Mark 9:14-29 (The importance of faith)
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The Importance of Faith
The Importance of Faith
Lk 9:37-43
1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Inro: How many times have you been in a place where you really needed something in your life, either physically or spiritually? But when you talked with the Lord about it you just kind of half heatedly asked for help?
B. Yet when you talked to the Lord about it you just kind of half heartedly asked for help?
a. . Not really sure that He would help.
a) Not really sure that He could help.
b. Not really sure that He could help.
c. So how or why dos this happen to us? And it does happen more often then we want to admit. The end result is often failure and this failure stems from a lack of faith.
C. The end result is often failure and this failure stems from a lack of faith.
d. When you read (HW) it definds faith as substance of things hoped for and the evidence or proof of things not seen.
e. It is the dependence or trust or confidence in something or someone. For Christians, its our trust, our confidence in God in every situation of our lives.
f. So the Lack of faith then would be defined as a lack of dependence or trust or confidence in someone or something.
g. We exercise faith in some form all the time, everyday.
h. When you went out this morning to come here you exercised faith in your vehicle.
i. Driving over a bridge. Set down in a chair.
j. Over time you have come to trust those things because you know they work for you.
2. The Bible tells us the need for us to exercise faith in God.
A. We are saved by faith.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians
B. We live our Christian life by faith.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
II Corinthians
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians
a. He gives us the faith we need to live our lives by faith. We have no excuse to not live by faith.
b. We cannot please God unless we live by faith.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1. . The difficult part of all of this is that we exercise our faith without sight.
a. We can’t see God.
b. We have to take His word for it all.
c. When we fail to act in faith we limit what God can do through us. Not because of His lack of power, but our lack of faith. That is what our text is about today.
d. The Lord begins His final journey to Jerusalem, where He will be greeted with great praise, but things will change.
G. When we fail to act in faith we limit what God can do through us.
f. In the time that Jesus has left before the cross, He focuses on teaching the disciples important lessons they need to learn before His departure.
g. The greatest lesson they can learn is about faith.
h. What we read/study in Gods word is for us too. Faith, faith, faith. We can never have too much of it.
2. Let’s look at this passage in two parts.
d. That is what our text is about today.
2. Let’s look at this passage in two parts.
a) Helplessness without faith.
b) The Power of Faith
I. Hopeless without faith
I. Hopeless without faith
A. What a contrast with what had just occurred on the mountain.
1. The transfiguration is the high point of Jesus ministry and the lives of the three disciples who accompanied Him. Jesus reviled Himself in His glory, they saw Moses and Elijah. They saw a cloud overshadow them (God) and heard the voice of God. “This is my Son, lesson to Him”
a. . But as they return from the mountain and there is doubt and turmoil.
2. The effect of human faithlessness.
1. The Demon possessed boy and his father.
a. Matt. records that he was an epileptic which is the way the demon displayed himself. vs17.
b. This resulted in the boy being injured in several ways vs.17-18, 22.
(1) This resulted in the boy being injured in several ways vs.17-18, 22.
c. It had plagued him all his life vs.21.
b) His father was deeply concerned for his son.
15 “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.
Matthew
2. The disciples were unable to help the boy and his father vs.18b. (This happened while Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountain)
a) He brought him to Jesus but He wasn’t there so he asked the disciples to help and they failed.
b) The disciples were given the power over spirits.
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Mark ^;7
c. Even though they were given this power they were unable to so. At least this time. They had been successful in the past.
c. This was in spite of having been given the power over spirits.
This was in spite of having been given the power over spirits.
30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.
c. This was in spite of having been given the power over spirits.
Mark
d. Here they had failed miserably.
e. The reason for their inability was their lack of faith
e. The reason for their inability was their lack of faith .
20 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.
d) It may also stem from an over confidence in their own ability.
f. Jesus has an answer for them. Another lesson. VS 29
g. Their lack of faith gave occasion for the enemies of Christ to find fault again vs.14.
d) It may also stem from an over confidence in their own ability vs.29.
3. Their lack of faith gave occasion for the enemies of Christ to find fault again vs.14.
h. The scribes used the opportunity to discredit them and since they were His followers, they tried to discredit Jesus. They could care a less about the disciples, it was Jesus they were after.
i. They were disputing and debating arguing with the disciples.
