WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:00.719 Amen. 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:02.640 As you're being seated, would you join me? 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:04.080 Mark chapter 9. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:12.080 If you do not have a Bible with you, there are some in the pew back there in front of you, we're going to be on page 906 in that pew Bible. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.519 906. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:15.759 I'm looking at the clock. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:17.920 I didn't have time for the bumper, so I just ran right through it. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:18.960 That's okay. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:20.800 Mark chapter 9. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:38.399 Thomas Edison is famous for quoting that when he was reminded that he had failed 10,000 times in his attempt to create the incandescent light bulb, that he actually had not failed 10,000 times, but that he had found 10,000 ways not to create the incandescent light bulb. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:42.880 His point was that even in his failures, he found success. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:56.240 I'm always looking for teachable moments in my own life, and along the way I've had to learn some tough lessons. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:04.319 Lessons from the classroom, lessons from relationships, lessons from a ball field, even tough lessons in ministry. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:08.879 Lessons are hard to learn at times. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.760 I'm going to make a shocking statement to you this morning. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:17.840 Followers of Christ often fail him. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:21.040 Is that very shocking? 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:23.519 No, it's not, is it? 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:28.640 Followers of Christ often fail him. 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:31.519 This truth is self-evident. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:41.439 As disciples of Christ, there are times when we do not live up to the name that we proclaim. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:47.280 Jesus' twelve disciples failed him many times. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:53.359 In Mark's gospel, we're going to see a time this morning where his disciples failed him. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:54.959 That's not the question. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.519 The question isn't, do disciples fail Jesus? 00:01:57.680 --> 00:01:58.959 We all know that they do. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:02.400 The question is, did they learn anything from it? 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:06.879 Do we learn anything from it? 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:13.520 Last week we saw that the disciples had been called up to the mounts of transfiguration with Jesus. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:14.879 Not all of them, but three of them. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:19.360 Simon, Peter, James, and John went up on a mountain with Jesus to pray. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:26.159 And there, those three disciples got to see something that is almost indescribably incredible. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:36.719 Jesus allowed his glory to be unveiled before them, his divine glory that had been hidden by human flesh. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.680 He allowed them to see his true nature. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:53.439 And while he was doing that, two saints from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, showed up and began to have a conversation with Jesus about his journey to Jerusalem and the fact that he was going to go to a cross and deliver his people. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:03:06.719 If that wasn't enough, a giant cloud came in, the Shekinah glory of God settled on them, and a voice from that crowd cried out, This is my son in whom I am well pleased. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:08.879 You remember that they were dumbfounded. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:10.639 They fell on their faces before God. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:13.599 They didn't know what to say, they didn't know how to respond. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:18.960 But Simon Peter somehow mustered the courage to say, Jesus, this is good. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:21.039 Man, this is the good stuff. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:22.879 This is what we signed up for. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.840 The glory of God and Old Testament folks showing up. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.080 This is, hey, can we just stay right here? 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.520 We'll build three tabernacles. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:34.879 We'll build three tents, and let's just stay right here on the glory of God on this mountain. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:40.319 And the voice of God said, Hey, Simon Peter, be quiet. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.039 This is my son. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:42.800 Listen to what he has to say. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.759 The next day they come down off that mountain. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.120 And we read, What happens? 00:03:51.599 --> 00:04:01.680 Mark chapter 9, beginning in verse 14, the Word of God says, When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:07.280 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Jesus, they were amazed and began running up to greet him. 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.159 And he asked them, What are you discussing with them? 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:16.319 And one of the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought you my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:22.800 And whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:27.519 I told your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:33.519 And he answered them and said, O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.079 How long shall I put up with you? 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:38.000 Bring him to me. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:48.480 They brought the boy to Jesus, and 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. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:52.319 And he asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.399 And he said, From childhood. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:59.680 It has often thrown him both into a fire and into a water to destroy him. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:03.680 But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:10.399 And Jesus said to him, If you can, all things are possible to him who believes. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:15.600 Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, I do believe, help my unbelief. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:25.360 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. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:33.120 And crying out and throwing him into a terrible convulsion, it came out, and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, He is dead. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.720 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him and got him up. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:44.319 And when he came into the house, his disciples began questioning him privately, Why could we not drive it out? 