He’s There When You Need Him
Theme: God’s heart goes out to us when we are lacking.
Text: Luke 9:37-45
Here’s a thought: John Stott admitted, “The thing I know will give me the deepest joy ‑ namely, to be alone and unhurried in the presence of God, aware of His presence, my heart open to worship Him ‑ is often the thing I least want to do.”
Six Scottish miners were forced to make a gut-wrenching decision. While they were working some 1,500 feet underground, a shaft collapsed. Debris trapped one of their companions, and mud and water began to rush in. The miners realized that all avenues of escape would soon be closed to them, and they would perish unless they fled without delay. With great agony, the six men decided to let their co-worker die rather than be entombed in that shaft while attempting to save him. They were compelled to abandon him.
In contrast, God is never forced to forsake one of His children. No matter how desperate the situation or how huge our problems are, the Heavenly Father stays by our side to meet our deepest needs with His infinite wisdom and power. Under no circumstance and at no time will He give up on those who know His Son as Lord and Saviour. We may, at times, even feel abandoned, but we will never be abandoned.
In Luke 9:37-45 Jesus shows the heart of the Father to those who are in need:
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” 41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marvelling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. NIV
Jesus demonstrated the Father’s heart to those who:
Despair (Luke 9:37-39, 41-42)
When Jesus came down from the mountain, He was immediately faced with a problem. What a contrast between the mountaintop experience that Jesus had, where He basked in the glory of God and interacted with the valley of need below. What a rude awakening to the great despair of the world where the powers of darkness were still tormenting people. Yet again, Jesus put the glory of heaven behind Him and the comfort of all that was beautiful to help those still struggling in a broken world filled with ugliness. What an example He provides for us!
As He came down from the mountain, He encountered a situation where a boy and his father were in great distress. This boy was suffering from seizures, during which he was thrown into fire or water - whatever happened to be nearby. Matthew refers to this boy as an epileptic. Does this mean that all epilepsy is due to demonization? Just as I believe mental illness can have physical, psychological or spiritual causes, I think there are different types of epilepsy. Epilepsy can be from demonization, but not exclusively. If you have ever had a seizure or seen someone have a seizure, you can appreciate the agony this boy and his father must have been going through.
This account is also described by the Gospel writers Matthew and Mark. As we compare their accounts, we get an even clearer sense of desperation that gripped this father’s heart. Matthew tells us that this man stepped out from the crowd and knelt at the Lord’s feet. He humbly and reverently begged Jesus to intervene. While many of the religious leaders were sneering at Jesus and His disciples’ failure to cast the demon out of the boy, there emerged a man whose heart was breaking for his only child. The man’s despair positioned him for a miracle.
Two sailors were adrift on a raft in the ocean. They had just about given up hope of rescue. One began to pray, “O Lord, I’ve led a worthless life. I’ve been unkind to my wife and neglected my children, but if you save me, I promise ...”
“Hold it,” the other shouted, “I think I see land!”
God is moved by desperation. A whole nation had grown desperate 1,500 years before this boy’s deliverance. The Israelites had come under increasing pressure in the land of Egypt, where they had settled. We see in Exodus 2:23-25 how the situation had to get worse before it got better:
23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. NIV
God responded to their cries by calling Moses to lead them out of Egypt with great demonstrations of power.
Is there desperation in our hearts for God to move on our behalf? Have we reached the end of our rope, or do we still have other ways and means to take care of our needs? If we are still looking for sources other than God to come through for us, our chances of seeing Him intervene are reduced. Our likelihood of experiencing the touch of Almighty God is directly proportional to our hearts’ despair level.
Jesus demonstrated the Father’s heart to those who:
Despair
Doubt (Luke 9:40-41)
During Jesus, Peter, James, and John's absence, a man brought his demonized son to the nine remaining disciples for healing, but they could not drive out the evil spirit. It seems strange that these nine could not exorcise this demon since they had demonstrated such power in a previous ministry trip. Jesus’ sharp criticism in verse 41 - “O unbelieving and perverse generation” - may give us a hint of why. They lacked faith.
