Citywide Baptist Church
Faith - the healing of an epileptic son
A vibrant and growing faith?
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
Back to earth with a thud:
The transfiguration. The Mountain Top Experience Jesus had. But then Jesus comes back to earth with a thud.
At the bottom of the hill the Teachers of the Law are arguing with the disciples (Mark 9:14)
The disciples are confused as to why they are not able to heal the son
The desperation of the father
The son about to have a fit
The crowd is building fast
Are we seeing a tired and reactionary Jesus.
The transfiguration. The Mountain Top Experience Jesus had. But then Jesus comes back to earth with a thud.
At the bottom of the hill the Teachers of the Law are arguing with the disciples (Mark 9:14)
The disciples are confused as to why they are not able to heal the son
The desperation of the father
The son about to have a fit
The crowd is building fast
Are we seeing a tired and reactionary Jesus.
This world is not Jesus’ home ‘how long shall I stay with you’. Contrast between the glory of his transfiguration, and the realities of this human world. It’s possible the meaning is lost in translation and we can’t be sure what Jesus tone is as he say’s this.
My guess is he is exposing his human-ness. He is exhausted after his all-nighter transfiguration. If we wear the tinted glasses of “the perfect son of God who never put a foot wrong” we may find it difficult to understand Jesus tone in this verse.
My guess is he is exposing his human-ness. He is exhausted after his all-nighter transfiguration. If we wear the tinted glasses of “the perfect son of God who never put a foot wrong” we may find it difficult to understand Jesus tone in this verse.
Authority to heal and cast out Demons:
Let’s take a step back. Jesus has the authority and ability to heal and cast out demons.
Let’s take a step back. Jesus has the authority and ability to heal and cast out demons.
Walk through the healing
We see the father’s respectful posture (kneeling and calling Jesus ‘Lord’)
Mark 9:15 “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid.
Luke 9:39 It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.’
Jesus asks the father to bring the boy to him.
When the spirit sees Jesus, the boy goes into a convulsion.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “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.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When 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.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
We see the father’s respectful posture (kneeling and calling Jesus ‘Lord’)
Mark 9:15 “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid.
Luke 9:39 It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.’
Jesus asks the father to bring the boy to him.
When the spirit sees Jesus, the boy goes into a convulsion.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “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.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When 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.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Healing the Whole Person
There are a few of Jesus healings where casting out a demon also has a physical impact such as in Matt 9:32 where Jesus casts out a demon and then the dumb person is able to speak.
In the healing of this son there is both a spiritual, and a physical healing. A wholistic interplay of the spiritual and natural forces at play. Jesus heals the whole person.
There are a few of Jesus healings where casting out a demon also has a physical impact such as in Matt 9:32 where Jesus casts out a demon and then the dumb person is able to speak.
In the healing of this son there is both a spiritual, and a physical healing. A wholistic interplay of the spiritual and natural forces at play. Jesus heals the whole person.
The interplay between our Faith, and what God does?
A couple of examples of the impact of a lack of faith
A couple of examples of the impact of a lack of faith
The significance of Faith
Faith is the 3rd most prominent theme of Jesus Teaching. The top 5 are: Kingdom of God, Father God, Faith, Money, Satan.
Jesus mostly taught about faith to the Disciples and named individuals.
Faith is the 3rd most prominent theme of Jesus Teaching. The top 5 are: Kingdom of God, Father God, Faith, Money, Satan.
Jesus mostly taught about faith to the Disciples and named individuals.
Images from ‘The Infographic Bible’, Karen Sawrey © 2019, William Collins
Images from ‘The Infographic Bible’, Karen Sawrey © 2019, William Collins
Verses about Faith:
Heb 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Mark 9:23: "All things are possible for one who believes."
Matthew 15:28: "Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly."
Matthew 21:22: "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Luke 8:50: "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.' ”
The disciples, and then in this instance, the people gathered, failed to understand that Jesus was God. "Do you not see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?" "Do you not yet understand?"
Heb 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Mark 9:23: "All things are possible for one who believes."
Matthew 15:28: "Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly."
Matthew 21:22: "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Luke 8:50: "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.' ”
The disciples, and then in this instance, the people gathered, failed to understand that Jesus was God. "Do you not see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?" "Do you not yet understand?"
Faith – Perspective, rather than quantity
‘Faith-o-meter’ – or ‘Glasses of faith’
Our Faith especially gets tested when things get tough.
It’s not ‘how much faith do I have’, but ‘Do I believe Jesus is the Son of God’.
In Matt 17:17 Jesus states, “You unbelieving and perverse generation.” In our language we usually use the word ‘perverse’ as wicked and sinful, however, the original Greek states it is more about having a distorted perspective – you’re seeing it all wrong.
Faith is not a particular substance, the more of which the disciples have, the more they can accomplish.
It is not a gift of magic that can be manipulated at will.
Rather, faith is confidence that we can do what God calls us to do — it is “taking God at his word.” Therefore, the disciples should not place confidence in what they have but have confidence that if God calls them to do something, they can do it in his strength. (NIV Study Companion)
‘Faith-o-meter’ – or ‘Glasses of faith’
Our Faith especially gets tested when things get tough.
It’s not ‘how much faith do I have’, but ‘Do I believe Jesus is the Son of God’.
In Matt 17:17 Jesus states, “You unbelieving and perverse generation.” In our language we usually use the word ‘perverse’ as wicked and sinful, however, the original Greek states it is more about having a distorted perspective – you’re seeing it all wrong.
Faith is not a particular substance, the more of which the disciples have, the more they can accomplish.
It is not a gift of magic that can be manipulated at will.
