Just then, a women who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself. “If I only touch his cloak, I will be whole” (Matt 9:21-22). The woman was healed as Jesus confirmed to her. “Your faith has made you whole.” That was another approach that really ridiculed the enemy. He wouldn’t roll up his sleeves to fight a furious goat.
The devil came troubling the sea. He threatened to capsize the master’s boat. He waved so heavily that “the waves swept over the boat (Matt 8:24,)” but how did Jesus react? “He was sleeping in the boat.” The disciples thought he was not aware or concerned. He was aware, but that sleep (absolute peace and calmness) was his response. The devil was not worth interrupting his rest for. That battle was already won before he stepped in to the boat. For the little faith of the disciples, Jesus was forced to speak to the wind. Who speaks to winds these days?
And who would have thought that Peter learnt from Jesus that day? Herod the king had just put James to the sword and he was next. “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial (Acts12:6)”, Peter deployed the master’s approach. “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.” You know the rest of the story. The master’s approach will always deliver!
In the face of the enemy, Jesus announces his victory. That was not the place to begin gymnastics. Jesus’ practice was to receive power in the presence of his father, and exercise the authority over the devil. He didn’t teach us ‘fighting the devil.’
Our approach today seems like we are going the way of the sons of Sceva. “The man who had the evil spirit, jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19:16) Our approach today, is that of a struggler, who has to fight because he lacks the authority, such that is only available to those that have been with the father.
Prayer Warrior, the next time you go out to coordinate a deliverance sessions without dwelling with the father first, you may not be that lucky. Today, we hear of demon possessed people, tearing the suits of pastors, the person to be delivered slapping the ‘prayer warrior.’ We hear of deliverance ministers paying with their lives or that of their relatives. If it didn’t happen to Jesus, it should not be heard of you.
At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father thank you because you have heard me and I know that you always hear me…” (John 11:41-42). Obviously that was not his first time of mentioning that issue to God. Jesus had settled Lazarus’ resurrection with God before that scene. He simply came to demonstrate the victory that was already won.
Emulate Jesus. Go back to your homework. Rebuild your prayer altar. Build a fellowship with God. They say the man who has knelt before God can stand before any man. It’s true!
“After he had dismissed them, he went up to the mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”(Matt 14:23) Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray. (Matt 26:36)
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). That was his battle ground.
Obviously the battleground where Jesus won all his battles was on his knees, alone with the father. In fact, he had already won the battle of Calvary on his knees.