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:49.839 And he said to them, This kind can only come out by prayer. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.079 Father, bless the reading of your word. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:52.560 We pray. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:56.160 Help us to understand exactly why this is here, why this is recorded. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:03.839 Help us to see that even in our failures you're not hindered, and that we can grow as your disciples through our failures. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.600 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:06.560 Amen. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:12.720 As Peter, James, and John came down that hill with Jesus, I imagine their feet barely touched the ground. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:21.680 Can you imagine having seen the glory of God and heard the voice of God, having experienced all that they experienced, they were excited, they were pumped up, and they were coming down that hill. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:32.800 But as they got to the foot of that hill, all that excitement just kind of withered away because there they saw a crowd gathered around the other nine disciples who had been left behind. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.839 There's a situation in the valley. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.079 Up on the mountain, there was glory, down in the valley there's chaos. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:48.879 And there were some scribes who had come and were questioning the disciples. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:58.560 These scribes are the self-appointed protectors of God's word, and they are always lurking around in Mark's gospel. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:05.279 We see them all the time trying to find Jesus and try to accuse him of doing something wrong or saying something wrong. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.839 They didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:14.240 They were against him, and so they're always trying to find an opportunity to debate him and to catch him and to trap him. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:18.639 But in this instance, when they came to trap Jesus, Jesus isn't there. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:19.920 He's up on a mountain praying. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.759 And so they do the next best thing they can do. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:24.399 They attack his disciples. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:31.199 And as Jesus comes down off the mountain, he recognizes these scribes, he recognizes the situation that his disciples are in. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.959 He's been there, he's experienced it, and he came to their defense. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:41.920 Isn't that good to know that Jesus will come to our defense when the enemies attack? 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:47.519 He came to their defense and he just simply asks them a question: what are you disputing about? 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.839 I can almost hear him saying, What's your problem today, boys? 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:56.240 What is it this time that you want to bring up, and why are you picking on them? 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.800 What are you disputing about? 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.480 I want you to note the scribes do not answer the question. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:06.959 The scribes would much rather debate his disciples than they would debate Jesus. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:12.160 They don't answer the question, but I also want you to notice this: the disciples don't answer the question either. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:16.240 The disciples do not say, These guys are picking on us because of this, Jesus. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.160 These guys are saying this, Jesus. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:22.560 I think they keep their mouth shut because, quite honestly, I think they're embarrassed. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:31.360 We see a dispute taking place. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.799 And above all of that, we see a lone voice cry out. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:43.120 The voice of a father that says, Jesus, I brought my son to you. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.360 My son, who is possessed by an evil spirit. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.080 This evil spirit keeps sending him into convulsions. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.600 This evil spirit is trying to destroy him. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:09:01.120 A single voice crying out, saying, There's a demon in my child. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.720 I want you to know this is a right diagnosis. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:08.240 The man doesn't come and say, My child has a disease. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:10.960 He comes and says, There is a demon tormenting my son. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:13.200 Now, hear me very carefully. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.879 Demons were very active in that time while Jesus was on earth. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:20.080 They were actively against him bringing the kingdom. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.559 And they would attack people. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:29.200 But the people of that time did not attribute every disease and illness to demons. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.200 The Bible differentiates. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:35.919 They know the difference between when somebody is sick and when somebody is demon-possessed. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.320 And just because somebody was diseased does not mean they had a demon. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:45.840 But this father rightly diagnosed this isn't just a disease, this isn't just an illness. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.440 This is a demon. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:00.879 This passage, by the way, is not primarily about demons nor demon possession. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:06.080 And it certainly is not an instruction manual on how we are to cast out demons. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.200 That is not the point of this passage. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:18.159 The point of this passage is that disciples fail Jesus when they try to do the supernatural with natural abilities. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.639 That's the point of this passage. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:30.559 We fail Jesus when we try to do what he's called us to do in our own abilities, leaving him out of the picture. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:32.559 That's the point of the passage. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:42.000 So we have this situation in the valley, we have a dispute, we have destruction, we have this demon who is coming to destroy. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:49.120 The Bible says that the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:54.399 Satan would like nothing more to steal glory away from God. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:58.559 One way he does that is to attack the image of God in human beings. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:02.240 He wants to steal the image of God. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.720 The battles that we face are not against flesh and blood. