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Listen to the sermon on Mark 9.14-29 given on 3rd July 2011 here: Download Embed Embed this video on your site : Nothing is impossible for those who believe!

Mark 9.

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.”

Lots of questions can be raised from our reading of this Gospel and I want to be plain that whilst I would like to cover each verse in detail it is not practically possible and so I urge you that you read and study it for yourself and any questions can be raised either with myself or anyone here or on Tuesdays where we are happy to discuss things.

For this father, in this passage, he was obviously in a desperate state over his son and was clutching at straws when he came to Jesus’ disciples and to Jesus. He didn’t really believe there was a solution to the problem as he had grown used to it over a period of years.

It seems to me that this is the state of so many Christians who have seen the same things over and over and just don’t believe change is possible. But Jesus is quick to clarify – anything is possible for one who believes. Did you know that most change happens because the pain of staying the same is worse than the pain of change? Jesus’ statement to the man suddenly gave him a glimmer of hope – perhaps, really, Jesus CAN do something! Help my unbelief!

Perhaps there is change that you want to see. I know I want to see change. I want to see people turning back to their creator and to the one who has put everything on the line for them. This is the kind of change I want to see – I want to see full churches with good teachers and pastors who live in the fear of God. Now that is change! Maybe you will be the first teachers and pastors of the churches to come. I state now as I will state again and again that this church can have 1000 members – this is what I pray for – I think the number is still too small! I want members to go from here and be missionaries in every country of the world who have faith in the Lord to accomplish great things.

Perhaps this kind of change is not actually going to happen without prayer and fasting. It is evident in this real-life event that the spirit in the boy would not go willingly and perhaps this is the same on this estate where the devil has practically full control where there are a smattering of Christians but completely useless churches that are under the sway of liberalism.

We want to take the practical lessons for us from this passage for it is going to be a rare occasion when we will be up against a blatant situation such as this though it may well happen at some point. The lesson we take from this is if we believe, Jesus will do His part.

Unbelief is a sin but one which is a blight in every one of our lives. I can prove that all of us suffer from this malady by asking about the last thing we have prayed about…did we believe it would happen when we prayed or not? Did what we pray for come about? Are we surprised it has not come about?

Of course it does depend what we are praying about and why but here Jesus declares that if we believe anything is possible. Anything is possible. Anything is possible. This seems impossible! This is not about positive thinking but about faith, about trust in and upon our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we are surprised that we have not got the answer we prayed for then there may be a number of factors for us to consider: 1) Does it fit the plan of God? His ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. 2) Do we need to be persistent? 3) Do we need to fast? 4) Are there things in our lives that God has put his finger on that have not yet been dealt with such as unforgiveness and bitterness? Some or all or none of these factors may have an effect upon our prayers and sometimes we just need to wait.

We live in the ‘give me now’ (instant) society where everything is to be now whether it is the news, coffee, hamburger, internet or God. But note how Jesus strikes up a conversation with the man who brought the son though he probably already knew the cause and whys and wherefores but Jesus did so anyway. Why? It is because relationships are important. This was no magic trick or a show to turn up to. Jesus wants a relationship with us. He shows that he cares about us as individuals. This man was traumatised besides his son. This was a man who needed to see that someone actually was going to take the time and care. Sometimes our prayers are more like a shopping list rather than about relationship. The price Jesus paid on the cross was not so that all our petitions would be answered but so that we could be reconciled with God.

We often forget in the mêlée of life our relationship with God and often the things that happen in our lives draw us in to him who is able to help us in every need. It is those who know their God who shall do expoits! It is those of us who know God who will do great things. We will do amazing things because of the God in whom we trust!

It is hardly surprising that this man in the story could only muster an ‘if you can’ (.22). This morning I want us to grasp that ‘if you can’ is not sufficient. Jesus called that generation faithless and perverse. Today the same criticism would be levelled. Evangelicalism is about to die because of faithlessness. We claim to be people of the Word but that is blatantly untrue. If we were people of the Word we would also have faith. But instead we get caught up in the minutiae, the details rather than what is actually important. If we are people of the Word we would also be living in the Word. Why is it that when a Christian Conference is held somewhere that hotels witness record numbers of people watching porn? A faithless and perverse generation – and that’s just the Christians. Who is there that will answer the call to holy living? Who is there that will fully put their trust in the God of the impossible and achieve great things for God?

Notice in this story how the faith of the father affected the son. Our faith has an effect upon others. If we really trust then nothing shall be impossible. Nothing! Faith is utterly relying upon God and his power, his redemption, his instruction, his word. YOU HAVE PROMISED! All things are possible! A mustard seed of faith and nothing shall be impossible for you. Assume for a moment that nothing is impossible for you…what do you envision? Just maybe Jesus is right. If nothing is impossible then what do you think can be accomplished?

What I think is that we are not risking enough for the goal of getting the gospel into every home, to every person on this estate.

“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” This has got to be the motto for this Church fellowship. The challenge is for all of us to take up. How much do we trust God? Every week we can expect to see that God has something to say and do. We also, afterward, have things that we have to do. Our faith and trust is in our Lord Jesus Christ and he asks whether, when he comes, he will find faith on the earth.

Without God we cannot do anything. With him nothing is impossible. He is able to so much more than we can think or imagine.

How available to God are we? Are we prepared to say to Him: whatever and however and whenever you want and wherever you send: I am available? How faithful are we going to be? Are we willing to lay down our loves for the people of this vast estate? Where is our zeal? Where is our faith? Or are we more interested in our so-called comforts? Are we those who don’t love our lives to death.

What are the issues on this estate that God would want us to take action about on their behalf before God? God puts things in front of us to do. What we see need doing it is that that God wants us to do. Impossible?! No! Nothing is impossible with God.

Prayer and fasting proves we have zeal to accomplish an agenda. You show me your faith and I will show you mine by my works. Faith leads to action.

Matt 21. ¹⁸ Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. ¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” ²¹ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

In the NLT the last verse is translated as:

‘You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it’.

Nothing is impossible for those who believe.

“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God”