallow in the dirt rather than believe God? And why do so many in the church twist, misrepresent, and downright corrupt God’s Word until it is an impotent thing?

There is a cautionary aspect to the above passages. Jesus laments how much longer He will have to put up with unbelief and the disobedience it inspires.  The meaning is clear. It will not always be so. Jesus will not always suffer unbelief, rejection of His person, or disobedience to His word. There will come a time when His mercy, His dispensation of grace will come to an end and it’s called the Tribulation. There is also a cautionary word for believers. If we want to have total victory over Satan in our lives we must spend time with God. We must pray and worship and seek His face. And rather than feasting on the things of this world we must feast on the things of God.  If we do we will build ourselves up spiritually, thus enabling the Holy Spirit to empower us, to make us fit warriors able to face every trial of life. And instead of being flattened and brought low, “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Until next time,

Sylvia

Did you know that a three-strand cord is not easily broken? That’s what Ecclesiastes 4:12 says. I suppose that’s why Jesus sent his disciples out two by two in Matthew 10:5-8 to “preach . . . heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead and cast out devils,” because along with each pair of disciples came the third in the party, the Holy Spirit. In the same way Deuteronomy 32:30 speaks of one chasing a thousand, but two putting “ten thousand to flight” with the understanding that God, who makes up the third, is with them.

So we see exponential power here. What one can’t accomplish two can, and that is especially true in ministry or in matters of spiritual warfare or in times of trials and hardship. In these, and indeed any serious situations requiring God’s hand to move, it is always best to join forces with someone else. We are not meant to labor alone. Christians are part of a body, the Body of Christ. We need each other and should not isolate ourselves. And things always seem easier when two are involved.

Unfortunately, during our most difficult hour we often pull back and withdraw. And that’s just the opposite of what we should do. Satan, who walks about like a roaring lion “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8), likes nothing better than to see a wounded sheep isolated because he knows it will be easier to defeat him/her if separated from the flock.

So if you are experiencing hardship or a crisis or some serious problem, reach out to a trusted friend, and partner in prayer with him/her. It’s amazing how much easier the load will seem and how much power the prayers will generate for it goes without saying that God will be there. After all, He has promised that where two or more are gathered in His name there He will be in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20), making the three-strand cord mighty indeed!

Until next time,

Sylvia