Bring Them To Jesus

"Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 

Matthew 17:17

The LORD has provided fresh insight upon this passage for me recently.  Jesus had returned from a mountain with a few of His disciples when a man approached Him with a request.  His son was severely demon possessed, and related how he first brought him to be healed by the disciples of Jesus.  When they were unable to help, he came to Christ for help.  After He heard the man's pleas, Jesus spoke the aforementioned words culminated with, "Bring him here to Me."  Jesus rebuked the demon, and the boy was made whole.  The disciples later asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon, seeing that Jesus had already given them authority and power over unclean spirits.  It was their unbelief, Jesus replied.

In relation to Christian ministry, this passage speaks volumes to those who have ears to hear.  We know that Jesus alone supplies the power through the Holy Spirit for fruitful and effective ministry.  It is not expressly stated why the man did not initially bring his son to Jesus, and frankly it does not matter for my purpose.  The point is, the man sought help from the disciples of Christ because he hoped they could supply his need.  This happens more in ministry and the church of God than you might think.  People tend to look for people, programs, ministries, and things to supply help and hope.  We may think listening to a sermon will do us good, or read our Bibles through twice in a year will help us overcome issues!  But we can neglect simply coming to Christ!  Search as we might for useful or effective aids apart from Christ, they will not supply our true need.  They will be proved useless, even as the disciples were not effective to do what only God could.

The second thing about this passage is the neglect and failure of the disciples to bring the man to Jesus.  They had prayed, even laid hands, or did exactly what had worked every time before.  They were unable to help the boy, and scratched their heads in wonder:  "Why isn't this working?"  Their theology teetered precariously on their shredded faith, not seeing the end they intended.  So they let the man go.  It seems they did not consider bringing the boy to Jesus!  It was the father who desperately sought Christ after his son's problems persisted, but the disciples did not share his desperation.  In their minds they had failed:  why involve Jesus at all with this embarrassing humiliation?  The demon inside this little boy had them beat, and they couldn't understand why or how it was possible.  Ignore the issue, and maybe it would just go away in time.

The man did what the disciples failed to do, but only at the prompting of Jesus.  He brought his son to the disciples, but seeing their failure he came alone to Jesus.  How sad!  Perhaps it is clear now why Jesus said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?"  Then He gave the command which should have been the immediate response of both the man and the disciples concerning the possessed boy:  "Bring him here to Me."  Do we seek help from other people, books, or articles before we bring ourselves in humility before Jesus?  When we are confronted with the problems of other people, do we bring those people before Jesus through intercessory prayer?  Do we bring them to Christ in faith as Saviour?  When we neglect to go to Christ or forget to bring them to Christ, we will be unable to solve even the small problems in this life.  Yet when we go to Christ and bring others to Him, we will experience deliverance and salvation beyond explanation.

How many unsaved people in this world are disillusioned because they have sought help and hope in men but not in Christ!  And there are far too many Christians (one is too many!) who deny themselves victory and power because of unbelief.  If we believe ourselves sufficient, we will be proved powerless.  People do not need ministries and sermons and studies to be free from oppression and sin:  they need Jesus.  You have a problem?  Bring it to Jesus.  Are you aware of hurting people with needs?  Bring them to Jesus.  Do you have questions?  Bring them to Jesus and you will see that He has been the answer all along.

No More Guilt or Shame

Guilt and shame are God-given tools to move people to confession and repentance before Him.  Too many times, however, feelings of condemnation are tolerated and justified in the life of a Christian who has repented of a sin.  To those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation for those who have repented and forsaken their sins.  Old sins need not weigh us down, for the blood of Jesus is sufficient to atone for them.  The justice of God has been satisfied through His sacrifice, and we are free of all guilt and shame by grace through faith.

God has chosen to remember the sins of His people no more, but the devil is only too happy to remind us of our transgressions.  His accusing voice rings in our heads, and because we agree we have done wrong there may be a temptation to allow his venomous attacks without resistance.  When we wander from Christ, He calls us to return to Him.  There is no waiting period for God's forgiveness, some penance that first must be endured before we will be accepted back into fellowship with God when we truly repent.  The scripture says without reservation in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  "That's too easy," some might complain - like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son who returned to his father.  Was the cross too small a payment in your estimation?  That is what it cost God for man to be forgiven of a single sin.  The devil and men alike want men to pay with guilt and shame for their sins when Christ has paid already.

When the book of the Law was read in Nehemiah's day, the people wept when they heard it.  They were remorseful and contrite for their wrongs.  They had sinned greatly against God and without atonement His great wrath would be upon them.  Fresh out of captivity and they had entered into sins that were the cause of their captivity for 70 years!  If man was God, he might be satisfied for people to remain in their guilt and shame a bit longer, to make sure they really knew how great their transgressions were!  God is not like a man.  Those who repent and humble themselves before God in faith and repentance will be accepted by His grace.  Nehemiah 8:9-12 says, "And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."  Amazingly, the people were commanded not to weep.  Instead they were to rejoice because the joy of the LORD was their strength.  Their tears of sorrow were turned to tears of joy.  Their sins were great, but the atonement, forgiveness, grace, and acceptance of God was greater still.

If we practice sin, the absence of guilt and shame should be very concerning indeed.  This shows our hearts have been hardened and deceived, perhaps even unregenerate!  But if you are a Christian who has repented and forsaken sin, you should no longer bear the weighty yoke of guilt and shame for transgressions Christ has cleansed.  We do well to remember our faults so we will not repeat them.  Instead of drowning in sorrows and shame, and sinning further by pitying ourselves, let us choose to rejoice in the assurance of Christ's forgiveness through the promise of the Word.  Do not delay to come to Christ and be reconciled to Him through repentance.  Those who come to Christ He will by no means cast out (John 6:37).  May the joy of the LORD be your strength as you consider all your Saviour has done for you!

