Warriors Arise: April 22, 2024
Matthew 8:28-34 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.
When God works a miracle in your life, everyone may not be happy for you. They may not embrace your freedom or celebrate what God has done with you. You would have thought the city people coming out to see Jesus would be ready to celebrate. But they didn't. They rejected Jesus. Because their mind couldn't comprehend the power He operated from, they wanted Him gone. They totally missed it and Him.
I am sure many people prayed for the deliverance of these two demon-possessed men. They didn't want to be in fear of the demons on the two men would get on them. They also didn't want to be harmed in any way. I would be surprised if the people didn't pray for these two men to be free of those demons.
The response of the city people is extremely hurtful to these two men, Jesus and His disciples. I may be presumptuous, but let's explore this. If you had a major healing, something no one else had an answer for, wouldn't you have an anticipation of wanting to celebrate your healing? What if you had been rejected your whole life because of this disease. My Mom has MS. She could walk up until I was about four years old. So many people excused their rudeness because they were in fear. Her disease was not contagious. They weren't going too get it by holding a door open for us or talking with her. And no one ever stopped to pray for her or with us.
These city people had no idea what to do, so they sent the two men away. They wander the mountains of the tombs. Maybe people brought food out to them and had a specific place to leave it for them. Even if they were in their right mind, visitors never knew when the demons would act up. This reminds me of the incredible Hulk. The slightest bit could set Bruce Banner off and the transformation would take less than a minutes and he was in a rage of battle mode, self protection and destruction against those who were attacking him. Think of having two hulks and you never knew what would set them off or the destruction they could cause.
Now, they are free. They are fully clothed and in their right mind. This should be celebrated. Their freedom should be celebrated. There was an obvious difference in their demeanor and countenance. The people seemed to acknowledge this transformation. So why would they celebrate?
I wonder if it is because we do not believe God healed or delivered them. Is that our responsiblity? Are we to judge what God has done in another's life? Why is it so difficult? It bothers me when God is not honored and celebrated as well as the individual we see who receives their healing, delivered, or making a change in their life by quitting smoking, drinking, drugs or even losing weight. We think and maybe they are even fearful that they will return to smoking, drinking, drugs or food when life throws devastation, trauma and discouragement their way. It makes we wonder if our lack of celebration for what God does in their life and they desire, isn't correlated with our faith. Maybe we do not really believe what God did, as well as their part in it, will last. But is that up to us?
Proverbes 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
So what if they fall again. God tells us it is righteous. Not because they fell, but because if they rose seven times that means they continued to desire, work for, and petition God for their freedom to be permenant. They wanted God to be active in their life and the miracle He did to be sustaining for the rest of their life. They weren't going to wait trying. If they have to try again, then celebrate that they are trying again. If it takes them seven times then they are in line with Scripture.
Since God counts it at righteousness, should we celebrate with them every time they rise?
My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I praise You for the miracles You have done in my life. There were several that happened instantaneously and they were permanent. There were others I fell and had to rise in faith knowing You would give me the strength to continue to believe for what I needed. I praise You for giving me the strength to rise. I praise You for Your faithfulness to me. I praise You for not giving up on me. I praise You because You have never failed me. You give me the ability to preserver and I will rise with You in Jesus' Name, amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.