Faith and Ministry
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14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so 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 had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
“Immediately when they saw Him all the people were greatly amazed and they greeted Him..”
“They were greatly amazed” - Transfiguration
There is always reason to be amazed when Jesus is present. He is simply amazing!
A lesson on faith and ministry.
He asked the scribes what are you discussing with them? probing questions..
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
Father’s desperation for his son and his condition. Possibly some form of epilepsy..
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
1. Unbelief Renders Ministry Powerless.
“O faithless generation..”
Unbelief on the part of the disciples or..
Unbelief on the part of the crowd
If we subscribe to the notion that miracles have ceased then we will not see miracles.
Trying to explain miracles by natural causes.
God has power over nature!
The boy’s condition — can be explained in terms of medical causes — epilepsy
exacerbated by a demonic influence..
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood.
Again, Jesus asks a question.. compassion as he examines the state of the father’s heart.. He knows our situation and our need but He wants us to verbalize our asking Him in faith..
And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
2. True Faith Brings Power in Ministry.
“If you can believe...”
Jesus replied “Everything is possible to one who believes!”
“Lord I believe, help me with my unbelief!”
cry of the heart..
not that he does not have fait, but his faith is mixed with unbelief
“You cannot make a determination that you believe something that in fact you actually do not believe.”
Illustration here.. (people hurt by churches)
“Faith comes by hearing.”
“Jesus is the author of our faith.”
No fakery and presumption. God is sovereign.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
True faith brings power in ministry but it is we can also say that true power brings faith in ministry.
The father of the boy was filled with faith.
true power brings or increases our faith.
faith comes by the Word
Power is found in the Gospel
Gospel is the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ
We go back to the cross.
3. Ministry is not A Substitute for Prayer.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Make sure you are prayed up.
Compare Jesus’ ministry with the disciples...
The more time spent with God the less time spent with demons.
“I am a child of God” I am ready to go!
Prayer - Jesus wants time with us, but it is more for us...
Prayer is the greater work quote here.
“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” - Oswald Chambers