What is Holding You Back Part 3

Why Couldn’t We?

Mark 9:14–18 NIV

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.”

Mark 9:14-

Read Wuest

They did not have the power to do so.

Later:

Matthew 17:19

Matthew 17:19 NIV

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Matthew 17:20 NIV

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Why Couldn’t We Drive it Out?

Because of your little faith. (Unbelief)

Because it was a really strong Devil!

Because the Scribes were arguing and distracting you.

Because the Father did not have faith.

Let The Issue, Be the Issue. Because of Your Little Faith. (Unbelief)

Fade in each response.

Up until this moment, they had cast out devils. They had healed every manor of disease. They had seen Jesus raise the dead.

What robbed them of their faith?

What Robs Us Of Our Faith?

Matthew 17:20–21 NKJV

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. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Matthew 17:

Mark 9:33–34 NIV

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Mark 9:33

Fasting: Old Testament Morning.

You were in sin. The devil did not have to leave.

SIN

1 John 3:21–22 NIV

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

1 John 3:21

Read:

What Happens if our heart condemns us?

Sin is a luxury we can not afford to hold onto. When you and I hold onto sin, the devil doesn’t have to flee.

James 4:7–8 NIV

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:7-8

Repent in a hurry. Get it out of your life.

Repent in a hurry. Get it out of your life.

Fade in.

What Robs us of Our Faith?

Magnifying the Problem over the Answer.

3 Volunteers: Devil, Man Son

Mark 9:17-18

Mark 9:17–18 NASB95

17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

Matthew 17:15 NIV

15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

Suffering Greatly: He becomes violent.

Matthew 17:15

Highlight: seizes him. slams him to the ground. foams, grinds, and stiffens out. Is the Jesus standing before they, their answer? YES! Is he more than enough? YES!

Is there a better answer for them? Never. Read Vs 18 again.

3 Volunteers: This has been the normal day to day for this family. Now he is standing eye to eye with his answer. JESUS. Continue:

Mark 9:20

Mark 9:20 NASB95

20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

What Happens Most of the Time, When What We are Praying for Takes a Turn for the Worse?

When it takes a turn for the worse, is Jesus still more than enough? YES

Watch as Jesus goes into panic mode.

Mark 9:21

Mark 9:21 NASB95

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

Mark 9:22 NASB95

22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Mark 9:22

Mark 9:

Mark 9:25–26 NASB95

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”

Mark 9:

Mark 9:27 NASB95

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.

What Happens Most of the Time When What We Are Believing For Takes A Turn For the Worse?

Where Do Our Eyes Go? Onto the Size of the Problem.

A View From the Enemies Camp

Background: Spies sent out to spy out Jericho:

Joshua 2:8–11 NIV

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

- 11

They have been sitting on a 40 year old testimony. Great fear has gripped them . They know the Lord has given the children of Isreal the Land. They are just waiting to be destroyed.

They just hope God’s people don’t find out.

Joshua 6:1 NIV

1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Joshua 6:1

What do you see? A Big Walled City Filled with the Enemy. Armed.

Joshua 6:2 NIV

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

Now What do You See?

Do you see the victory when you pray? You have all of heaven backing you.

Gideon:

Judges 7:9–14 NIV

9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. 13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

Judges 7:9-14

Vs 9 What do you see?

What does the enemy see?

Vs 14

When you pray, do you see the Victory? or the Challenge?

If you see the Challenge

Psalm 34:3 NKJV

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.