The One that Was

The One that Was
Words of Faith 1-19-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 9
[14] When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. [15] As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
[16] "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
[17] A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. [18] Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."

What was going on here? We just observed the most incredible mountaintop experience in all of history. Jesus was transfigured the eyes of three disciples. There was a great revelation of who Jesus really is. Why are we back to dealing with demons that make children foam at the mouth? And why can't the other disciples handle this while Jesus consults with Elijah and Moses?
The truth is that this is far more characteristic of Christian ministry than uncharacteristic. This attack from the Enemy is no coincidence. Jesus had just been glorified on the mountaintop. The faith of Peter, James, and John has been magnified enormously. The three of them were headed down into the valley with Jesus and with a renewed and powerful faith. God was winning the war. That is when Satan attacks. And being the coward that he is, Satan typically attacks by harassing someone powerless, like a child.

But there is an even bigger pattern here. The Enemy does not attack those detachments of God that are of no threat. The Enemy does not harass ministries that are doing no good. The Enemy does not antagonize ineffective churches. The Enemy does not seek to divide Christians who are already divided on their own. The Enemy does not attempt to destroy the faith of the faithless. When an attack comes, you can bet that it comes for a reason.
Have you noticed that the worst attacks come regarding the "one who wasn't"? No matter how many have been healed, it seemed that there is always the one who wasn't healed… rather than the one who was. No matter how great the outpouring, there is the puzzling reality of the one who wasn't filled. Even when many are saved, there seems to be the one who wasn't saved. We often worry significantly over the one who wasn't delivered, the one who wasn't fed, or the one who, apparently, wasn't loved by God, rather than the one who was.
It is incredible how we can see a thousand prayers answered, a thousand healings, a thousand blessings, a thousand saved, a thousand fed, but the "one that wasn't" bothers us so terribly.
The truth is that there will be some situations in which we cannot explain or understand this side of heaven. Someone may not be healed, though we thought they should have been. Others will not be saved even after fervent prayer. But these are usually in great contrast to the many manifold blessings of God. We must praise God for the blessings rather than dwell on the mysteries. Praise God for the one that was, and keep praying for the one that wasn't.
Are you under attack? There is a reason. Are you being harassed by the Enemy? It is for a cause. Perhaps you are near a breakthrough with God or a victory for the Kingdom. Jesus is being glorified in your life. There must be a big blessing that is near. Don't be discouraged. If you were not walking close to God, the Enemy would not have taken notice.

Lord, I ask that You rebuke the Enemy from my life. I desire to walk close to You on the mountaintop and in the valley. Give me the courage and wisdom to walk close to You. Thank You for the one that was. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.