It is necessary that we be firm and authoritative at such times, as firm and authoritative as Jesus was when He rebuked outer rebellious appearances in order to open the way for perfect healing and blessing for His followers. At one point, you will remember, in the case of the man with the unclean spirit, as related by Mark, "Jesus rebuked him [the unclean spirit], saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And the unclean spirit . . . came out of him." In another instance, when Simon's wife's mother was "holden with a great fever ... he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them."

In still another instance, when Jesus was with the disciples, "they reasoned one with another" concerning an appearance of lack and they received His deep rebuke. He charged them quickly and sternly: "Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?

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