Monday, June 4, 2018
Atmosphere of faith
Mark 6:5
Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
I heard a famous televangelist being interviewed once. The aggressive journalist challenged him on his claim to have a gift of healing. The argument being presented by the Journalist, as I remember it, was that if this evangelist had the gift of healing, why didn’t he just go to the hospital, stand in the doorway and heal everyone. The evangelist, again as I remember it, said that, healing most times require an atmosphere of faith.
This evangelist went on to point out to the reporter that most healings take place during the crusades, meetings or church services when people are singing songs of worship and many Christians are present and are exercising faith that others would be healed. This atmosphere of faith, he posited, is the time when miracles, including healings, take place.
This was some years ago and I pondered on the evangelist’s claim for a long time. Over time I have come, through research and experience, to believe that there is an atmosphere in which there tends to be a move of the Holy Spirit to work mightily that is not common. This, of course, does not mean that the Holy Spirit cannot work otherwise. The Holy Spirit is God and there is no limitation in Him, but an atmosphere of faith is different to other circumstances.
This is consistent throughout scripture and can be seen once you are looking for it. God has a way of manifesting His presence in corporate worship that is different to how He often meets the individual. Jesus told the disciples, before He left them, that they should wait, in place, together, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me” Acts 1:4.
This command was followed up by their obedience and the Holy Spirit was poured out when they were together in one place and of one expectant heart. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:1,2.
This choice by God, to act mightily in an atmosphere, gets presented sometimes as a limitation, that God cannot work where there is no faith. I struggle to accept that there is any circumstance where almighty God cannot do what He pleases. Nevertheless, we are encouraged to always come together for worship and we can expect the Holy Spirit to be active.
We are challenged, in a totally different context, to never give up coming together to worship, to encourage each other, “let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24,25.
In our story today, Mark 6:1-6, Jesus was confronted by some in His own community. He was disrespected because, to them, He was a common tradesman just like them, one from the community whom they knew and whose family they knew. On account of this they took offence, “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.” Mark 6:3
A few were impressed by His teaching, “And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!” Mark 6:2.
The reaction of Jesus is instructive in this matter of the atmosphere of faith. This story is also found in Matthew 13:54-58 and we could quote from Matthew, where Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” Matthew 13:57.
The Gospel writers then, both Matthew and Mark, go on to establish the importance to Jesus of the atmosphere of faith. Mark suggested that Jesus could do no great works there because of the absence of faith, “Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.” Mark 6:5. Matthew, on the other hand, suggested that it was a choice that Jesus made, “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:58.
There was another time when Jesus was out and about that there was a huge crowd there to hear Him and to see Him perform miracles. People had come from all over Galilee. We should note that in a big crowd there is hardly likely 100% support. This was the case here, the Pharisees had come from all over to spy Him out and bring Him in. But the crowd, overwhelmingly, were expecting great things.
Here is what Luke adds to his record of the event, “And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” And of course, great miracles were done that day.
Think on these things:
- Have you ever been present where a great healing or miracle took place?
- Do you ever go to church expecting that God could or would do something extraordinary?
- Do you ever sense that there is an atmosphere of faith and expectancy at the place where you worship regularly?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would commit ourselves to corporate worship and to creating an atmosphere of faith in which God would work on behalf of those in need.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex