A Father's Request

The Fathers Must Live By Faith

The Bible gives many Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. Men of God need integrity, humbleness, resiliency, and so much more yet I believe faith takes on a special need in this walk. We know we walk by faith and not by site. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Not saying you don’t need integrity. We need to speak and live with Christian integrity. King David, a man whom God called, "a man after My own heart" (;) confessed in prayer to God, "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity." () says, "In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever." () A psalmist wrote, "May Integrity and uprightness protect me." () Integrity protects a man's soul from the flesh, the snares of the world and the lies of the devil.

The Christian Father who will enjoy a lasting legacy is the man of God that is surrendered to the Holy Spirit so he may be able to tell the truth, keep his word and live out what he says he believes. Just as rain is needed to bring fruit from the ground, dads are needed to do all they can to help their children obtain certain healthy goals.

Children are thirsty for gifts from dad that could give them what they need to help them succeed in the talents and abilities the Lord has given them.

Every Father should want the best for their Children. We should model the behavior we want to see in our children.

Yet we can have nothing without faith! We must seek the Lord knowing he is able to do just what we need!

In Mark chapter 9 we encounter the situation of a father who was seeking help for his son. He is a man who is desperate for help. While Jesus was on the mount of transfiguration with Peter James and John his other disciples were approached to heal a demon possessed boy. Who had a demon that cause him to be dumb, meaning he could not speak. Not only did this demon robbed him of his speaking ability but it would cause him to have seizures and convulsions. This is typical of demons the attacks escalate.

Now we never figures out why the disciples could not cast this demon out. They had been given power to do it. Jesus who was showing his inner circle his glory really expected them to handle this.

I come to find out our power can become indeterminate when head is not around. Sometimes we can appear helpless. We must remember to stay connected to the source. Jesus was frustrated with his disciples and even the onlookers and critics.

Now remember the man came looking for Jesus! Jesus was not available so he turned to the disciples. This had to be frustrating for all parties. The man, the son, the disciples, and the on lookers. Its here in Mark that we know an arguing had ensued. The scribes and Pharisee were arguing with the disciples. This better explains Jesus response. In Luke and Matthew you would suspect he was only frustrated with the disciples. Yet Jesus was frustrated with the entire situation. Jesus as what are you arguing about. Before anyone else can answer the Father stepped up and said I brought you my son...... I asked your disciples and they could not heal him.

That leads me to my first point.

There is expectation of Gods people.

Even today we frustrate people because we do not live up to the expectations that people have of people of God. We don’t exercise the power God has given us! We have power to pray over people and he will recover. There are dozens of godly characters, emulated in the Bible, which God calls us to embrace, and apply into our lives! Remember, these all synergistically combine to help create the mature, Christ-like Christian. What Christ gives to us in grace, and how we respond towards others around us are essential in all of our relationships.

there are dozens of godly characters, emulated in the Bible, which God calls us to embrace, and apply into our lives! Remember, these all synergistically combine to help create the mature, Christ-like Christian. What Christ gives to us in grace, and how we respond towards others around us are essential in all of our relationships.

When the other ingredients of a good relationship are right, then the love will come. Love does not stand alone, it needs to be in synergy with good character, attitude, and reverence, so we can stroll through the maze of relationships with confidence, and the assurance that Christ is lighting our path.

We need to place our faith Jesus

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” . (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Notice how Jesus responds The violence of the demonic onset, in the case of the dumb boy, corresponds to the confessional outcry wrung from the lips of the demon-controlled elsewhere (cf. 5:7). It was the impotent rage of the defeated enemy, an unwilling acknowledgment of the status and authority of Jesus.

21. Jesus is not merely interested in a ‘case history’ of the boy. He is helping the father to confess how desperate his need is, and at the same time showing him that he has no other resource but in Jesus.

22. It is a pitiful tale, but the telling of it works the desired purpose; for even though he has so little faith, yet the man who doubts the power of Jesus never questions his compassion. Contrast the robust faith of the leper of 1:40, who said, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ He had no doubt of the power of Jesus; all he doubted was his readiness to help a despised leper like he was.

23. Jesus gently reproves the man’s lack of faith. If you can might be better paraphrased ‘That “if you can” of yours’ (where Jesus would be quoting the man’s own words): ‘Why, everything can be done for one who believes.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

English Standard Version Chapter 9

If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Cole, R. A. (1989). Mark: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 220–221). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

(). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

We need to pray for results