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.919 They are against rulers and powers. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:16.320 The battle that is against gender in our country and around the world is not against flesh and blood. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.840 That is an attack of Satan on the image of God amongst men. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:25.120 The horrific rate of abortions is not a flesh and blood issue. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:30.000 It is an attack of Satan who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.000 There is destruction taking place. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.240 In the midst of this, there is disappointment. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:45.519 In verse 18, the father said, I came to bring my son to you, Jesus, but you weren't here. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.960 You were up on a mountain praying, but my son is still demon-possessed. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:49.759 I needed help. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:53.039 So I brought him to your disciples and I asked them to cast him out. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:59.759 But verse 18, what a cold, sad indictment, but they could not do it. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.519 My son is still hurting. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.000 Your disciples couldn't help me. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:13.279 I think this is the source of the dispute with the scribes that day. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:21.279 I think the scribes are saying, Oh, your master says he's so strong, and you guys think you're all that, but you can't even cast this demon out. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.679 How much power do you really have? 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.720 How much authority does your rabbi really have? 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:30.240 I think they're using this to mock Jesus' followers. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:36.559 You know our spiritual failures also have spiritual fallout, right? 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:45.679 You know that when we claim to be Christ's followers and then we don't live up to his character, it has fallout amongst those that see us. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.120 And oftentimes they don't just mock us. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.559 Who do they mock? 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:53.039 The one we claim to serve. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.600 Oh, you claim to be a so-and-so, but you live this way. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:06.720 You claim to be a Christian, but his father was disappointed. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.639 Because the disciples of Jesus couldn't help him. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:23.600 How sad is it when the church tries to accomplish spiritual things in our own natural ability? 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:27.840 Don't get me wrong, we're we're a talented, gifted, resourceful group of people. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.679 We can do a lot of stuff. 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:36.159 We can gather together, we have gifts and talents and abilities, we have resources, we can do a lot of good things. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:42.639 But we cannot do anything of eternal importance apart from the power of Christ. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.879 Not only was his father frustrated, but Jesus was frustrated. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:53.440 Verse 19, he says twice, O unbelieving generation, how often do I have to put up with you? 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:55.759 How long do I have to put up with you people? 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.080 Jesus has just been up on the mountain with his father. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.840 He's been there with Moses and Elijah. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:01.200 It's a glorious situation. 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:07.360 Now he's down in the valley with men that he's invested two years of his life in, and he's watching their faith falter. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.720 He's watching their faith fail. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.720 And he's frustrated. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.200 How long am I going to have to put up with you? 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:21.759 I wonder how many times Jesus sits up in heaven and shakes his head at me and says, Bob, how often am I going to have to put up with you? 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:38.799 Before we get too judgy about the disciples failing, how many of us have been walking with Jesus far too long to trip up or get blown back by some of the things we get tripped up or blown back by? 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.639 There are many people who have stopped attending church because of something we label church hurt. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.159 You know what church hurt is? 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:59.039 Church hurt is when people come to a body of believers and somehow along the way somebody did something or said something to hurt them or offend them. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:08.399 And now they won't come back to church because the disciples of Jesus have not represented him well. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:11.600 Far too many people, listen, it's an excuse. 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:17.759 Far too many people use it to stay away from the from Christ and from his church. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:22.399 But our our failures do not hinder God's plans. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.759 And here's what Jesus said. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.440 I don't know, I don't, I I've tried to imagine the inflection in his voice when he said this. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.759 Here's what he said: bring him to me. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.279 Just bring him here. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.519 I know they couldn't do it. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:37.039 I know I can. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:40.240 I know they may have wanted to do it, but they couldn't. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.679 Just bring him here. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:47.200 What better thing can we do than just simply bring people to Jesus? 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:52.639 When you don't feel adequate, when you don't feel able, just bring them to Jesus. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.399 He will handle it. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:58.879 There is a situation in the valley that I want you to quickly see the compassion of the Savior. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:11.279 As they're bringing that boy to Jesus, the demon inside that boy recognizes Jesus, recognizes Jesus has authority over him, recognizes his time is about up, and he throws a hissy fit. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:16.639 And he throws the boy into convulsions and throws him down on the ground and he's foaming and he's rigid. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:22.799 Something like we might think of as a grandma seizure or a seizure of a related epilepsy. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.440 He's just, he's on the ground. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:29.600 But Jesus doesn't immediately respond to the boy on the ground. