Positively Positive
positively positive!
Mark 9:14-23 14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 23 "`If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." (NIV)
Thank the Lord that we could see another Communion Sabbath with Jesus what do you say?
I want to talk to you today about the topic Positively positive! I want to suggest today that many times in our own Christian lives situations in terms of overcoming sin may look hopeless. But today I want you to understand that whatever the battle, whatever the struggle we have with Satan and Sin, Jesus is positively positive about us! Let us pray
You could hear the confusion from a distance, it could not have been more discouraging for the father. The men of God stood there praying and moving. With outstretched hands and bated breath shouting In the name of
Jesus we command you come out! Still a groan here and a shriek there a little mumbling sound but he does not yield. (as scripture sets the scene I see it there)
One of the Scribes beckon a native to come. You there come look here, we have tried to tell you that these disciples of Jesus are nothing but scam and con artist.
Again the disciples try come out In the name of the Son of God and this time the boy revels in his spittle and growls all the more seemingly to mock their attempts as futile. As one of the leaders laugh aloud HA! (For in the Bible it tells us there that the scribes were questioning them the Greek says they were arguing or heckling them as we can see by the context)
As they so often did they tried to attack Jesus through the disciples. These guys, these little meaningless deadbeats have no power. And there leader Jesus is a fake too. In my minds eye I can see the rebuttal of the disciples. " Look man everything is under control why don't you just leave us alone. We've done this kind of thing before you know!
Sure, sure so what's going on now! Oh don't tell us we know. It's only those small cases you can handle. But when real sickness and maladies of a serious nature comes you cannot handle it. Do not follow these men and especially Jesus who is their ring leader. See they are powerless with this young man.
What do you mean powerless, you don't understand its just . . .
Just what . . . you are not what you say you are that's what!
and it goes back and forth back and forth meanwhile the boy is possessed still and the father loses hope thinking I would assume surely in this group of holy men someone could do something yet they just argue among themselves. Then some one else comes on the scene.
It is Jesus.
He has just come from the mountain top. And He has not come from the mountain top alone but brings three others with Him.
First point is Jesus brings to us a mountain top experience. (changed)
His visage must be similar to the experience that John had seeing a glimpse of Him in glory. So stunning John could hardly describe it. All he could say was that
22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" His head and hairs were white like wool, His eyes like flame of fire, His feet like bronze, and His voice like the sound of many waters. "
And like Jesus does so often comes at the right time and the right place maybe like somebody said before He may not come when you want Him but! He's always right on time!
Recognizing this mountain top experience the people run to meet Him.
His voice sounding like many waters, asks a question not to His disciples rather but, to the scribes. the King James says "What question ye with them? but the Greek brings it out a little clearer Jesus says What are you arguing or what are you discussing with them?
Now! Now the scribes are quiet scripture poses no response for that question and appropriately so.
Now Jesus was standing there ---- the same God who was standing by the side of Moses and with the breath of His nostrils parted the Red sea
The one who had shaped the eyeball of man and hung the pleadies in place.
Now the One who had walked the dusty streets of Palestine and who had lifted the lame man to His feet and touch the eyes of the blind so he could see. Made the dumb to speak.
The One who had unstopped the ears of the deaf and spoke and the dead woke up. Where as the situation was impossible now the One who could make all things possible the one who is possible was standing right in front of them!
And all that talk before He got their was just that . . . talk. And if the scribes would say something it probably would have gone something like this. Who me? Discussing? Arguing? Not me?
The father pushes his way through the crowd and steps up to Jesus. Teacher I brought my son who is possessed by a demon. so much that he can't even talk. And whenever he takes control it throws him around and hurls him to the ground makes him foam at the mouth and his teeth become rigid and tight.
I brought him to your disciples and beg them to heal him but they could not.
