When Faith Fails

Introduction

Famous failures: Walt Disney started two animation companies that failed before he started the company that bears his name -asked to leave one company by partner - other went bankrupt. Michael Jordan - cut from Varsity team sophomore year - Missed more than 9,000 shots, lost more than 300 games, missed 26 game-winners - Steve Jobs - forced out of the company he started in 1985 only to later take it to success…

Failure is inevitable, and many times we learn from failure.

However, when it comes to faith, a failure of faith can be devastating. A failure of belief can lead to a heart that is hardened toward God, sinful choices that can affect our families, our relationships with others, our careers, etc. And sadly, a failure of faith can affect our witness on the world.

Looking at a failure of faith by the disciples - I want to show you what causes a failure of faith, and I want to show you how to overcome a failure of faith.

This morning, I want to show you what causes a failure of faith, and I want to show you how to overcome a failure of faith.

A failure of faith happens when you rely on your own power rather than real power.

The scene at the bottom of the mountain much different than the top of the mountain. On the mountain = glory. At the bottom = desperation, confusion, conflict, heartache, and the power of the demonic.

Jesus returns from the mountain to a crowd of people around the disciples who were arguing with the scribes. A desperate father brought his son to them who was demon possessed.

Demon caused boy to seize, foam at the mouth, throw him down, grind his teeth, etc. It was bad.

Disciples - this is their chance - a crowd gathered - religious leaders present - they had done this before. - Jesus sent them out 2x2 with authority over the demonic. They had cast out demons just like Jesus had.

Now, nine of the disciples have opportunity to show off their power - amaze the crowds. Show the religious leaders that the power of God was on their side, not the side of the religious leaders.

But, as they tried, they could not cast out the demon. Odd - they had done it before. They grow confused and frustrated. Thomas to Andrew - that’s not the way you do it. Nathaniel to Philip - what’s wrong with you? Do it this way...

Scribes laughing - begin to mock. Disciples begin to argue. Crowd watching the debacle. Father become more and more heartbroken and hopeless - this was his last hope for his son.

Jesus shows up - people run to Him - maybe He can sort out the mess. He asks what’s going on. The father tells Jesus about the boy, and says, “Your disciples can’t do anything.’”

Jesus frustrated. To disciples: “O faithless generation...” They didn’t act in faith but their own power. They had forgotten how much they needed Jesus to do the work of Jesus. Refused to believe that they needed Jesus’ help to cast out the demon. ( - Apart from Jesus you can do nothing.)

Why do we forget how much we need the power of Jesus?

Why do we think that we are able z

Past victories - Past spiritual victories will not give you spiritual victories in your present struggles. You came through before; you endured, now… I can do it again. I can make it through. You forgot how you made it through: Jesus.

Present stubbornness - “I’ve got this.” Admit it. We are far too prideful to admit that we need God’s help. Some of you: You don’t want anyone to see that you’re weak. (Fathers, isn’t that us?) You want people to see that you have your act all together. BUT, power comes when you realize you are powerless.

Ill - Hudson needs help even though he won’t admit it...

A failure of faith happens when we are more interested in people seeing our greatness rather than the greatness of Christ.

Spiritual success in the past isn’t an excuse to take your eyes off of Jesus in the present.

This was their moment, and they blew it...

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In this moment, the disciples had forgotten where there power had come from. Have you? What often causes a failure of faith is an attitude that says, “I’ve got this...” I’ve got this attitude says:

The father, “And they were not able.” The disciples wanted to show how great they were, and ended up embarrassing themselves. But more than embarrassing themselves, they planted seeds of doubt, not seeds of faith in this father’s heart.

I used to, so I must...

When you point people to you, you’re going to point people away from the Savior because you will always come up short, but Jesus will never come up short.

