Matthew 17; Mark 9 – October 20

Bringing the Kingdom to earth
Matthew 17 and Mark 9 records when Peter, James and John “see the kingdom of God present with power” on top of the mountain. After their amazing experience, they come down from the mountain to see what it looks like when “disciples” fail to bring the kingdom to earth. A man had brought his son to get freedom from a demon that controlled him from birth, but the disciples could not cast it out. Why couldn’t they do it? Was it God’s will to teach this man humility? Was it just one of those things we “don’t understand?” Jesus states plainly what the problem was; Jesus says in Matthew 17:17 "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." It was faithless and perverse thinking that stood in the way of this boy receiving freedom, not the will of God; God is a giver and healer. Matthew 17:19-20 says, “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Jesus essentially tells them the same thing, but expounds a little more. What is the lesson for us? If we “see” people getting healed, saved, and delivered on the inside, we will see it on the outside. Jesus further counseled them that prayer and fasting will extinguish unbelief and perverse thinking in the heart. Let’s not settle for status quo; the “kingdom of God is at hand” (It is within reach).