Follow Jesus Series 17

Doubt & Confusion

Text: Matthew 17:14-20

Introduction

Has someone or something ever given you directions and come to find out they were the wrong ones? You trusted that person or devise to provide the right direction to arrive at your desired destination.

We arrive at a moment in Jesus’ ministry when He comes face to face with 9 of his closest followers not living according to the power they had recently been given.

This was a very low moment for Jesus. Here they are, His best representatives to lost souls presenting a confusing message of doubt.

Today, I want us to learn that God has never given us a reason to live in doubt of the operation of His power in us through His Spirit. Are you doubting? Are sending mixed messages to those God has privileged you to reach with the gospel.

1) The Disappointment of Unbelief

A. The disappointment of a seeking father

While Jesus was gone up the mountain, God the Father had permitted an event of demon possession of a young boy.

I see this as a nudge from the Father that this family was in desperate need of Jesus.

What seemed like a terrible thing for God to allow, was actually an extension of God’s goodness.

Whatever leads us to seek Jesus should always be considered a good gift from God.

(Mark 9:14-16) The father explained to Jesus what the demon had been doing to him: foaming at the mouth seizures, causing him to fall in the fire and near by body of water.

The demon was essentially trying to destroy this young boy before Jesus could get to him.

APP — What insight for all parents today!

The father explained to Jesus the inability of His disciples!

Notice the scene Jesus walked in on upon His return:

Jesus witnessed His closest followers and representatives provide only confusion to those Jesus came to save!

The religious crowd was capitalizing on their lack of ability.

Empty religion is always looking to distract from the truth about Jesus.

APPLICATION

How often are you sending mixed messages to those you influence each day about who Jesus is and what it means to live surrendered to Him?

Is your life simply saying Jesus is a religious leader or the Christ, the righteous whom you are a servant too?

Illustration: Paul confronted Peter once when he was being wishy washy with his identity in Christ.

B. The disappointment of a returning Jesus

Why would Jesus be so disappointed?

First — He had previously given them power to cast out demons.

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Luke 10:17 “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

Second — These men represented what we know today as the church. They should have been able to help this family.

Thirdly — They allowed Satan an opportunity to catch away this family by way of filling their heart with doubt.

Jesus addresses the crowd (including His disciples)

“Faithless” — showing a lack of belief or trust in someone

“Perverse” — departing from an accepted standard of oral or spiritual values

Acts 20:30 “30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

“How long shall I be with you?” — Will you always need me bodily present and never become mature enough to leave.

Illustration — There came a time I didn’t carry my boys everywhere they needed to go. There will be a time when I won’t have to hold their hand for them to remain close to me.

The return of Jesus from displaying His glory is a picture of Jesus’ future return in His glory.

Will Jesus find faith or doubt in your heart when He returns?

2) The Display Of Jesus’ Power

A. Jesus’ power over Satan

Not only did Jesus rebuke the unbelief of the crowd, but also the hold Satan had on this child and family.

Jesus said, “Bring the child to me!”

Jesus was provoked, yet He displayed compassion.

When all other helps fail you, you are welcomed by Jesus Himself to come to Him!

The power that expelled this demon from the child was found in Jesus’ WORDS.

Satan cannot stand in victory when Jesus opens His mouth and rebukes him.

Satan may be the “lion who seeking to destroy you,” yet he is no match for the “Lion of the tribe of Juda!”

B. Jesus’ power was effectual

Notice how quickly healing came to this boy!

APPLICATION

What an encouragement to parents to not only bring their children to God through prayer, but bring your children to God’s Word.

It is the power of God’s Word that can break the stronghold Satan has over your children!

3) The Declaration Of Their Failure

A. Jesus reveals their unbelief

How did nine get to this point of unbelief? This requires closer investigation of a soon coming question they pose to Jesus. This question then brings us back to probably what was going on in their mind when Jesus selected Peter, James and John.

Matthew 18:1 “1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Mark 9:33-35 “33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

Thoughts like this only come from a mind taken over by pride.

They began to conflate their value with their position.

The Jewish culture had developed them to think more about person honor than personal humility.

The nine had a faith that was powerless for their calling.

They had something to prove instead of something to give.

They had faith in themselves; in their greatness.

Illustration — they built their house upon the sand.

It is never about what I can accomplish, but rather what God desires to accomplish through me.

There is only one eternal location that is full of man’s greatness. That place is called HELL.

B. Jesus reveals the road back to faith

They needed to think on the mustard seed.

It may be least of all the seeds, but if you have it, God will do wonders through you.

“say unto this mountain, remove…it shall remove.”

An expression that means nothing shall be impossible to you.

This spoke directly to the task that lay ahead of them as Apostles.

APPLICATION — You too have a commission to accomplish and things that will stand in your way of accomplishing it.

A mustard seed is willing to die to itself that it may rise up to something far greater than it could ever be as a seed.

The first step was to DIE!

Every born again believer comes out of the spiritual tomb with grave clothes on.

It is going to take time to remove the remnants of the grave from you mind and your actions.

Jesus says there are two things that will help them remove doubt from their heart.

First — prayer

The faith you need does NOT PROCEED God, but is obtained only by God!

The fact we need to constantly mature our faith, we must never stop praying.

Second — fasting

This is a practical way of setting YOU aside and focusing only on GOD.