How many people have walked away from the church saying, “And they were not able...” People come looking for hope, and instead of pointing them to Jesus we pointed them to us… “We can help you” instead of “God can help you...” Just listen to our great music, our great buildings, our great teaching, and our great programs. Who’s walked away with seeds of doubt about Christ because we tried to sell them on our greatness rather than pointing them to Christ’s greatness? There’s no power in our music, our buildings, our programs, or even our teaching if it’s focused on us! There’s power in Jesus! (Small group in Russian town - Churnusk - overwhelmed - they can’t help anyone! BUT their God can… God can do more through a handful of believers who are focused on Him than a church full of people with tons of resources…)

I’ve been a Christian for years, don’t tell me how to live...

We can have the greatest ministries, events, music, programs, etc. in the Low Country, but if Jesus isn’t at the center of it, we have nothing! Our greatness will not change a single life, but pointing people to our greatness will lead people away from the truth.

Let us be careful as individuals and as a church not to lift up ourselves, but rather to lift up Jesus!

Note the father - “If you can do anything...” Seeds of doubt planted by the disciples. Jesus reassures… Points the man not to the disciples failure, but to Himself… Words of hope: “All things are possible for him who believes.” The man, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Amazing the father has any faith left at all - but in spite of disciples failure, father holds out hope.

How would this conversation been different if these disciples had pointed this man to hope in Christ rather than leading this man to hope in their power? How would our community be different if we pointed people to the hope they could have in Christ rather than the hope they can have in us? We will fail people, but Jesus never will.

Jesus speaks to the demon, and the demon makes an effort to kill the boy as it exits his body. But Jesus took him and lifted him by the hand. The boy was healed! In that moment, the father knew where the real power was - it wasn’t in the followers of Jesus, it was in the Master, Jesus Himself.

Three questions to ask to determine who you point people to:

Do you talk more about His accomplishments or your accomplishments? () (Look at what He’s done or look at what we’ve done?)

Do you praise Him publically for His blessings or remain silent about His goodness to you?

Do you share the hope of the Gospel or do you share the hope of you? (we love to give our advice… people need hope of Christ!)

A failure of faith begins with a lack of prayerful dependency.

Later, the disciples ask Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we do this? After all, we did this months ago. We cast out all kinds of demons. What gives?”

Jesus - “Cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” In other words, "You have to depend on me. Anything you are able to do is only because of my power at work through you. You must know that you are helpless, and you must know that you need me every hour of the day.”

What the disciples needed if they were going to daily experience the power of Christ at work in them and through them was daily dependency. They could not for a moment think they could minister apart from the help of Jesus. They could not for a moment think they had it all figured out.

How do you maintain daily dependance? We all struggle because we are such independent people who are eaten up with self-sufficiency.

Be ok with being helpless. You do not have your act together. You can be religious - Religion says, “If I try hard enough, I can live for God in my own strength. I can do Christian stuff in my own power.” Faith says, “I can’t do anything without Him. I’m dependent on Jesus for my next breath.” For dads, this is helpful, because we never won’t to admit we’re helpless. Our kids need to know it - they need to know that we are dependent on Jesus and not ourselves. Be ok with needing help.

Be ok with needing support. Our natural bent is towards independency. We need help to see our helplessness. We need brothers and sisters in Christ that will constantly remind us that without Christ we are nothing. We need people who will keep us humble. This is the beauty of the church - it’s why you need to be involved with a small group of believers that know you, pray for you, and challenge you in your walk with the Lord. Some of you are so closed to let other believers in to help you see your helplessness, and you’ll never grow that way. Do you want to grow in dependency? Get involved with believers - an LCG, a D-Group.

Be ok with Jesus receiving all glory. We want glory, but we don’t want to give glory. We want people to look at us and think highly of us, but the truth is, you’ve done nothing to receive glory. But, you’ve done everything to receive humiliation and eternal death. You have rebelled against the God of all creation. You rejected His plan for your life. You lived in opposition to the One who is all-loving and all-wise. In spite of what you’ve done, Jesus came and lived for you, died for you, and rose again for you. He went to the cross for the sins of the entire world, so that all who might believe can have a relationship with Him. He deserves all glory. You will find the most joy and satisfaction when you live your life pointing to His glory, not your own. Have you been robbing Jesus of His glory by pointing people to you? Repent. Have you experienced His glorious salvation? Turn from your sins and trust Him.