A boy is healed.
I get inspired to write every time I read Jesus interacting with an impure spirit within a person because there’s a continuous, similar encounter that solidifies the power of Jesus. There is also revelation in the intentions of evil and how it’s still happening today.
In Mark chapter 9 verse 17 NKJV it reads, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever he seizes him, he throws him down, he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to your disciples, that they should cast him out, but they could not. He answered him and said ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.’ Then they brought him to Him and when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.””
How long has this been happening to him? I love this question because Jesus already knew the answer yet wanted to hear what the dad said next. From childhood the impure spirit had convulsed him and thrown him into fire and water to destroy him. The insight we receive is the purpose of impure spirits: they want to destroy us. John 10:10 NKJV says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” We have extremely similar spirits running around and the ones I want to talk about are those that try to destroy the mind.
I find it fascinating that from a young age the devil begins to attack the mind. I have a friend whose son I believe at age 13-14 is already experiencing suicidal thoughts. When I first heard, I was baffled. At such a young age the impure spirits are already trying to kill. The dad in the verse mentioning the results of the spirit- throwing him into fire and water to destroy his son- is the same intention as giving suicidal thoughts. I imagine the tiredness the dad has from trying to help and support his son and feeling like nothing is possible. Feeling hopeless for someone you love, I cannot begin to sympathize because I have never been there, however, I imagine painful.
I cannot begin to imagine the status of the boy, how it must all feel and seem. This is happening today, and as I continue to read this story I am reminded and solidified of the answer to all the pain. Verse 24, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more!’ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, ‘he is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.”
The format of overpowering the unclean spirit starts with our belief. The human’s belief in Jesus. I understand it can be uncomfortable to believe, but I am evidence that belief in Jesus changes everything. The father while listening to Jesus, I can see began to have hope in him while hearing that “all things are possible to him who believes”. Jesus then moved, rebuked the spirit and out he came. Even when the boy seemed dead, Jesus saw him alive.1 Continuing the next sentence of John 10:10 Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
In order to preserve life I share with you the verse God put in my heart now, Ephesians 6:10 NKJV, “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” As children and believers of God we have authority over all impure spirits.2 We don’t have to withstand their torture any longer. When I get ideas of myself that cause me to question and doubt who I am, I decide within me whether I listen or rebuke. I know who I am and what Jesus says about me and because I believe what He says, any thoughts that come to kill me, I can kill. And when I kill them, they stay dead.
Verse 11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We fight against human logic, feelings of the flesh, against ideas that go against God’s words, against impure spirits whose sole purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. The list goes on, however, the list is not where I put my focus. I love this line from one of my favorite childhood rappers, “satan gonna do his thing too,” he really is.
I know, believe me, that everything bad that occurs to someone is permitted by God and comes with reason.3 There is nothing God allows that does not come with a blessing, a purpose, a destination.4 So when the bible tells me that I fight with powers and spirits, that tells me I have a huge purpose and destination. I listened to Steven Furtick’s video the other day and he makes a great connection to this. What is the devil seeing in you, that he comes like crazy to kill, steal, and destroy you? What glorious light is he seeing, that he comes blazing to kill you?
Paul continues in verse 14, saying, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” The Word of God is truth5 and we can trust it.6 “Having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior causes us to live and carry righteousness.7 “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Reading the bible is essential to continue fighting because you’ll know all the words spoken about you, the beautiful truths of who you are. The word of God discerns your heart and speaks about your life.8
Every time I read when I am struggling, I freak out because it is like having a conversation with the Word, guiding me through what I feel, and cannot see. “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” I will say to you and to myself what God says about the topic of trusting Him with finances, “test Me.” AKA “put what I say to work, test Me.”
It is difficult on this road of trust. But I will continue to repeat to myself, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”9
Amen.
Index
1- 2 Corinthians 4: 18 NKJV
2- Mathew 10: 1 NKJV, Mark 3: 15 NKJV, Luke 10: 19 NKJV
3- Genesis 50: 20 NKJV
4- Romans 8: 28 NKJV
5- Psalms 33: 4 NLT
6- Revelation 22: 6 NLT
7- Isaiah 53: 11 NLT
8- Hebrews 4: 12 NKJV
9- Psalms 27: 14 NKJV