Faith Makes The Possible Possible (2)
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Last week - the mountain top - glory of God’s presence
This week - the present day reality of life in a corrupted world
Jesus has been up on the mountain meeting with God
9 disciples are in town failing to cast out a demon
Scribes, Crowd and 9 disciples are in a ruckus
ITS AN EPISODE OF THE SPIRITUAL DESPERATION OF PEOPLE WHEN JESUS IS ABSENT
It’s A Juxtaposition
It’s A Juxtaposition
Placed close together with contrasting effect
On Mountain last week - In A Valley this week
Mnt. - Glory - - Valley - Suffering
Mnt. - God Activity - - Valley Demonic Activity
Mnt. - Father Pleased - - Valley Father Tormented
Mnt. - Perfect Son - - Valley Demon Possessed Son
Key Verse
Key Verse
Mark 9:23 All things are possible for one who believes.”
Mark 9:23 All things are possible for one who believes.”
Today, we talking about FAITH THAT MAKES THE POSSIBLE POSSIBLE
All things are possible, but we think many are impossible,
They are when left up to us.
But faith connects us to God’s great possibilities
Today is about faith that makes things happen
Going verse by verse and then some application
Mark 9:14 (ESV)
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
“They” Jesus, Peter, James and John
“Scribes” teachers of the Law
And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.
“Amazed” wonder, astonishment, awe
WHY?
Perhaps still some reflection of His radient glory
Perhaps in awe, because they’ve heard, his celebrity status, and they are finally seeing Him
Many people are more interested in what Jesus can do for them, than they are in knowing and following Jesus
And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Have previously accused Jesus of casting out demons by Belzabub
Probably chastising disciples that since “Belzabub” Jesus isn’t here, demons cant leave.
Maybe criticizing disciples lack of power and faith
Scribes are probably trying to tell the crowd that the disciples are fakes.
Everyones to embarrassed to speak
And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.
NT references demons, demonic, unclean spirits, numerous times
The spirit realm is real, and it includes, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and Angels
It also includes demons and unclean spirits.
Demons are fallen angels who were cast out of heaven for helping Satan rebel against God.
They work against God and His people
They fully support Satan’s agenda
They full embrace Satan’s mission of killing, stealing and destroying anything created by God and that can bring glory to God
They are significant part of the spiritual battles you face everyday
Series: Angels and Demons - VFC website under media
And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
Demons can oppress believers
Demons can possess nonbelievers
“SEIZE” to lay hold of, to apprehend
To throw down, break, and shatter
Repeated concussive blows to his head - hitting the ground
Taking full control of body, soul and spirit
Luke uses the word “Mauls” him
Disciples unable to cast it out.
They have been given authority to cast out demons
Mark 6:7 “And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”
AND they have been successful at it
Mark 6:13 “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
But now, they are ineffective
Is Jesus authority limited?
Are certain demons immune to Jesus authority?
Have the disciples become weak?
And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”
“FAITHLESS” - unbelieving, distrustful
Unworthy of confidence,
Unbelief
Luke records: “O faithless and TWISTED” generation
“Twisted” perverse, turn aside, corrupted
Jesus is exasperated - “How did you get so far off track?
How did you become so perverted, corrupted that you got so far off track?
Jesus is stating: “I cant trust you anymore? What happened?
He is asking: “WHAT HAS CHANGED?”
They have, their hearts are getting full of things other than Jesus
“How long am I to bear with you?” -
“Bear” as to carry like a burden -
They are not functioning in the original authority He had given them.
I need to be turning this Kingdom work over to you, but you’re not able to carry, so I must carry it for you.
Mark 9:20-21 “And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.”
Jesus asks “How long has he been this way?”
He is a personal, caring God
He relates, has time for you, and has feeling for you
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus is relational and wants to be personally involved in your life.
Mark 9:22 (ESV)
And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Demons Verses Physical Illness
Sickness does not automatically equate to demonic attack on a personal level.
It can be demonically orchestrated, and can be result of full on demon possession
But that is not the norm concerning illness.
All illness is a result of the fall of Adam, and the corrupted earth we live in.
