April 30, 2019: SOAP #3435:  2Samuel 6; 1Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
…19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Observation:   The disciples had been walking with Jesus.  They had seen Him perform many miracles.  They knew that demons could be forced to leave.  But they had been unable to make it happen!  They wanted to know why.  They went to the expert.  They went to Jesus!   Had they used the wrong formula?  Had they not held their hands in the proper position?  Had they used the wrong scripture references in telling the demons to leave?  I am certain that they tried to do it just the way they had seen Jesus do it!  What had they done wrong?  Why did it not work?

Jesus knew the problem: it was not their formula; it was not the scriptures they used; it was not the way they held their hands; it was their faith; it was too little.

Application:   I see myself in the disciples’ shoes.   As Jesus knew the Word, so I need to know the Word!  As Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit, so I must depend on the Holy Spirit!

My faith grows as I learn to hear His voice speaking into my spirit man.  My faith grows as I become more familiar with His Word.  My faith grows as I grow familiar with the Holy Spirit and His ministry.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, I am depending on You to teach me Jesus’ way in ministry. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!