2024 Sep 15th St Paul's Presbyterian Church

Sunday Service

Welcome If you are new please fill in the visitors book on the table at the entrance to the church. Introduce yourself to George, the minister.

Entrance We stand as the Word of God is brought into the Church - Be seated directly after.

Prayer The Minister begins the service with prayer

Father God, We praise You for Your steadfast love and faithfulness toward Your children. You are holy, trustworthy, and sovereign, and we find peace in knowing that You are bigger than all the challenges and evils we face in this world. As we gather here today, we ask that You protect this time we have set aside from all distractions and temptations. Guard our hearts and minds, Lord, so that we may be fully present with You and one another.

Give us eyes to see when evil tries to creep in, and give us the wisdom and strength to reject it. Help us to hate what is evil and cling to what is good, just as Your Word instructs. We ask that You would lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from any evil that seeks to disturb our time of fellowship and focus. Draw us nearer to You, Lord, and help us keep our hearts fixed on Your goodness and truth.

As we wait for the coming of Your Son, the long-expected Jesus, we ask that You continue to refine us and prepare us for that glorious day when all things will be made new. Until then, give us the perseverance and grace to flee from temptation and live lives that reflect Your holiness.

We ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Chorus Give thanks with a grateful heart

Chorus Majesty

Hymn As the deer pants for the water

Confession of sin Psalm 51

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HDseESOKIk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ZhicUIv4A

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lydia

will now read the Old Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with

“Hear the Word of God as it is written in Psalm 116”

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”

Cathy

will now read the New Testament reading to us from the NIV pew bible.

She begins with

“Hear the Word of God as it is written in Mark 9:14-29”

She ends with “This is the word of God”.

Congregation: “Thanks be to God”.

Hymn In Christ alone

Sermon By Rev. G.H. van der Westhuizen Mark 9:14-29 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Mark 9:14–29)

Verses 14–29

We have here the story of Christ casting the devil out of a child, somewhat more fully related than it was in Mt. 17:14, etc. Observe here,

I. Christ’s return to his disciples,

and the perplexity he found them in.

He laid aside his robes of glory, and came to look after his family, and to enquire what was become of them.

Christ’s glory above does not make him forget the concerns of his church below, which he visits in great humility, v. 14.

And he came very seasonably, when the disciples were embarrassed and run a-ground; the scribes, who were sworn enemies both to him and them, had gained an advantage against them.

A child possessed with a devil was brought to them, and they could not cast out the devil, whereupon the scribes insulted over them, and reflected upon their Master, and triumphed as if the day were their own.

He found the scribes questioning with them, in the hearing of the multitude, some of whom perhaps began to be shocked by it. Thus Moses, when he came down from the mount, found the camp of Israel in great disorder; so soon were Christ and Moses missed.

Christ’s return was very welcome, no doubt, to the disciples, and unwelcome to the scribes.

But particular notice is taken of its being very surprising to the people, who perhaps were ready to say, As for this Jesus, we wot not what is become of him; but when they beheld him coming to them again, they were greatly amazed, congratulating him, or bidding him welcome), they saluted him.

It is easy to give a reason why they should be glad to see him; but why were they amazed, greatly amazed, when they beheld him?

Probably, there might remain something unusual in his countenance; as Moses’s face shone when he came down from the mount, which made the people afraid to come nigh him, Ex. 34:30.

So perhaps did Christ’s face, in some measure; at least, instead of seeming fatigued, there appeared a wonderful briskness and sprightliness in his looks, which amazed them.

II. The case which perplexed the disciples,

brought before him. He asked the scribes, who, he knew, were always vexatious to his disciples, and teazing them upon every occasion, “What question ye with them?

What is the quarrel now?”

The scribes made no answer, for they were confounded at his presence; the disciples made none, for they were comforted, and now left all to him.

But the father of the child opened the case, v. 17, 18.

1. His child is possessed with a dumb spirit;

he has the falling-sickness, and in his fits is speechless; his case is very sad, for, wheresoever the fit takes him, the spirit tears him, throws him into such violent convulsions as almost pull him to pieces; and, which is very grievous to himself, and frightful to those about him, he foams at his mouth, and gnashes with his teeth, as one in pain and great misery; and though the fits go off presently, yet they leave him so weak, that he pines away, is worn to a skeleton; his flesh is dried away; so the word signifies, Ps. 102:3–5.

This was a constant affliction to a tender father.

2. The disciples cannot give him any relief;

“I desired they would cast him out, as they had done many, and they would willingly have done it, but they could not; and therefore thou couldest never have come in better time;

Master, I have brought him to thee.”

III. The rebuke he gave to them all (v. 19);

O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Dr. Hammond understands this as spoken to the disciples, reproving them for not exerting the power he had given them, and because they did not fast and pray, as in some cases he had directed them to do.

But Dr. Whitby takes it as a rebuke to the scribes, who gloried in this disappointment that the disciples met with, and hoped to run them down with it.

Them he calls a faithless generation, and speaks as one weary of being with them, and of bearing with them. We never heard him complaining, “How long shall I be in this low condition, and suffer that?” But, “How long shall I be among these faithless people, and suffer them?”

IV. The deplorable condition that the child was actually in,

when he was brought to Christ, and the doleful representation which the father made of it.