Passing the Spiritual

Before immigrating to Australia, our family needed to complete physicals in the United States to qualify for a visa.  It included a basic physical examination, bloodwork, vision, and drug testing.  Had we failed the physical, we would have been denied a visa and entrance to the country.  After we lived in Australia for two years, again the whole family was required to undergo a physical to obtain a permanent resident visa.  Praise the LORD we each passed the physical and this potential hindrance to obtaining the visa was removed.  God gave us favour with our application and now we remain grateful permanent residents of Australia.  Since we have completed the physicals and have continued to live in-country, we should not need to have physicals when we apply for citizenship next year God-willing.

Paul wrote concerning Christians in Philippians 3:20-21:  "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."  Similar to how immigration to a different country requires a physical, to become a citizen of heaven requires a "spiritual."  Only those who are completely righteous and holy meet God's requirements for heavenly citizenship.  Heaven is open to everyone, but the problem is there is not one person aside from Jesus Christ who meets God's strict standards according to His Law.  Not one person today can pass this spiritual physical.  Polluted by sin, we all fail and will be denied entrance.

But God, in His mercy toward us, sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalf.  He has risen from the dead, proving His saving power.  God's Word teaches us the effect of Christ and the Gospel in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name..."  Whosoever will repent and trust in Jesus Christ, receiving Him as LORD, the righteousness of Christ will be imputed to us (Romans 4:8-11).  Our sins are atoned for by the blood of Jesus through faith, and we receive a life-providing transfusion of Christ's righteousness.  We are holy, even as He is holy.  Only then can we pass the spiritual requirements to gain access into heaven, for we have already received Him in our hearts by faith.

This is good news!  Christians are made citizens of heaven by the grace of God, and have assurance of eternal security through His Word.  Praise God for the way He has made through His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!

A More Sure Word

Life is filled with amazing experiences.  The greatest and most memorable experiences occur when a man has an encounter with the Living God who created him.  Whilst experiences do much to build faith in the life of a Christian, they can never be repeated.  We cannot feel how we felt at that time, nor can we re-create the situation upon our whim.  Look back all you want, but you cannot go back.  This is a good thing, or else a lot of Christians might be tempted to remain at Elim (an oasis in the wilderness mentioned in Ex. 15:27) when the inheritance God has given to us remains unclaimed over Jordan.

Peter had such an experience when Jesus was transfigured before him.  Peter was overwhelmed as he saw Jesus in glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah on the mount.  Unsure of what to say, Peter made a suggestion that if Jesus agreed, they should build three tabernacles on the mountain:  one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.  He wanted to establish a memorial of this miraculous scene before his eyes.  He never wanted to forget what he saw.  But then something happened.  Matthew 17:5-6 tells us, "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid."  It is clear that Peter's suggestion was not led by the Spirit, for as he was going on about constructing these tabernacles the voice of God the Father boomed, "The is My beloved Son!"  The disciples fell on their faces, rising only after Jesus touched them and invited them to stand.  They headed down the mountain, having had an encounter with God.  God's will was not that they build monuments to their experience, but having been changed by their unforgettable encounter to head down the mountain, serving God and others.

Peter would later write of his experience in his second epistle, and he said something which I find amazing.  2 Peter 1:16-21 reads in the KJV:  "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  One might think that the experience of the transfiguration would be heralded among the greatest spiritual experiences.  To see Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mount, and to hear the audible voice of God speak forth His approval and pleasure in His Son Jesus, would have been stunning proof of Jesus as Christ and His divinity.  That is not what Peter says.  He did not write this in a hope to recreate the glory of that night - or with the wish that others could have experienced it as well.  He was an eyewitness of God's glory, and he heard with his ears the voice of God.  Yet Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy...." Allow that to sink in for a moment.  More trustworthy than Peter's ears, more established than the audible voice of God from heaven, is the surety of the scriptures written for us, dictated through men by the Holy Spirit.  Wow.

There are no shortage of people who are convinced they have heard God speak.  There are many people who are hailed as prophets by their loyal followers.  We have sure words of prophecy concerning Christ all throughout the Bible, the Word of God.  Peter says, "Ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place..."  The scriptures are sure and steadfast.  It is God-breathed and through the Bible we can know with full assurance truth from error.  Do not think that I am minimising the importance of experiences.  We are to experience the presence and fullness of God every day!  When we have experiences - even if we see God's glory and hear His voice audibly - we are not to idolise such manifestations.  May we all have them as He wills!  God desires we fall before Him in reverent worship, and to rise at His leading and come down from that mountain top so we might be of use to Him in the foothills and valleys, in all seasons of life.  For the rest of his life Peter was greatly enriched by his experience on the mountain with Jesus.  But he viewed the scriptures as a more sure word of prophesy than his own eye-witness account.

May experiences of the power and glory of God and the sure words of prophecy committed unto us have their rightful place in our lives!   We live in a dark place, and His Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our paths.  Through God's Word we see Jesus, the Hope of Glory, in everlasting light and power.  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus did not appeal to the signs and wonders of the reality of the resurrected Messiah, but went to the authority of the scriptures.  Interesting, isn't it?  Jesus could have turned stones into bread, healed an illness, or told the men exactly what was hidden in their hearts or past.  He chose to affirm His resurrection and presence with the Word.  Luke 24:25-27 says, "Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."  No bright light, no booming voice from heaven.  Jesus used the light of God's Word and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to appeal to the hearts and minds of those grieving men.  Jesus would ultimately reveal Himself to the men in His way of breaking bread.  The way Jesus broke the loaves was one thing, but how much more wonderful was the way He pulled apart the Words of Life and gave to each as they had need through expounding the scripture.  Does not God's Word satisfy?