(1) They were disputing and debating with the disciples.
k. Another problem with these religious leaders, they cared less about the little boy they were only looking for an opportunity to discredit Jesus.
l. Isn’t that the way it is even today? People leap on “religious” people when they make even the slightest slip up and their attack is often relentless.
(1) People leap on “religious” people when they make even the slightest slip up and their attack is often relentless.
4. Their lack of faith causes others to question God’s power vs.22.
a. The father talking to Jesus; “but if you can do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us”
b. This is the first time that doubt has crept into a request for help of Jesus.
(1) The leper “if you will”
(2) The woman with the blood disease “If I can just touch”.
(3) The centurion “just speak the word and my servant will be healed.
c. These exsamples expressed faith and confidence that Jesus was able to do what they desired.
d. Here the desperate father, because of the experience with the disciples was questioning Jesus’ ability or willingness to heal his son. How tragic
c) How tragic
e. But there is a bright side.
II. The Power of Faith
II. The Power of Faith
1. Things changed when Jesus arrived on the scene vs.15
a. when the people saw Jesus they were “greatly amazed”.
Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary A. The Tragic Development (9:14–16)
The word used means to be greatly astonished. Only Mark uses it. It occurs only here and in two other places—in Gethsemane (14:33) and at the empty tomb (16:5–6
b. The word used means to be greatly astonished.
Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Gospel of Mark: An Expository Commentary (). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.
a) It could have been that they were surprised at His sudden arrival.
b. It could have been that they were surprised at His sudden arrival. He arrived at just the right time.
c. The dispute between the scribes and the pretty intense And when Jesus shows up the people ran to Him and welcomed Him.
c. They all ran to Him and welcomed Him.
2. Jesus goes right to the problem vs.16-19
a. He assessed the situation.
b. He asks the scribes “what are you discussing with my disciples?
c. He rebukes the disciples “this faithless generation”
b) He rebukes the disciples “this faithless generation”
d. What a sad statement. Would He make that same statement today?
(2) The scribes
(3) The disciples
3. Now He gives personal attention to the need at hand. vs.21
c) What a sad statement.
a. This is Jesus’ answer to doubt, to their lack of faith.
b. The father also has some His doubt. vs.22
“If you can!! Jesus answer VS 23 If thou can believe, a ll things are possible to him that believeth”
c. There is no question as to Christ’s ability.
d. The question is – does this man believe that Jesus can? Jesus uses the father’s statement to get him to focus his faith.
e. Jesus uses the father’s statement to focus his faith.
e. The man say, “If you can do anything “ Jesus says, “All things are possible to him who believes”.
(1) If you can do anything vs.23.
(2) All things are possible to him who believes.
f. The condition for healing of the son is faith of the father.
4. You are in a crisis of some kind.
a. There is a solution, an answer. God has an solution and answer for everything.
b. Here is the question. Are you willing to trust and believe the answer and solution that God has for you? That’s where the struggle is isn’t it? We say we believe, we say we trust, but we still worry. And worry is not faith.
5. Faith realized vs.24-29.
a. It (faith) starts small and expands and grows. Jesus gives a illustration of a mustard seed.
b. There must first be a willingness to trust God for the unknown. vs.24,
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
c. A person doesn’t have to know everything about God in order to trust in Him.
d. Faith is a growing process.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
b) Even a little faith brings about mighty results. This ask Jesus help with his unbelief. And looks at the results. vs.25-27.
b) Even a little faith brings about mighty results vs.25-27.
vs.25-27.
IV. Conclusion:
A. Does faith really work?
B. Do your H.W this week. Hebrew 11
C. Most of the “faith hero's in never saw the completion of their acts of faith in their lifetime and yet gives us a wonderful tribute to their trust in God.
D. That is the lesson of this passage.
1. The disciples needed to learn to exercise their faith even when they couldn’t see Jesus. Becasue it was going to be in just a few short months.
2. That is the way it was going to be in just a few short months.
E. We also have to live by a faith which is not seen.
F. As with those saints we have an impact on those around us when we live by faith.
G. On the other hand when we fail to act on our faith we can become impotent and a discouragement to others.