One significant element of the story of the demon-possessed boy is that the disciples inability to cast out the demon. The question is, why did they fail to do so? The disciples wanted to know this as well. The gospel of Mark's account of the same story includes this exchange: "And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting". Matthew wrote another distinction:
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." Ultimately, Jesus' disciples failed because, although they knew the King, they lacked Kingdom power. They were unable as yet to operate with Kingdom authority the way Jesus the Christ did; and the pretender and his agents responded only to the authority of the rightful King.
It was necessary for His citizens to possess the authority to act in His name. It was also crucial, however, that they not receive that authority before they were ready. Now, in the case of the demon-possessed boy, it is quite clear they were not ready, but that soon changed.
By the way, not long afterward, Jesus decided to send His disciples on their first independent field assignment: After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road...
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ...
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
The operation of the Garden principle requires the presence of the Gardener, but also the power of the Gardener. The two go together. They are inseparable. Whenever the Gardener is present, His power is present also; which means that His influence is felt in that place. Apart from the presence and power of Christ, His disciples could do nothing. But accompanied by His presence and power, however, they could do anything that He did. That is how the Garden principle works, The Lord God wants to multiply His Garden outposts throughout the whole world by multiplying His power and presence in the lives of His garden-planters (us), the Kingdom citizens. These are the ones He has appointed to spread His influence and culture wherever they go; through delegated authority, empowered to do the work of the King.
Mark 9:28-29 Matthew 17:19-20 Luke 10:1-4, 8-11, 16-20
~~W.R. Luchie
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." Ultimately, Jesus' disciples failed because, although they knew the King, they lacked Kingdom power. They were unable as yet to operate with Kingdom authority the way Jesus the Christ did; and the pretender and his agents responded only to the authority of the rightful King.
It was necessary for His citizens to possess the authority to act in His name. It was also crucial, however, that they not receive that authority before they were ready. Now, in the case of the demon-possessed boy, it is quite clear they were not ready, but that soon changed.
By the way, not long afterward, Jesus decided to send His disciples on their first independent field assignment: After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road...
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ...
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
The operation of the Garden principle requires the presence of the Gardener, but also the power of the Gardener. The two go together. They are inseparable. Whenever the Gardener is present, His power is present also; which means that His influence is felt in that place. Apart from the presence and power of Christ, His disciples could do nothing. But accompanied by His presence and power, however, they could do anything that He did. That is how the Garden principle works, The Lord God wants to multiply His Garden outposts throughout the whole world by multiplying His power and presence in the lives of His garden-planters (us), the Kingdom citizens. These are the ones He has appointed to spread His influence and culture wherever they go; through delegated authority, empowered to do the work of the King.
Mark 9:28-29 Matthew 17:19-20 Luke 10:1-4, 8-11, 16-20
~~W.R. Luchie
