[0:00] It's taking the Lord's blessing. Let us turn back to the portion that we read together in the Gospel of Mark and chapter 9 and we'll read verse 24.
[0:16] And straightway the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.
[0:30] Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. Last week we looked at the Mount of Transfiguration and the response of the disciples.
[0:45] The Transfiguration took place at night and in the morning Jesus and the disciples are on their way down from the mountain. And Jesus instructs them.
[0:56] For we read, as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen till the Son of Man were risen from the dead.
[1:09] And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. But then they bring a question to Jesus and the question had to do with Elijah.
[1:24] They asked him, what say the scribes that Elias must come first? Now, the scribes were a people who knew their scriptures and they knew that the scriptures contained a prophecy that before the Messiah comes on the day of the Lord, that Elijah must come first.
[1:45] We have that prophecy in Malachi chapter 4 and verse 5, where it reads, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
[1:59] And Jesus answers them directly. He says, Elias verily cometh first and restoreth all things.
[2:10] And how it is written of the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be set at naught. But I say unto you that Elias is indeed come and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed as it is written of him.
[2:24] Now, in the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that the disciples understood the answer that the Lord gave, that they understood that he spoke there of John the Baptist.
[2:41] And as they reached the other disciples that was left at the bottom of the mount, as we know it was just Peter, James and John, that was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, the other disciples who were left at the foot of the mount.
[2:56] And as they reached them, a whole multitude of people had gathered. And among them were scribes. And they were asking questions, presumably of the nine disciples that Jesus had left at the bottom of the mountain.
[3:13] And as we go along in the narrative and we become aware of the situation that Jesus and the other three disciples entered into, I think we can safely conclude that the questions that the describes were asking the disciples were questions around their failure to cure the demon-possessed boy.
[3:40] However, when they saw Jesus, we are told that they were greatly amazed and running to him, saluted him.
[3:51] And Jesus asked the scribes, what question ye with them? And a man from the crowd came and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit.
[4:04] And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him, and he formeth and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away. After that glorious event of the mount, they have now descended into the valley.
[4:23] And immediately they are encountered with a very difficult situation. If the event of the mountain was glorious and so desirable, now they are confronted with the effects and the consequences of sin and misery.
[4:44] On the mountain, they had witnessed a glimpse, they had received a glimpse of the glory that belongs to Jesus. They had seen Elijah and Moses speaking to Jesus about his exodus.
[4:57] They had seen and heard the voice of the Father from heaven. And now in the valley, they are confronted with a desperate father and his demon-possessed son.
[5:11] It is a reminder, is it not, to us of how quickly our circumstances can change. Now this whole narrative about the Father and his son and the failure of the disciples is really a lesson for us on faith and prayer.
[5:35] Another point perhaps that we should remember is that this is more than just a physical ailment like leprosy or a fever.
[5:50] There is a spiritual dimension to this boy's dilemma. The boy is demon-possessed. And it is interesting how often we come across that demonic activity in the days of Christ.
[6:10] And I think there must be some significance to that. That we often come across this kind of activity in the day of Christ, in the day of the Messiah.
[6:26] This father was desperate for help. And so he brings his afflicted son to Jesus. There was no better place really for him to bring his son than to bring him to Jesus.
[6:44] What value we should put upon those who brings us to Jesus. Perhaps this evening you are concerned or perhaps you are so much taken up with a wayward son or a wayward daughter.
[7:00] But where do you bring them? In your desperation? In your hopelessness? And in your worry? Well the best place to bring them is to bring them to Jesus.
[7:13] Jesus. This father was conscious that he was unable to give his son the one thing that his son desperately needed.
[7:26] He was unable to give his son the healing that the son so desperately needed. I am sure that this father would give anything to his son.
[7:38] But the one thing that his son stood in such desperate need of. He was unable to give it.
[7:49] The father had a felt need. And he knew that he didn't have the ability in himself to meet that need.
[7:59] In his helplessness he came to Jesus. Why he came to Jesus we are not told.
[8:10] But I think we can assume that he must have heard about Jesus until he cured others. How this is a lesson for us.
[8:25] Especially to parents who I am sure would give to their sons and to their daughters everything in life. Whatever they desire you give to them.
[8:42] But there is one thing that they most desperately need. And that is salvation. And you can give them all that the world offers.