Then Jesus says O faithless generation (v. 19) In other words Oh what tiny faith you have; how much longer must I be with you until you believe. (talking to his disciples).
v. 20,21,22
22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. "
Then I want you to notice v. 23 the King James doesn't bring out the response of Jesus as true to the Greek as the NIV and the RSV
Jesus repeated part of that Fathers statement the father said But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.
Jesus reply was "If you Can? Everything is possible for him who believes!
That's my subject today Positively positive!!
today as we prepare to take the communion service I believe that in our Christian experiences are the scribes of life. The little reminders of life most times use of the devil to show us how impotent we are.
You know the devil comes and says "who you trying to fool" for so many years, you been going through so many week of prayers, so many Sabbaths, so many wed. night.
It isn't a case where we have no victories on our trophy case but sometimes the devil always tells us yea you can give a good tithe you can sing real good and preach good too! but you can't control this sin.
And we listen to this kind of stuff. we get depressed. We been walking with Jesus and talking with Jesus. He's been leading us so far. And yet when the talking begins we listen.
Wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters (In church).
Yea you can get over on the little sins but the big ones you can't handle every time you come across that you fail time and time again.
You lose your temper, your cheat on your taxes, gossip, passion . . . .
Feel so bad that we almost want to take the advice of Mrs. Job.
See the devil will talk and talk and talk to us . . . why not . . .
Sometimes Jesus is missing . . .
Until Jesus comes around devil can't talk that stuff!!
And says Excuse me what were you discussing?
"Satan is constantly at work, but few have any idea of his activity and subtlety. The people of God must be prepared to withstand the wily foe. It is this resistance that Satan dreads. He knows better than we do the limit of his power and how easily he can be overcome if we resist and face him. Through divine strength the weakest saint is more than a match for him and all his angles, and if brought to the test he would be able to prove his superior power." 5T p. 293
If You can "Everything is possible to him who believes
(faith)
vv. 23-29
the scribes were proved wrong, they claimed that the 9 disciples were helpless because of the superior power of the demon and because Jesus' power was limited to less powerful demons.
But the real problem was not the power of the demon but the spiritual poverty of the disciples.
(not the sin, we need more of the power of Jesus).
And today as you drink that wine and eat that bread maybe discouraged over a besetting sin don't you dare give up hope this morning and say what's the use.
"Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you cannot overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God." COL p.331
The disciples asked why is it that we could not cast him out? I want us today to carefully examine the answer of Jesus
v.29 (KJV)
Now the Seventh-Day Adventist Bible commentary p. 634 vol 5 states that there is textual evidence that favors the omission of the word fasting.
And of a truth you won't find it in any of the other versions. (NIV, RSV)
This preacher has nothing against fasting Jesus talks about it in Matt 6:16 & Mark 2:18 and if it is done right and in the fear and admonition of God it is very beneficial. but to get to the heart and the theme of the message the text should be read like this.
"This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer"
Not the prayer that was connected with the casting out of the demon. You see Jesus is not concerned with momentary prayer or the prayer on the spot (divine worship, wed. night)
But with a life actuated and charged with prayer!
When I wake up in the morning, walk to school and go to work, when I'm alone, when I'm with people, when I'm walking down the street. . .
(walk with Him, talk with Him)
Relationship
prophets Jesus life charged with prayer.
the Christian writer in the book Desire of Ages p. 431 points out that during the absences of Peter, James and John with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. the nine disciples had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances, in a spirit of jealousy because of the favor shown their absent companions. Their state of mind and heart made it impossible for God to work through them.
No wonder Jesus said
Luke 21:34-36 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (KJV)
fighting, cares of this life, having a good time, making a living.
Don't let that stop you from establishing a relationship with Jesus
Positively positive not only like Jesus but Paul said
I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me!
Job said "In my flesh I shall see God"
David who made many mistakes said
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Jesus is a majority all by Himself
Are you positively positive this morning church?
As you take that bread and drink that wine
know that He is positively positive about you this morning
If we stick with Him one day like Paul we can say
"I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.