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.840 He doesn't respond to the demon. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.240 He simply asks a question. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:38.240 He turns to the father and says, How long has he been like this? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.440 Now I want you to understand something. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.399 Jesus knew the answer to the question before he ever asked it. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.679 Jesus doesn't ask questions to get information. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:53.440 Jesus wanted this father to feel his compassion. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:58.799 He wanted this father to understand, I feel your pain. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:07.440 He wanted to feel the anguish of the father, and he wanted the father to feel his love and his compassion. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:12.000 We see this display of hatred from the demon. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.799 We see a display of compassion from Jesus. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.720 The answer is heartbreaking. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.200 He said he's been like this from childhood. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.079 This demon has often tried to kill him. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.279 He's tried to throw him into fire. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.799 He's tried to throw him into water. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.920 If you're a parent, you understand the anguish of this man crying out, help my son. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.240 Luke tells us, help my only son. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.200 He's my only son. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.079 Help him. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.920 It's been like this from childhood. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.599 I can't bear it anymore. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.880 Help him. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.599 And then in verse 22, we see this display of unbelief. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:54.480 The Father says, but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.359 If you can do anything, have pity on my son. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.400 Have pity on me. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.279 Help us. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:06.480 And Jesus' abrupt response is, if you can. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:14.559 You're standing before me asking you to help him, and you're saying, if you can. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:18.160 Now I know you're hurting. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.359 I know you're confused. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:22.160 I know your child is hurt, but let's make no mistakes about this. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.759 You need to understand who I am. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.200 I created your child. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.079 I created you. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.039 I created that mountain I just walked down off of. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:32.240 There's nothing that I cannot do. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:37.680 Our problem is not my ability, our problem is your ability to believe in me. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:42.400 In Mark chapter 1, a leper came to Jesus. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:48.799 And he said, If you're willing, will you heal me? 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.160 And Jesus said, I'm willing, be healed. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.799 He said, I know you can do it. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.119 Will you do it? 00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:04.559 This father came to Jesus and said, I believe you're willing to do it. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.640 I see your compassion. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.759 I'm just not sure you're able to do it. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.400 After all, your disciples failed. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:15.119 What makes me think you can do it? 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.039 And then he just says this. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.599 I believe. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.640 Help my unbelief. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.559 I believe, I do believe it, but but there's been so much piled up. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.599 I just I'm I'm having a hard time truly believing. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.400 What an honest response that is. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:48.240 Many of us would do well to have a similar response to say, God, I believe, but there are times when I still doubt. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:53.279 God, I believe, but help my own belief. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:58.880 The issue is not the depth of our faith. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.319 The issue is the direction of our faith. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:08.720 God says that with the tiniest of seeds, the tiny seed of faith, he can do great things. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.799 It's not the depth, it is the direction. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:16.799 Who do we point our faith to? 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:23.440 Then Jesus in verse 25 sees the crowd swelling and he immediately casts out the demon. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.279 He doesn't want to make any more spectacle of this than has already happened. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:33.519 He casts the demon out, tells him, never return, don't come back here. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.119 You're forbidden from coming back. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:44.079 Once again, one final attack of the demon is he throws this child back into a seizure and leaves him there laying on the ground as if dead. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:48.000 And Jesus just simply walked over, took the child by the hand, raised him up. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:51.039 Luke's gospel says that he gave them back to his father. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.599 What a beautiful picture it is of what Christ does for us. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:03.839 Those of us who are dead in our trespasses and sin, and God takes us by the hand, he raises us up, and what does he do to us? 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.480 He gives us back to our Father. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.359 And he tells them with God, nothing is impossible. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:19.920 I want to finish in the next couple minutes because here's the point of this whole story. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:29.599 We have a situation in the valley, we have the compassion of the sailor, Savior, but in verses 28 and 29, we have the consternation of the disciples. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:39.920 See, after all this has taken place, I imagine the nine disciples who weren't able to cast this demon out, they're probably embarrassed, they're probably humbled by this. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:49.200 I think Simon, Peter, James, and John, I'm just gonna have to speculate that they they're kind of looking down in their noses at the other disciples, going, guys, what was wrong while we were up on the mountain? 