[8:54] But there is one thing that you can't give them that they need to offer. And that is salvation. And only Christ can give them salvation. And that is the reason why it is important.
[9:06] That you bring your family. That you bring your family. Your sons and your daughters. To Jesus Christ. That you keep your baptismal vows.
[9:19] That you raise them up. In the nurture and in the knowledge of God. That you bring them to the gospel. That you bring them to the preaching of the word.
[9:30] That you bring them to Jesus. Because it is only Jesus that can give them that one thing. That they so desperately need.
[9:43] And that is the salvation of their soul. You know it is an awful thought.
[9:54] That on that appointed day. At the judgment seat of Christ. How many will say. I was never told. I was given.
[10:06] What the world offers. I was given every pleasure. And everything that the world could offer me. But I never heard about Jesus. I was never.
[10:19] I was never told. About Jesus. I was never encouraged. To come to church. I was never encouraged. To open the Bible. I was never encouraged to talk.
[10:32] About Jesus. How many mother and father. Will be condemned. That day. Have you ever.
[10:43] yourself felt the need. To come. To Jesus. The one thing. Needful for man. Is salvation. To be saved.
[10:54] And we are unable. To save. Ourselves. Never mind. Anyone else. Psalm 49. Reminds us. None. Of them. Can by any means.
[11:06] Redeem his brother. Nor give to God. A ransom. For him. Where will you go. Well.
[11:16] Christian friend. As we look around us. There are. So many people. Tonight. Who are dying. In their sin. Where. Do you take them.
[11:27] Where. Will I take them. Well. This boy. Would come. To be so thankful. To his father. That he brought him. To Jesus.
[11:39] There are many. A person. Who today. Is thankful. That they were brought. To Jesus. That they were brought. To Jesus. In their attendance. Upon the preaching.
[11:50] Of the word. That they were brought. To Jesus. In the prayers. Of their fathers. And their mothers. That they were brought. To Jesus. In their younger days. Under the preaching.
[12:01] Of the word. However. This man came. And he is seeking help. For his son. And he comes.
[12:12] To the disciples. And all he found. Was disappointment. He says. I spoke. To thy disciples.
[12:24] That they should cast him out. And they could not. Now this may seem strange. To us. Because. In chapter 3. 15. We read. That Jesus.
[12:34] Had given the disciples. Power and authority. Over all demons. And to cure diseases. But here they are. And they fail. Although they had done.
[12:45] This kind. Of thing. Before. On this occasion. They fail. And I hope. Before we come. To the end. Of our sermon. Tonight. That we'll have.
[12:57] That we'll know. Why they failed. And the lessons. That that has. For me and you. Because. Later on. When the disciples.
[13:08] Asked Jesus. Why could not we. Cast him out. Jesus replied. This kind. Can come forth. By nothing. But by prayer. And fasting. If that seems.
[13:20] To indicate. That there was. Something lacking. With the disciples. At this point. And as we go on. I say. We hope. That we shall discover.
[13:30] What was lacking. But maybe. This is a picture. Of yourself. Tonight. You have come. To church. Among. God's people.
[13:41] With. Your problem. Of sin. And. In your. Heartlessness. And. Powerlessness. You are seeking. Help. But instead.
[13:51] Of finding. Help. Maybe. You are. Disappointed. Maybe. Perhaps. You are. Discouraged. But there is.
[14:03] One thing. In favour. Of this man. And that is. Although the disciples. Only gave him. Disappointment. And a setback. He.
[14:13] Perseveres. He. Continues. To seek. Help. Yes. He came. To the disciples. They couldn't. Help him. He was.
[14:24] Disappointed. But he perseveres. He keeps on. Seeking. Help. He doesn't. Turn away. Because. Of the failure. Of the disciples.
[14:36] But he is. Persistent. And. He meets. With his. Reward. Because. He meets. Up. With Jesus.
[14:49] How often. People. Make. The. The failure. Of. God's. People. Are. An excuse. For.
[15:00] Turning away. From. Salvation. We so often. Meet people. Who have. Turned away. From church. Who's.
[15:13] No longer. Attending church. And when we. Ask them. Why. Very often. They'll. Pick up. On. The failure. And the defects. Of God's people.
[15:25] But. Remember. The church. Is. Unhaving you. Not. The cure. The disciples.
