“And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said,
O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
And as he was a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him, And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
Let these sayings sink deep into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.” Luke 9 v37-45
To be like Jesus. In some circumstances it seems more is required of us than we think we have. The struggle with the unclean spirit was more than a slight challenge to the disciples and yet the boys father had faith enough to bring him to the disciples and to Jesus. Our strength in these matters rely’s on Jesus’s provisions to us.
“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,
John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11 v15-18
and there’s more…
“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14 v25-27
and where our strength and witness comes from…
“But ye shall recieve power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” Acts 1 v8
Jesus told his disciples of the day that his days on earth would come to an end but that the power of the Holy Ghost would sustain and strengthen them to be the witness of him in all the earth. Power, Holy Ghost power is not one of a boastful spirit, but it is one in the hour of need, that by faith we stand against the fiery darts of Satan, to rebuke wrong and to witness God’s healing in people. There is a time our strongest intentions may require more…
“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them,
Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If he 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. Howbeit, this kind goeth out but by prayer and fasting.” Mathew 17 v19-21
Lord, our strength is in you. I give you thanks. Lord, this day is yours as we go forward. We give you praise and we thank you for life. Amen
January 12
Threecrosses 