Rather, faith is confidence that we can do what God calls us to do — it is “taking God at his word.” Therefore, the disciples should not place confidence in what they have but have confidence that if God calls them to do something, they can do it in his strength. (NIV Study Companion)
A Diminishing Faith
Satan is a roaring lion. He wants to destroy your faith (our belief in who God and Jesus are). The righteous will live by faith. We are kept by faith, we are saved by faith...
Satan is interested in deminishing your faith - in destracting you - usually a subtle erosion of trust and faith. You can live without even noticing this erosion. Our faith gets eroded, whittled down, ...
Like a weakened immune system, you pick up all the little bugs that are going around and you fall to everything.
Living by Faith:
The righteous shall live by faith. How are you living - by whits, by fear, by your own strength, by others... If your faith has been eroded, you might not have much to go on.
Heb 10:39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Is yours a vibrant, growing faith... Are you able to embrace God’s Authority?
Satan is a roaring lion. He wants to destroy your faith (our belief in who God and Jesus are). The righteous will live by faith. We are kept by faith, we are saved by faith...
Satan is interested in deminishing your faith - in destracting you - usually a subtle erosion of trust and faith. You can live without even noticing this erosion. Our faith gets eroded, whittled down, ...
Like a weakened immune system, you pick up all the little bugs that are going around and you fall to everything.
Living by Faith:
The righteous shall live by faith. How are you living - by whits, by fear, by your own strength, by others... If your faith has been eroded, you might not have much to go on.
Heb 10:39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Is yours a vibrant, growing faith... Are you able to embrace God’s Authority?
Let’s Talk about Moving Mountains:
Moving a mountain is proverbial in Jewish literature for doing what is virtually impossible (Isa. 40:4; 49:11; 54:10; b. Sanh. 24a; cf. Matt. 21:21 - 22). Faith simply means that if God calls a person to do something, it will be accomplished through his power and the person’s obedience. Even the most absurd things from the world’s point of view can be accomplished if God calls us to do it.
Therefore, we should not place confidence in what we have, but rather have confidence that if God calls us to do something, we can do it in his strength.
Jesus’ point is that anyone with any amount of faith can do the most unthinkable things if that is what God has called him or her to do.
Moving a mountain is proverbial in Jewish literature for doing what is virtually impossible (Isa. 40:4; 49:11; 54:10; b. Sanh. 24a; cf. Matt. 21:21 - 22). Faith simply means that if God calls a person to do something, it will be accomplished through his power and the person’s obedience. Even the most absurd things from the world’s point of view can be accomplished if God calls us to do it.
Therefore, we should not place confidence in what we have, but rather have confidence that if God calls us to do something, we can do it in his strength.
Jesus’ point is that anyone with any amount of faith can do the most unthinkable things if that is what God has called him or her to do.
Brother Andrew,
In 1955, a young Dutch missionary went to a Communist youth congress in Poland, at that time a part of the Soviet bloc. But he wasn’t a communist: he was a Christian. His suitcase contained his Bible, a change of clothes and hundreds of tracts entitled The Way of Salvation, which he intended to give away.
The trip was to change his life. Behind the Iron Curtain, he discovered churches desperately in need of Bibles, support and prayer. Above all, he found a group of Christians who felt isolated and alone and who thought the rest of the world had forgotten them.
One evening during that first visit, he went to a Baptist church in Warsaw where he was invited to speak. He tells the story, "At the end of my little talk the pastor said the most interesting thing of all, 'We want to thank you,' he said, 'for being here. Even if you had not said a word, just seeing you would have meant so much. We feel at times as if we are all alone in our struggle."
At the end of the trip, watching many thousands of delegates to the Socialist Youth Congress marching in a parade with their red scarfs, Brother Andrew prayed about what God wanted him to do. He opened his Bible and found the passage which he came to see as a mission: "Wake Up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die." Revelation 3:2
In the book, God's Smuggler, he details dangerous border crossings in his blue VW Beetle. He developed a trademark prayer to say as he snuck Bibles and Christian literature across the border:
“Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.”
1981 – Project Perl – 1M Bibles in China
In 1955, a young Dutch missionary went to a Communist youth congress in Poland, at that time a part of the Soviet bloc. But he wasn’t a communist: he was a Christian. His suitcase contained his Bible, a change of clothes and hundreds of tracts entitled The Way of Salvation, which he intended to give away.
The trip was to change his life. Behind the Iron Curtain, he discovered churches desperately in need of Bibles, support and prayer. Above all, he found a group of Christians who felt isolated and alone and who thought the rest of the world had forgotten them.
One evening during that first visit, he went to a Baptist church in Warsaw where he was invited to speak. He tells the story, "At the end of my little talk the pastor said the most interesting thing of all, 'We want to thank you,' he said, 'for being here. Even if you had not said a word, just seeing you would have meant so much. We feel at times as if we are all alone in our struggle."
At the end of the trip, watching many thousands of delegates to the Socialist Youth Congress marching in a parade with their red scarfs, Brother Andrew prayed about what God wanted him to do. He opened his Bible and found the passage which he came to see as a mission: "Wake Up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die." Revelation 3:2
In the book, God's Smuggler, he details dangerous border crossings in his blue VW Beetle. He developed a trademark prayer to say as he snuck Bibles and Christian literature across the border:
“Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.”
1981 – Project Perl – 1M Bibles in China
Growing your faith:
There's nothing new here - don't expect to be wow'd – how do we grow our Faith (Spiritual Health)
The Word
Prayer
Fellowship/Encouragement/Accountability
Obedience / ministry
There's nothing new here - don't expect to be wow'd – how do we grow our Faith (Spiritual Health)
The Word
Prayer
Fellowship/Encouragement/Accountability
Obedience / ministry