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:52.160 But it says he pulled them away. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:59.119 They went to a private location where nobody else is around, and the disciples asked Jesus, Jesus, why weren't we able to do it? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.079 Why weren't we able to cast this demon out? 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.079 Why couldn't we do it? 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.359 We did it in the past. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.880 Jesus, you sent us out before. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.160 You sent us out in groups. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.000 The 70 of us went out. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.640 And you gave us authority over demons. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:20.240 And when we returned, we came back celebrating because we had actually cast out demons in your name. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:22.319 We did it before, Jesus. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.480 Why couldn't we do it now? 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:32.960 And Jesus' response is this kind cannot come out by anything but prayer. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.960 Now here's what I don't think he's saying. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.599 Here's what I know he's not saying. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:48.079 He's not saying there are certain demons that are more demonic, that they can only come out by prayer, and there's other demons that you can just do whatever you want with, and they'll listen to you. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.240 He's not categorizing demons. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:59.839 What he's saying is this you couldn't do it because you tried to do it on your own. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:16.160 You couldn't do it because you were relying on past success, and you didn't take time to realize you were facing a superior opponent, and in order to cast him out, you must rely on me and the power that I give you. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:19.039 You didn't stop to pray and say, God, cast this one out. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.400 You tried to do it on your own. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.559 That's why you couldn't do it. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:32.480 I wonder how often we face that same situation in our lives and our families, in our walk with the Lord, and in our church. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.680 They didn't fail because they didn't try. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.359 They tried their very best. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:41.920 They failed because they didn't rely on the power of God. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:46.319 They tried to do the supernatural and their own natural abilities. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.079 And they failed. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:55.599 You know, disciples, disciples, we fail Jesus a lot. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.599 The question is: do we ever learn from it? 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:04.240 Do we ever grow from it? 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:09.279 John chapter 15, I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.440 I abide in you, you abide in me. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:13.039 He who abides in me will bear much fruit. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.880 But apart from me, what can you do? 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.400 Nothing. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:23.440 Ephesians chapter 6 tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, against the powers and principalities. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.839 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.680 You cannot go to battle on your own. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:31.519 Put on the armor of God, and then when you're done putting on the armor, pray. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.400 Pray and then pray some more. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:45.759 I wonder how often the enemy is delighted when we battle him in our own strength, and I wonder how often our Savior is frustrated when we do the same thing. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.880 This passage is not about demons. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:55.519 It's not about trying to manipulate God by saying, God, look how big my faith is. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.000 I can get anything I want if I just have enough faith. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.440 That's not what this passage is about. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:04.720 This passage certainly is not an instruction manual on how Christians are to cast out demons. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:12.480 This passage is about believers failing Jesus because they try to do what he calls us to do in our own power, not in his. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:16.319 It's about frustration. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:23.039 The father was frustrated, Jesus was frustrated, the disciples were frustrated, everyone was frustrated. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.079 What was the answer? 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.759 Just bring them to me. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:30.799 Just bring them to me. 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.960 I love the Father's response. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.039 I believe Jesus. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:39.359 Help my unbelief. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.799 Will you pray with me this morning? 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.759 Father, we don't try to fail you. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.599 We don't want to fail you. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:50.480 Father, we want to live successful lives. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:54.240 We want to be Christ's followers who reflect your glory well. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:58.480 But Father, every day, each of us fails. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:05.599 Oftentimes we fail because we try to do that which you've called us to do in our own power with our own abilities. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:12.480 Oftentimes we fail because in the past maybe we've had some success at something and we don't think it's necessary to bring you into it. 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:17.279 Father, in my own life, the times when I don't pray are the times when I don't think I need you. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:22.000 And Father, I pray that you'd forgive me because there's not a time in my life that I don't need you. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:34.319 And Father, I pray that you would help us to learn from the mistake of the disciples that day that we would not battle spiritual battles with our human flesh, with our own mind. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:38.640 Father, let us cry out, God, I cannot do this. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.640 I need you. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.440 Father, let us reflect your glory. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:49.759 Let us learn from our mistakes, learn from our failures, so that you might be glorified in our lives, we pray. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.519 In Jesus' name. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.319 Amen.