When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. ” (Mark 9:14-26, 28-29 NIV)
1. DWELLING IN THE PAST HINDERS YOUR FUTURE
The fact that there is a history implies that this had happened over a long time and many things had been attempted before.
The boy’s father was now so well versed about how the seizures took his son. He could have even written a book about how to keep your children from falling into the fire when the seizures came but this did not heal his son…..
The woman that touched Jesus also had a history of bleeding that only stopped when she stopped pilling the history cards and she started believing.
Hannah had a history of persecution and bareness until she stopped crying and started praying.
Gideon had a history that put him at the end of the clan and tribe chain until he stopped despising himself and put faith in God.
2. FORSAKING THE PAST GIVES YOU A FUTURE
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
The father dropped the history and picked faith
The woman dropped the Law and picked faith Luke 8: 43-48
Hannah dropped self pity and picked faith 1st Samuel 1:15-16
3. FAITH BREEDS RESULTS
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
The father believed beyond the faith of the disciples and his son was fully restored.
The bleeding lady believed beyond the impediments of the Law and she was certified miraculously clean and accepted by the same law that had confined her to the outskirts of communal living with the threats of death if she brought her contagion into the community .
Hannah believed beyond bareness and she gave birth to a Judge that redeemed Israel.
It all takes stepping out of the shell of the past to walk into the light and what lies ahead. You can’t sail with an anchor on. Same with life you cannot chain yourself to the past and hope to inherit the future.
Let history be. Let faith fuel you. Let the future propel.
Recent Comments