An encounter with God

An encounter with God often leaves us with a burning desire to serve Him. 

 

Jeremiah echoes this in Jeremiah 20:9b “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

 

I can imagine the disciples felt this way when they were appointed by Jesus and released to preach (Matthew 10). Having seen the miracles that Jesus had performed, they must have been excited to see the same happen through their ministry. After all, Jesus had given them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, to drive out demons, to preach the Good News to those who would listen. 

 

However, the disciples’ ministry come to an impasse when they are unable to deliver a young boy possessed by demons. 

 

The father of the boy emphasises this when he tells Jesus, “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” (Matthew 17:16)

 

Jesus with a command, drives out the demons and restores the boy to full health. His disciples, later in private, asks Jesus how He was able to perform this miracle with such ease.

 

Two answers are recorded from Jesus in the gospels:

  1. “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.’” (Matthew 17:20) 
  2. “So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)

 

Faith. Prayer & Fasting. With these three spiritual disciplines, the disciples, and we ourselves, can serve God with full confidence. 

 

There are three reasons why I believe these spiritual virtues are needed for us to serve God’s call in our lives.


1.   Faith causes us to believe for God to move over what we can do in our own capacity

 

We need to have faith when we know we cannot do it by our own strength. We need faith when we ask God to create a result that is only possible if He does. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6)

 

2.   Prayer and fasting creates dependency on God.

 

When we approach God in prayer and fasting, we are admitting that we need Him to move. It is a physical act that brings about a mental resolution. This cannot happen unless God does it. Prayer and fasting cultivate a lifestyle of dependency on God by creating space for His presence, reminding us of our need for Him, and enabling us to trust Him in all circumstances. They reorient our hearts and minds to rely fully on God rather than on our abilities or circumstances.

 

3.   Prayer and fasting recognises God as supreme.

 

What we cannot let happen is for us to think that miracles are from our own doing.  Every result from ministry is because of God’s power. When we recognise that  God is the one who causes the results, we will keep ourselves from pride and also clinging on to Him.

 

We serve not for God’s recognition of our good works, it is being tethered to Him that brings God true pleasure. In His grace and mercy, He has allowed us to partner with Him to make known His name to all people. We are to constantly dwell with Him and through Him serve His people.

 

Contributed by Jonathan Ryan Ramachandran

 

 

 

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