This Demon and Epilepsy
The gospels make a clear distinction between physical illness and demon possession disguised as illness.
Matthew 4:24 (ESV)
So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.
Healed, deaf, dumb, and blind, without indicating they were demon possessed.
But here we have a unique situation that is demonically induced
The demon saw Jesus
There is an entity within the boy that has access to the boys eyes, and muscles and body.
And the results, falling down stiff, clinched jaw, foaming,
Are indicators of a Grand Mal seizure
This demon was possessing the son, disguised as epilepsy
A Demon, Not Epilepsy
Characteristics of a demon, set on destroying the young boy.
Would attack near water or fire, intent to harm and even kill him
Epilepsy can be damage neurologically, or chemical deficiencies and imbalances.
This was a full blown demon possession
A seizure wouldn’t recognize Jesus
But a demon certainly would
And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
No real faith on the fathers part at this point
“If you can”. Not “If you will”
Big difference
Knowing He Can is one thing,
Believing He will is another.
Faith is not believing Jesus can do something
Real and Active, Bold faith is believing that He WILL do it
And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Jesus taken back by the “If you can...”
I am creator of every living thing, what do you mean, “if I can?”
BELIEVING MAKES ALL IMPOSSIBILITIES POSSIBLE, THEREFORE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
“believe, Trust, Entrust - 240+ times in the NT
Do You Believe...
Do You Believe...
Jesus can heal your loved one?
Do you believe He will heal your loved one?
He can heal your marriage?
Do you believe He will heal your marriage?
He can restore your relationship with your child?
Do you believe He will restore your relationship?
He can break you free from your addiction?
Do you believe He will break you free?
He can forgive you?
Do believe He HAS forgiven you?
Then quit asking; “But what it,” Or “What about this or that”
BELIEVE, AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE
The issue wasn’t Jesus’ ability to heal the boy
But the fathers ability to believe He would heal the boy
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Ask Jesus to increase your level of faith
He has no problem doing that
And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
“Enter him no more”
Can a demon possess someone again?
Yes
Matthew 12:43-45 ““When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.””
Keep your heart Spirit Filled
And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Jesus had given them authority to cast out demons
They have demonstrated that authority before
But somewhere they neglected the anointing and authority that had been given
And are relying on the past experience...
And their own abilities
They are assuming that its just natural now for them, since they did it before.
But remember John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS
KEEP YOUR HEART FILLED UP
KEEP YOUR HEART FILLED UP
The disciples went out in Mark 6 fired up, but now, their flame has subsided
If you’re going to keep walking in the anointing, and power, you have to stay full of the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Present imperative - continuous action
We serve out of Spirit anointing, and we deplete
W are surrounded by sin filled world, and deplete
Acts 4 Peter and John are released and join believers in a prayer meeting
Says the room shook and they were all filled.
Most of those were in the Upper Room of Acts 2
KEEP YOUR FAITH BUILT UP
KEEP YOUR FAITH BUILT UP
The issue in all this event was the lack of faith the disciples exhibited after such great success previously
Just cause you overcame it once, doesn’t automatically mean you will again.
It still takes the same level of faith
How To Keep Faith Filled To Be Faithful
Stay Aware of God’s Word
Stay Aware of God’s Word
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Stay Active With God’s Word
Stay Active With God’s Word
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Stay Aligned With God’s Word
Stay Aligned With God’s Word
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Believe the promises
Declare the promises
Make the promises your pillar of faith
KEEP YOURSELF PRAYED UP
KEEP YOURSELF PRAYED UP
Jesus said some of these demons require more prayer
Spending time with God,
Not just asking, but getting to know,
Hearing Him speak to you
Seeing things of the spirit realm
Paul stayed Faith filled, and tells us...
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
pray without ceasing,
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Stay
BUILT UP
FILLED UP
PRAYED UP
Two Questions
How full is your heart with the Spirit of Christ these days?
Ask Him to fill you up again
To baptize you in His spirit
What is your faith level for what you need to see Jesus do?
Ask Him to help your unbelief.
Prayer
Womens Prayer