Going away Clueless

Luke 9:43-48

Yesterday, we looked at the man in the crowd, you know the dad who had a son with a big health difficulty and Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy.  Christians have grown way too sophisticated to believe in unclean spirits but Jesus did, in fact many of the recorded healings of Jesus were first the removal of the unclean or evil spirit and then the healing.  Something that was consistent with evil or unclean spirits were: they desired to occupy a body; they resisted the will of God; they put desires in the person that brought harm to them, even the tendencies for suicide; they were powerful but not controlled by the person they entered; they acted against God’s desires for the person; they could leave a body and return, and when returning it was stronger; and they are of and under the control of the devil; and they have to obey God.

There are two dangers in this teaching, the first is to go out demon hunting and see them in every illness, and the other is not to believe they are as active today as in the time of Jesus.  It seems that all who witnessed the healing of the young boy were astonished at the majesty of God, and while they were all marveling at everything Jesus was doing, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples: “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”  And what happened next is so like today, I’ve done it and I’m betting you have also, they did not understand what Jesus was saying, and were afraid to ask.  No one wants to be the dumb guys, it’s called flesh, so they, like us, acted like we fully understand, and go away clueless.

Are you ecstatic that in 2015 no one in ministry are asking this question: “Who is the greatest?”  My sarcasm is dripping off this page, for I’ve seen it where one group of Christians feel a new group is infringing on their territory or ministry, are they in the kingdom building, sure, but it is not God’s kingdom but their own.  It is not new, for it is recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and it is among the twelve guys whom we later called eleven of them apostles.  But in that it is recorded is anyone in ministry, and we have all been called to ministry, paying attention to the words of Jesus?  I was in full time ministry to the business world as a salesperson; some of you are housewives ministering to family, and neighbors, and the husband and kids.  We have all been called and we all make up the body of Christ and the Bible is very clear that one is not superior to the other.

Jesus has not minced words on this issue of who is the greatest, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) And in Luke’s account, Jesus takes a child and puts him by his side and says to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”  (Luke 9:48 ESV)

Our flesh does not like being least, and that is why pride is hated by God, for prides’ kingdom is always self!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice