The Deepening Walk

Secular -

"A man was walking along a narrow mountain ridge when he accidentally slipped over the edge. Luckily, he managed to grab a sturdy branch and was hanging there, thousands of feet above the rocks below.

He looked up toward heaven and yelled, 'Is anyone up there?! Help me!'

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through the clouds: 'I am here. Do you have faith?'

The man cried out, 'Yes, Lord! I have great faith! I’ll do anything!'

The voice replied, 'Good. If you have faith, let go of the branch.'

The man paused for a long moment, looked down at the jagged rocks, looked back up at the sky, and yelled: 'Is anyone ELSE up there?!'"

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 17:14–27 NKJV

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful. When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - To Deepen Your Life You Must Expand Your Faith, Embrace His presence & Exalt His name.

Life Point- Expand Your Faith

Exegetical -

Matthew 17:14–21 BSB

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Homiletical -

Jesus comes up to the crowd of people and a man comes to him whose sone is afflicted with seizures.

He has already tried to take the boy to the disciples but they couldn’t heal him.

When Jesus shows up he is kind of exasperated with them and tells them, wicked and perverse generation how long do I have to put up with you?

In other words, they should have been able to take care of this situation but they weren’t.

Jesus tells them to bring the boy to him and he perceives that the illness is actually caused by a demonic presence.

Is Jesus getting confused that this is an illness and not a demon? No, of course not.

Jesus is well aware this is caused by a demon.

Does this mean that all sickness is demonic? No, of course not.

It just happens to be that this illness in this boy was caused by a demon.

While we don’t look for demons under every rock and we don’t seek out so-called deliverance ministries, we do take care of demonic stuff when it arises.

Did you know that demons can mimic disease? They can push a person mentally and physically. In this case it was physical.

The other thing that is going on here that often gets overlooked is that Jesus was operating under spiritual discernment.

Did you know that for us this is a spiritual gift that is given by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 BSB

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

Now I am not going to get into a very large discussion on the gifts of the Spirit and the abuses that we see today right now. But notice that the discerning of spirits is amongst them.

What does this look like? Well you look at someone, your prayed up, your faith is up and you know that you know that what is going on is not of God or of the physical but is indeed of the enemy to our souls. You know it is demonic. I have been there and so have some of you. When that is shown to you, you have to make sure you don’t go poke the bear as it were without knowing exactly what God wants you to do about the situation that has arisen.

Trust me, if you don’t know what to do, seek out someone else’s wisdom. Someone who is a mature Christian and seek their wisdom before you do anything.

So after all this happens the disciples come to Jesus and ask why they couldn’t drive the demon from them.

Turns out they couldn’t do it, because they didn’t have the faith for it.

Jesus said if you have faith as a mustard seed you can tell a mountain to move and it will.

We focus on the size of a mustard seed.

A mustard seed does indeed start out small, smallest of all seeds as it were

But it doesn’t stay that way. It grows and into a tree.

Did you know that mustard is considered an invasive species a lot of times? Did you know that from a single mustard seed it can reproduce up to 7000 more seeds?

This is our faith. It should be so pervasive that it chokes out the things of this world and grows large

Also from our faith we should be reproducing other Christians. Just like from a single seed can come 7000 more so should our faith because we share it with others.

Illustration -

In the 1st century, during the Roman Empire, there was a woman named Perpetua who was imprisoned for her faith. Despite the threats and pressure to recant her beliefs, her faith grew stronger in the face of persecution. She saw visions that encouraged her, and her unwavering courage inspired many around her to deepen their own faith. Perpetua’s story reminds us that when we let our faith grow large, it can fortify us during trials, just as it did for the early Christians.

Life Point - Embrace His Presence

Exegetical -

Matthew 17:22–23 BSB

When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

Luke 9:43–45 BSB

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Homiletical -

After what happened with the casting out of the demon we are told that they came together in Galilee and Jesus told them that he was about to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him and on the third day he will raise up again

We find a corresponding passage in the book of Luke and the Book of Mark. But I like the commentary that Luke gives.

He says they didn’t understand because it was held secret from them, hidden, veiled, and they were afraid to ask.

They may not have understood it completely but they knew enough to know that this was a heavy thing. It was emotionally tumultuous.

They were curious but they dare not ask.

If you are saved for a while then you can relate. You may not know what the Lord is placing on your heart but you know it is heavy and you need to pray.

There are times when this is our reality.

If we were to know all that is going on in the spiritual realm. The war that we are in during those times, we might be a bit afraid, but during these times we often feel the weightiness of God’s presence in calling us to prayer. These are times that we need not be afraid to ask God to show us what He wants to show us. These are times that we need to stop what we’re doing and come to the throne of God, seeking His face.

Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

We are good at Bible Study and good about talking about prayer, but not so good about doing it!

Let’s seek God while He is close to our hearts.

Illustration -

In the Old Testament, the Israelites experienced the weightiness of God's presence at Mount Sinai. As Moses approached the mountain, thick clouds, thunder, and lightning appeared, and the people trembled in fear. God's presence was so powerful that they were warned not to touch the mountain or they would perish. This moment is yet another reminder that we should never underestimate the profound impact of God's weightiness in our lives today.

Life Point - Exalt His Name

Exegetical -

Matthew 17:24–27 BSB

After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Homiletical -

The two drachma’s was the temple tax. The tax guys show up and want Jesus to pay. Now to fulfill all that is written, Jesus pays the tax. But not in the way they would expect.

So Jesus being who Jesus is, He already knew what Peter was going to ask when He came through the door. He decides to use this happenstance as a teaching moment.

Do kings excise a tax from people who aren’t related to Him? Or from His own sons? Of course the answer is from people who aren’t related to Him.

He was teaching Peter and us that we are a part of the family of God, once we’re saved. We who are Gentiles are grafted in, to use plant terminology.

You can take a branch from on plant and graft it onto another and it will take on the characteristics of the main plant.

Romans 11:17–19 BSB

Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

We, who are the church, are not simply slaves but are part of the family of God.

So these guys are waiting outside to get their tax and Peter takes them to the sea and casts a hook and catches a fish. He opens it’s mouth and takes out a 4 drachma coin which takes care of Jesus and Peter’s tax.

No matter what your need is today. God can meet it. Usually at the last minute and usually in unexpected ways. In all of it God will get the glory.

Do you think anyone was expecting a coin in a fish mouth that day. No, of course not. That was a miracle of God.

Not only was the need met, but it was met in such a way that God got credit for it. This is what God does. He meets our needs in unexpected ways.

Matthew 6:25–34 BSB

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Life Principle– To Deepen Your Life You Must Expand Your Faith, Embrace His presence & Exalt His name.

Call to Action – altar call….