[15:37] Was. Unhaving you. Not. The cure. Because. This man. Was. Putting. All his. Faith. In. The wrong. Place. He was. Putting.
[15:47] All his. Faith. In. The disciples. Willes. And. You must. Be. Watchful. That. You are. Not. Putting. Your. Faith. In.
[15:58] The church. For. It is. Not. The church. That. Saves. But. Jesus. Christ. The church. Is.
[16:08] Is. Only. An. Avenue. That. Leads. To. The cure. Make. Sure. That. You are. Not. Putting. Your. Faith. In. The prayers. Of.
[16:18] Your. Mother. Or. Your. Father. Or. Your. Grandparents. Or. In. The fact. That. You. Were. Baptized. All. These.
[16:28] Things. Are. Just. Avenues. Not. The cure. Our. Faith. Must. Be. In. Christ. Alone.
[16:41] The church. Is. An. Avenue. That. Leads. Us. To. Christ. In. Coming. To. The disciples. He. Was. Led. To. Christ.
[16:52] Who. Alone. Could. Cure. His. Son. The. Father. Brings. His. Son. To. Jesus. And.
[17:03] Matthew. Records. For. Us. That. This. Man. Nelt. Down. Before. Jesus. He. Came. And. He. Went. Into. That. Posture. Of.
[17:13] Worship. Before. Jesus. And. He. Says. To. Jesus. Master. I. Have. Brought. Into. The. My. Son. Which.
[17:23] Have. A. Dumb. Spirit. And. Wheresoever. He. Taketh. Him. He. Teareth. Him. And. He. Foameth. And. Gnasheth. With. His. Teeth. And. Pineth. Away. And. I.
[17:33] Speak. To. Thy. Disciples. That. They. Should. Cast. Him. Out. And. They. Could. Not. And. Jesus. Answered. The. Boy's. Father. And.
[17:45] He. Said. All. Faithless. Generation. How. Long. Shall. I. Be. With. You. How. Long. Shall.
[17:55] I. Suffer. You. When. Jesus. Said. These. Words. You. Know. He. Is. Referring. To. The. Whole. Crowd. He.
[18:07] Was. Speaking. About. The. Disciples. As. Much. As. Anyone. Else. He. Is. Speaking. Of. The. Whole. Crowd. The. Scribes. And. The. Disciples. And.
[18:17] This. Man. Himself. It. Is. Remarkable. That. Jesus. In his. Answer. To. This. Man. That.
[18:29] He. Is. Pointing. As. It. Were. And. Saying. Your. Son. Is. Not. The. Main. Problem. Here. Today. The.
[18:40] Main. Problem. Here. Today. Is. With. You. Your. Your. Lack. Of. Faith. The.
[18:51] Problem. Wasn't. That. The. Disciples. Had. Lost. Their. Power. Or. That. They. Were. Using. Their. Own. Technique. For. Casting. Out. Evil. Spirits. Their. Their. Their. Their. Their. Their.
[19:02] Lack. Of. Faith. The. Bible. Always. Encourages. Us. To. Examine. Ourselves.
[19:15] Maybe. It's. Your. Lack. Of. Faith. That. Is. The. Greatest. Problem. In. Your. Life. Tonight. You.
[19:26] May. Be. Thinking. It's. This. Or. It's. That. But. Maybe. And. Every. Possible. Way. That. It. Is. Your. Lack.
[19:36] Of. Faith. That's. Your. Problem. Tonight. Maybe. It's. A. Lack. Of. Faith. Among. God's. People. Tonight. That. Leaves. Us. Seeing. So. Little. Or.
[19:46] Any. Spiritual. Growth. Either. In. Our. Own. Life. Or. In. The. Life. Of. Our. Congregation. In. The. Life. Of. Our. Church. Our.
[19:59] Lack. Of. Faith. Our. Lack. Of. Prayer. Our. Lack. Of. Fasting. How. Do. I. Stand.
[20:09] Before. God. Tonight. Jesus. Is. Saying. To. This. Man. The. Foremost. Problem. Is. Not. Your. Son. But. You. Are. Standing.
[20:20] Before. Me. For. I. Include. You. In. This. Faithless. Generation. He. Is. Saying. To. This. Man.
