How Long?

 "I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn't heal him. " Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." Matthew 17:16-17....."Jesus gave His disciples the power to cast out demons and to perform miracles....yet they became so self-centered that they lost the power to do the work of God." Henry Blackaby

I think most of us fail to grasp what Jesus is saying here, and what is actually going on: A father had brought his tormented son to Jesus' followers in order that he might be healed of his demonic affliction. As Scripture states, Jesus had already given His disciples the power to do so, yet they couldn't. In response, He issued a rebuke. Not to the father or any of the others who might be looking on, but to the disciples themselves. They were the ones that had been given the ability to minister in miraculous and powerful ways, but they were unable to do so. Blackaby states the reason for their powerlessness; they had been consumed with competing with one another as to who would be the greatest among them. Who would have the most effective ministry. Who would be the closest to Jesus himself. How like them are we, and how powerless have we become because of it?

We who are the church, the Body of Christ, have been given the same power and authority that was given the disciples. We are to minister healing and deliverance to a world held in captivity by sin and its effects. How effective have we been in that? Jesus had tasked His disciples with His "agenda," but they'd become consumed with their own. Where have we done, and continue to do the same? Blackaby writes, "God ought to be able to send hurting persons to any child of His and expect they will be helped." Can He send them to me, to you? Can they be sent to the fellowship you're a part of, that I'm a part of? Or have we become so entangled by our own ambitions, or distracted by our busyness and desires that we can't see them, and lack the power to help even when we do? Where have we earned, and continue to earn the rebuke of Christ?

Elsewhere in His Word, Jesus asked, "What good is salt if it has lost its saltiness?" We are to be healing, purifying salt in the midst of a terribly wounded and bleeding world. People are placed before us every day, but we too often see them as human interruptions instead of divine appointments. The church is to function as a healing center for the sick and dying, but how many truly see us as that? Do we even see ourselves as that? When we gather in our corporate settings, how many of us really expect to find His healing and transformation in these gatherings? Do we expect to be vessels of His healing, restoration, and transformation? Do we expect it ourselves? Can He expect us to be so? Do we earn His rebuke anew each day?

I think He's been asking us "How long?" for some time now. How long will we continue to be more powerless than powerful? How long will we be consumed with self-centered agendas and "ministries?" How long will we continue to be a pale imitation of what we were raised up to be? Everywhere about us are fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sisters, and brothers who, in desperation, seek to bring their broken loved ones to us in hopes of finding healing and life. All that they need for life and freedom has been given us in order to give to them. The father in the above Scripture found His disciples unable to help him. Who is finding us unable as well? How long will this continue to be so?

Blessings,

Pastor O