Mark gives a fuller description of the doubt that had settled in people’s hearts that day. In Mark 9:21-29 we read:
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.” NIV
I can see the struggle in this man’s heart as he comes to Jesus with the request, “If you can, please do something.” When Jesus encourages him to believe, the man exercises his little faith and asks for help to overcome his unbelief. Jesus is merciful and patient toward him, honouring his request by delivering his son from the demon's grip.
Have you ever had a seesaw going up and down in your mind as you came to God with a request, where you believed one minute and doubted the next? This passage teaches us to confess what faith we do have and ask the Lord to help us overcome our unbelief.
Jesus asked that the boy be brought to Him. The demon made one last effort to keep control, hurling the boy to the ground in a convulsion. But the demon could not resist, and the boy was set free. What power! This same power is available to you and me today!
I sense that Jesus was more disgusted with the nine disciples than this boy’s father. His disciples had seen and even exercised the power of God themselves. These men had the privilege of previously being used by the Lord to touch others - they should have known better! With experience in this power comes responsibility. Have you seen the Lord touch others through your or someone else’s prayers? What a privilege it is. With that privilege comes the responsibility to keep feeding that faith by praying and fasting. As we do, the Lord will continue to lead us into greater dimensions of service. Let’s keep pressing in! Let’s continue to pray for others, and we will see God touch them through you.
Jesus demonstrated the Father’s heart to those who:
Despair
Doubt
Desert (Luke 9:43-45)
While the crowd marvelled at the miracle, Jesus took the opportunity to warn His disciples about His coming suffering. Even as they were enjoying a moment of triumph, He warned them of the challenging future that lay only a few months ahead. He told them plainly that He would be betrayed into the hands of men, yet they did not understand. We marvel at how dense they were but should not be too smug. The Lord’s intent is evident to us only because we have the advantage of hindsight.
If you and I were among the crowd that day, we could hardly believe that this young Rabbi with such love and power would soon be deserted by these admiring crowds, even by those closest to Him. Why on earth would they, in a few short months, turn Him over to the authorities to die by the most painful and humiliating means practiced by the Romans? Again, let’s not be too hard on the people about to betray Jesus. Believe it or not, we, too, share in the ugliness of sin and rebellion against God that rejects such demonstrations of love and power. In other words, if you and I were both left to ourselves, we too would reject Jesus Christ.
John Stott once admitted the truth that many of us have felt but failed to confess:
The thing I know will give me the deepest joy ‑ namely, to be alone and unhurried in the presence of God, aware of His presence, my heart open to worship Him ‑ is often the thing I least want to do.
Joan asked, “Is Frank a confirmed bachelor?”
Lynn replied, “He sure is. He sent his picture and profile to a lonely hearts club, and they returned it saying, ‘We’re not that lonely!’”
Jesus knew loneliness and rejection. Until His last breath, Jesus showed how much His heart went out to those who deserted Him. Allow these words from Luke 23:32-34 to sink in:
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” NIV
Even though He knew these people would desert Him very soon, Jesus continued to love them, heal them, deliver them from demonization and teach them the ways of heaven. His heart goes out even to those who desert Him! Have you deserted Him? Was there a day when you walked closely with Him, talked to Him and learned about Him? Have you been ignoring Him? His heart goes out to you. He wants to show you His Father’s great love for you. Please come to Him.
One day, a two-story house caught on fire. The family quickly left the house when the youngest boy became terrified, tore away from his mother, and ran back upstairs. Suddenly, he appeared at a smoke-filled window, crying hysterically. Standing outside, his father shouted, Jump, son, jump! I will catch you!”
The boy cried, “But Daddy, I can’t see you!”
“I know,” his father called. “But I can see you!”
Knowing that our heavenly Father can see us is what matters most in threatening situations.
Jesus demonstrated the Father’s heart to those who:
Despair
Doubt
Desert
God’s heart goes out to us when we are lacking.
