This morning we continue our series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation”, with our mini-series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. We have looked at the story of Jesus casting a demon out of a mute man for a couple of days. I was going to move on this morning to the next miracle, but I was led to address this situation one last time. This is a very important message. Please open up your heart to receive what God is saying.
When a group of people brought a mute man to Jesus, hoping that Jesus would heal him, Jesus immediately knew that the man did not need healing. He was not mute because of a medical or physical condition. This man was bound spiritually. He was demon possessed. Jesus cast the demon out of the man and his speech was restored.
The Pharisees were part of the Jewish religious leadership at the time. They should have rejoiced with the man who had just been delievered from bondange. They should have given God praise for providing a supernatural breakthrough by way of Jesus. But they did none of this, because they had already made up their minds that they were going to fight against anything Jesus did. Forget the fact that Jesus was helping people. Forget the fact that people were being healed. Forget the fact that a demon possessed man was delivered before their very eyes. The Pharisees were so fixated on fighting against Jesus that they dismissed anything good He did. While the man in the text was rejoicing over his restored speech, the best the Pharisees could do was to claim that Jesus cast the demon out by the power of satan. These religious leaders were so blinded by hate that they attributed the works of God to satan. It’s unfortunate, but many believers are making the same mistake today. They are more motivated by the differences they have chosen to focus in on, than on the God they should be serving.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Don’t fight against something just because you don’t understand it.
a) The Pharisees, Sadducees and the Sanhedrin fought against Jesus because they did not understand Him, nor did they ever take the time to get to know Him. If they had taken the time to know Jesus, they may have gotten a revelation of who He was, and they could have joined forces with the Messiah. But they chose to remain ignorant. Their opposition of Jesus was fueled by their ignorance of His divine assignment. Sadly, the same scenario is still being played out today.
b) Christians of different denominations, cultures, colors and ethnic backgrounds often fight against each other, because they have never taken the time to get to know one another.
c) Christians today are at-odds with each other over who they voted for, or where they stand on political issues. Not only is this a case of ‘majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors’, but it is also an example of what happens when people don’t take the time to understand their differences.
d) You don’t have to agree with everything your brother or sister in Christ says or does, but you should honor them enough to want to understand their position and vice-verse. If we just took the time to understand each other, the world, and the Body of Christ, would be a much better place.
2. Just because you have not experienced something does not make it wrong.
a) The Pharisees and Sadducees fought against the miracles Jesus performed, simply because they had NO power to perform the same miracles. Since they did not have the power, they claimed the miracles had to be false and the power had to be from satan. NO! Just because you have not experienced something, it doesn’t make it wrong. God is much bigger than that!
b) Some Christians immediately deny tongues, because they have never spoken in tongues. Others deny modern-day miracles, claiming that miracles were only for Jesus’ era, just because they have never experienced miracles. Guess what? God is bigger than what you have experienced!
c) If you don’t understand something, don’t immediately speak against it. It could be God. Ask God to speak to you concerning it. If He tells you it is wrong, then fine, you can openly denounce it. But most of the time people are denouncing things out of their feelings and not because of true faith.
3. It’s takes ALL of us to be the universal church.
a) In Luke 9 we see the Apostle John making the mistake the Pharisees did. John told Jesus that he and some of the other disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name. John said, “We told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.” John wanted to stop this person, just because he was not part of his group. This person was doing the will of God, but since he was not part of John’s “click”, John told him to stop. Jesus responded, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.” (see verses 49 & 50). It’s sad, but many Christians today are acting like John. They are fighting against other Christians, just because they are not part of their “group”.
b) Your group (whatever group you may associate with), does not have a monopoly on God. People who don’t look like you, talk like you, or act like you, may be walking with God just as intimately as you are; and maybe even closer.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. This year I will experience supernatural manifestation like never before, because I will experience YOU like never before. The closer I get to You, the less I think of myself, and the less judgmental I become. I can’t look down on anyone, because You have refused to look down on me. There is SO much to You that I do not understand, that I cannot immediately dismiss others, who claim to be led of You, just because I do not understand them. So, I am slow to judge. I am quick to listen. I don’t see people merely in the flesh. I am led of Your Spirit in all ways. And I seek to walk with my brothers and sisters in unity, despite our differences. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and prosper!
