When Ye Have Done All Those Things Which Are Commanded, What Will You Say? - Part 1047

And the Lord Jesus said, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, "Be thou plucked up by the root and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, "Go and sit down to meat?"

And will not rather say unto him, "Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?" Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not."

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:6-10)

Jesus asked a similar question when the disciples could not cast the evil spirit out of a young child. Therein, Jesus said, "If thou canst believe, ALL things ARE possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23)

At the time, there was a great multitude about, "and the scribes questioning with them." (Mark 9:14) Straightway, the people beheld Him, greatly amazed and running to Him saluted Jesus. And He asked the scribes, "What question ye with them?" And one of the multitude answered, and said, "Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not." (Mark 9:15-18)

Jesus answered, saying, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me." (Mark 9:19) In other words, Jesus was telling the multitude that "unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." (John 4:48)

When they brought the child unto Jesus and "when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked His father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And the father told Jesus that this had been the case since he was a child. "And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him; but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." (Mark 9:20-22)

Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth." 

What happened? Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." (Mark 9:24-25)

And [the spirit] cried and rent him sore, and came out of him, and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took the child by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could not we cast [him] out?" (Mark 9:26-27)

And Jesus said unto them, "This kind can come forth by nothing. but by prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:29)

In the scriptures, this latter statement is often linked with James 5:16 which states: "... the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." This scriptural passage goes on to discuss Elias who "was a man subject to like passions as we are ..." but my point is this. (James 5:17)

Even the apostles who walked with Jesus day in and day out needed to ask why the dumb and deaf spirit that plagued the child from birth would not come out. It is for situations just like this that we -- believers in Jesus the Christ by faith -- need to read His Word, learn His teachings while similarly studying to show ourselves approved, such as a workman.

Why? Because it is from knowing Jesus personally and walking with Him day in and day out that the wisdom that is from above -- the wisdom that is pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" becomes in us the fruit of righteousness -- sown in peace to them that make peace within the body of Christ. (James 3:17-18)

But our place in the Lord does not end there. There is more.

"For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness -- but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, the power of God and the wisdom of God -- because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men ... but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not -- to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence ...

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:21-31)

So where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?

Draw close to Jesus for the answer. Stand firm in His goodness, mercy and grace. Indeed, stand in the offering plate with the King of kings and Lord of lords.