THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH

Mark 9:14-29

THE CONTEXT: Two Things to Know

(verses 14-18)

THE CONTEXT: TWO THINGS TO KNOW

1. A dispute has occurred

MARK 9:14-16 14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large

crowd around them and scribes disputing with them. 15 All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw

Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him. 16 Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them

about?”

QUESTION: What was the dispute over?

THE CONTEXT: TWO THINGS TO KNOW

1. A dispute has occurred 2. The disciples inability to heal the demon

possessed boy

MARK 9:17-18 17 Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,

I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it

throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples

to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

MARK 3:14-15 14 He also appointed 12—He also named them apostles —to be with Him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to

have authority to drive out demons.

MARK 6:12-13 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they were driving out many demons,

anointing many sick people with olive oil, and healing them.

QUESTION: Why couldn’t they heal this boy?

THREE STATEMENTS FROM JESUS REGARDING FAITH:

STATEMENT #1: “You unbelieving generation”

(verses 19-22)

MARK 9:19 19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation!

How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.”

THE ISSUE: You Don’t Believe

MARK 4:39-40 39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,

“Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He said to them, “Why are you

fearful? Do you still have no faith?”

MARK 8:16-21 16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to

them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is

your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not

remember? 17 When I broke the five loaves for the

5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told Him. 20 “When I broke

the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?”

“Seven,” they said. 21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

MATTHEW 17:19-20 19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 “Because of

your little faith,” He told them.

MARK 9:20 20 So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at

the mouth.

MARK 9:21 21 “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus

asked his father.

MARK 9:21-22 21 How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father. “From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to

destroy him.

MARK 9:22

“But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

STATEMENT #2: “Everything is possible to the one

who believes” (verses 23-27)

MARK 9:23 23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’? Everything is

possible to the one who believes.”

THE LESSON: Anything is Possible if You Have Faith

MARK 9:24 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do

believe! Help my unbelief.”

THREE THOUGHTS ON FAITH:

THREE THOUGHTS ON FAITH:

1. The object of faith is Jesus

MARK 9:23-24 23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’? Everything is possible to the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the

father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

THREE THOUGHTS ON FAITH: 1. The object of faith is Jesus 2. Faith in Jesus is how we access the power

of Jesus

MATTHEW 17:19-20 19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 “Because of

your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is

not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

MARK 9:25-27 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming 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!” 26 Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him violently. The boy

became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he

stood up.

QUESTION TO THINK ABOUT: Do you live your life in a way, which indicates that you believe anything is possible to those

who have faith in Jesus?

THREE THOUGHTS ON FAITH: 1. The object of faith is Jesus 2. Faith in Jesus is how we access the power

of Jesus 3. Everything is possible through Jesus

but that doesn’t guarantee it will happen

STATEMENT #3: “This kind can come out by

nothing but prayer” (verses 28-29)

MARK 9:28-29 28 After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him

privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but

prayer [and fasting].”

MARK 14:36 36 And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless,

not what I will, but what You will.”

LUKE 18:1-8 1 He then told them a parable on the need for them

to pray always and not become discouraged: 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who didn’t

fear God or respect man. 3 And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For a while he was unwilling, but

later he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn’t wear me out by her persistent coming. 6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

7 Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them?

8 I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will

He find that faith on earth?”

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” - Corrie Ten Boom

COLOSSIANS 4:2 2 Devote yourselves to prayer

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 17 Pray constantly

APPLICATION

APPLICATION:

1. Live by faith

2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight

GALATIANS 2:20 20 The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

HOW?

HOW?

1. Process the truth

HOW?

1. Process the truth 2. Claim the promise

HOW?

1. Process the truth 2. Claim the promise 3. Act accordingly

HEBREWS 11:23-26 23 By faith, after Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the

child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose

to suffer with the people of God rather

than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. 26 For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his

attention was on the reward.