A Witness To Deliverance

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:14-20)

“Just stay a little longer in the presence of God. He’s taking it away right now. I know some of you can’t see it. But I can see it. And He’s releasing some things right now, and He’s delivering some people right now.” – Rev. Richard Griffiths

In Sunday’s sermon Pastor Richard noted that, sometimes, hard times come after having had a high experience. We who serve the Lord Jesus have experienced the “high” of Lent, Holy Week, and the first Sunday of Easter. But by the second Sunday in the Easter season, Christian individuals and organizations often experience a “low” on several fronts: decreased attendance, a reduction in giving, fatigue from having done the extra services common to Holy Week, increased spiritual attacks from those opposed to God’s agenda, and so forth.

Our pastor referenced the experience of the three disciples who had been with Jesus as witnesses of His transfiguration. After the “high” of seeing Jesus in dialogue with Moses and Elijah, these disciples descended the mountain and immediately encountered a “low”: a demon-possessed child, a distressed father, a crowd of spectators, and the confusion of fellow disciples who couldn’t understand why their attempts at deliverance were unsuccessful. (see Matthew 17:1-20; Mark9:2-29; Luke 9:28-43)

This past Sunday, we experienced what it means to minister and overcome in the face of the “low”. In our second service we heard specific testimonies of how some of God’s people had suffered. But, in the face of discouragement, they emerged victorious. God released them from their burdens! And just as Jesus was present to exact deliverance for the child who was under oppression, His Spirit is present to exact deliverance for us today. We, as His disciples, have been given the authority to speak words of healing in the name of Jesus. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit who has given us grace-gifts. When we are united in faith and love and purpose, our gifts serve to glorify God; and, as happened on Sunday, we can partner with God in lifting the burdens of the oppressed.

I have been doing church life for a long time, and I confess that over the years I had fallen into the trap of expecting the second Sunday of Easter to be a “low”… but this past Sunday changed all of that. I am happy to report that this time around, for me, it was as dynamic and inspiring as the first Sunday of Easter. I have experienced a resurrection of faith and expectation. I’ll never be the same again.

Let's follow our pastor's lead: Stay in the presence of God. Wait on Him as He works in us. Look with eyes of faith and see deliverance, even if the spectators and naysayers only can see discouragement. Praise our King who does all things well.

By faith, I see the deliverance... and I am rejoicing. How about you?

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.