Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.

15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.

15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 16“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.

16“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-2918Whenever 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.”

18Whenever 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 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 19“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

19“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

21Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 23“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

23“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

Mark 9:14-29Mark 9:14-29 28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

“ ”

Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 5/3/2015

Mark 9:14-29

Four Stages In Our Faith Pilgrimage

1. Experienced Faith

2. An Affiliated Faith

3. Searching Faith

4. Owned Faith

Remember this follows the account of Jesus’

mountaintop transfiguration.

In the two scenes we get a capsule of what God and satan

want man to become.

1. God wants you transfigured into the image of Jesus.

2. Satan wants to destroy you like the little boy.

Some struggle with faith because of:

1. The problem of evil.

Things I stand on…

• Creation demands a creator, a maker.

• I remember that satan is the evil one.

• I remember that God did not make us bad but He did make us free.

• I decided to take a long look at the cross and the empty tomb. Together they declare Jesus’ victory over the evil one.

Some struggle with faith because of:

1. The problem of evil.

2. The impotence of Christians.

“Fred, I cuss a lot, and you preach a lot but we both

know that neither one of us means what he says.”

Ghandi -

“Perhaps we’d all be Christians if it weren’t for

the Christians.”

So what do you do?

You do what the father did, press through until you

get to Jesus! He never disappoints.

Some struggle with faith because of:

1. The problem of evil.

2. The impotence of Christians.

3. The reality of self.

28When He came into [the] house, His disciples [began] questioning Him privately, "Why could we not drive it out?" 29And He said to them, “This kind cannot come

out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29)

Did they need to know a new prayer? No, their problem was they had

become experts.

We can learn our tasks so well that we trust in ourselves and then our efforts are no

longer visited by His presence.

And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long

shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

(Mark 9:19)

It is possible to be an unbeliever like the disciples and not know it.

Want to believe more?

1. Realize faith is ultimately a decision.

If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching,

whether it is of God or [whether]I speak from Myself.

(John 7:17)

2. Develop faith building relationships.

3. Define the correct object of your faith.30Therefore many other signs Jesus also

performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these

have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

(John 20:30-31)

4. Deposit faith building material in your mind.

So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

(Romans 10:17)

5. Determine what faith would do and do it.

John 4 – A man and his son.

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus

had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole .

household believed. (John 4:53)

Don’t ever be ashamed to search!