When the child saw Christ, he fell into a fit;

The spirit straightway tore him, boiled within him, troubled him (so Dr. Hammond); as if the devil would set Christ at defiance, and hoped to be too hard for him too, and to keep possession in spite of him.

The child fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. We may put another construction upon it—that the devil raged, and had so much the greater wrath, because he knew that his time was short, Rev. 12:12. Christ asked, How long since this came to him? And, it seems, the disease was of long standing; it came to him of a child (v. 21), which made the case the more sad, and the cure more difficult.

We are all by nature children of disobedience, and in such the evil spirit works, and has done so from our childhood; for foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, and nothing but the mighty grace of Christ can cast it out.

V. The pressing instances which the father of the child makes with Christ for a cure (v. 22);

Ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him. Note, The devil aims at the ruin of those in whom he rules and works, and seeks whom he may devour. But, if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

The leper was confident of Christ’s power, but put an if upon his will (Mt. 8:2); If thou wilt, thou canst.

This poor man referred himself to his good-will, but put an if upon his power, because his disciples, who cast out devils in his name, had been non-plussed in this case.

Thus Christ suffers in his honour by the difficulties and follies of his disciples.

VI. The answer Christ gave to his address (v. 23);

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Here,

1. He tacitly checks the weakness of his faith. The sufferer put it upon Christ’s power, If thou canst do any thing, and reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ turns it upon him, and puts him upon questioning his own faith, and will have him impute the disappointment to the want of that; If thou canst believe.

2. He graciously encourages the strength of his desire; “All things are possible, will appear possible, to him that believes the almighty power of God, to which all things are possible;” or “That shall be done by the grace of God, for them that believe in the promise of God, which seemed utterly impossible.”

Note, In dealing with Christ, very much is put upon our believing, and very much promised it.

Canst thou believe?

Darest thou believe?

Art thou willing to venture thy all in the hands of Christ?

To venture all thy spiritual concerns with him, and all thy temporal concerns for him?

Canst thou find in thy heart to do this?

If so, it is not impossible but that, though thou has been a great sinner, thou mayest be reconciled; though thou art very mean and unworthy, thou mayest get to heaven. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and that, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end.

VII. The profession of faith which the poor man made hereupon (v. 24);

He cried out, “Lord, I believe; I am fully persuaded both of thy power and of thy pity; my cure shall not be prevented by the want of faith; Lord, I believe.”

He adds a prayer for grace to enable him more firmly to rely upon the assurances he had of the ability and willingness of Christ to save; Help thou my unbelief. Note,

1. Even those who through grace can say, Lord, I believe, have reason to complain of their unbelief; that they cannot so readily apply to themselves, and their own case, the word of Christ as they should, no so cheerfully depend upon it.

2. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace shall be sufficient for them.

“Help mine unbelief, help me to a pardon for it, help me with power against it; help out what is wanting in my faith with thy grace, the strength of which is perfected in our weakness.”

VIII. The cure of the child, and the conquest of this raging devil in the child.

Christ saw the people come running together, expecting to see the issue of this trial of skill, and therefore kept them in suspense no longer, but rebuked the foul spirit; the unclean spirit, so it should be rendered, as in other places. Observe,

1. What the charge was which Christ gave to this unclean spirit; “Thou dumb and deaf spirit, that makest the poor child dumb and deaf, but shalt thyself be made to hear thy doom, and not be able to say any thing against it, come out of him immediately, and enter no more into him. Let him not only be brought out of this fit, but let his fits never return.” Note, Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. Satan may go out himself, and yet recover possession; but if Christ cast him out, he will keep him out.

2. How the unclean spirit took it; he grew yet more outrageous, he cried, and rent him sore, gave him such a twitch at parting, that he was as one dead; so loth was he to quit his hold, so exasperated at the superior power of Christ, so malicious to the child, and so desirous was he to kill him. Many said, He is dead. Thus the toss that a soul is in at the breaking of Satan’s power in it may perhaps be frightful for the present, but opens the door to lasting comfort.

3. How the child was perfectly restored (v. 27); Jesus took him by the hand, kratēsas—took fast hold of him, and strongly bore him up, and he arose and recovered, and all was well.

IX. The reason he gave to the disciples why they could not cast out this devil. They enquired of him privately why they could not, that wherein they were defective might be made up another time, and they might not again be thus publicly shamed; and he told them (v. 29),

This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting.

Whatever other difference there really might be, none appears between this and other kinds, but that the unclean spirit had had possession of this poor patient from a child, and that strengthened his interest, and confirmed his hold.

When vicious habits are rooted by long usage, and begin to plead prescription, like chronical diseases that are hardly cured. Can the Aethiopian (Black Man) change his skin?

The disciples must not think to do their work always with a like ease; some services call them to take more than ordinary pains; but Christ can do that with a word’s speaking, which they must prevail for the doing of by prayer and fasting.

Amen

Notices Mr. John Oberholzer - Session Clerk

Collection As the collection is brought forward we stand and sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”

Prayer for collection

Hymn Man of sorrows

Benediction

Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Doxology Let us all hold hands as we sing “Now unto Him”

Now Unto Him Who Is Able To Keep You From Falling l Benediction

Give the minister a moment to get to the door then please join us for refreshments