[20:31] You. Have. To. Confront. Your. Own. Problem. First. Your. Un. Belief. Your. Lack. Of.
[20:42] Faith. The. Way. That. Jesus. Answered. The. Boy. Father. Does. Indicate. That. He. Was. Solely. Grieved.
[20:52] Within. Himself. At. The. Unbelief. Of. The. Whole. Crowd. How. Long. Shall. I. Be.
[21:02] With. You. How. Long. Shall. I. Suffer. You. Our. Unbelief. And.
[21:13] Our. Lack. Of. Faith. Grieves. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. You. Know. What. We.
[21:23] Like. The. Disciples. Too. Often. Try. To. Serve. The. Lord. With. Our. Own. Strength. Instead. Of. Trusting. In. Him. We.
[21:34] Need. This. Faith. In. Our. Struggle. Against. Temptation. For. We. Cannot. Manage. Our. Own. Sin. By. Our. Our.selves. Paul. Exhausts.
[21:44] Us. For. If. We. Live. After. The. Flesh. Ye. Shall. Die. But. If. Ye. Through. The. Spirit. Do. Mortify. The. Needs. The. Deeds. Of. The. Body. Ye. Shall. Live. We. Cannot.
[21:54] Do. It. On. Our. Own. We. Need. The. Help. Of. The. Spirit. To. Mortify. The. Deeds. Of. The. Body. The.
[22:05] Same. In. Our. Ministry. Our. Evangelism. In. Our. Witness. To. Others. We. Need. This. Faith. We. Need. This. Trust. In.
[22:15] Our. Ongoing. Struggle. Against. The. Wiles. Of. The. Devil. In. Our. Daily. Battle. With. Indwelling. Sin. And. If. We. Are. Going. To. See. Spiritual.
[22:26] Growth. In. Our. Own. Personal. Life. As. Well. As. In. The. Life. Of. Our. Congregation. And. The. Life. Of. Our. Church. It. Shall. Only. Come. As. We. Trust. In.
[22:36] God. Through. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. For. Without. Him. We. Can. Do. Nothing. We.
[22:47] Can. Have. All. The. Means. We. Can. Have. All. The. Activities. We. Can. Have. All. The. Preaching. All. Sound. Preaching. Yet.
[22:59] It. Has. To. Be. Accompanied. With. Prayer. We. Have. To. Acknowledge. Our. Dependency. Upon. The. Holy. Spirit. To.
[23:10] Bless. The. Preaching. To. Bless. Our. Activities. We. Must. Seek. The. Help. Of. The. Holy. Spirit. And. Trust.
[23:21] In. God. That. He. Will. Bless. After. All. The. Disappointments. And. Discouragements. Jesus.
[23:31] Gives. This. Father. Some. Hope. For. He. Said. To. The. Father. Bring. Him. Unto. Me. Maybe.
[23:43] This. Evening. You. Are. Asking. Well. Is. Is. The. The. Lord. Willing. To. Have. Me. Is. He. Willing. To. Deal. With.
[23:53] My. Case. The. Lord. Has. Just. Rebuked. This. Man. With. The. Crowd. For. His. Lack. Of. Faith. And. Now. He. Says. To. Him. Bring. Him. Unto.
[24:05] Me. The. Problem. Is. Not. The. Lord's. Willing. Is. The. Problem. Is. Always. Are. We. Willing. To. Come. To.
[24:16] Jesus. The. Problem. Is. Always. A. Problem. Of. Our. Will. Not. Of. The. Lord's. Will. But. Of. Our. Will. Jesus. Says. Come.
[24:26] Unto. Me. Or. Ye. That. Labour. And. Are. Heavy. Laden. And. I. Will. Give. You. Rest. Jesus. Says. Him. That. Come. Unto. Me. I. Will. No.
[24:37] Wise. Cast. Out. The. Unwillingness. Is. Not. On. The. Part. Of. Jesus. To. Accept. You. The. Unwillingness.
[24:47] Is. On. Your. Part. Because. You. Are. Not. Willing. To. Come. To. Him. This.
[24:59] Father. Received. Encouragement. Jesus. Says. Bring. Him. Unto. Me. And.
[25:10] Although. This. Was. A. Great. Encouragement. It. Is. Followed. By. Discouragement. For. We. Read. That. As. He. Brought. The. Boy. To. Jesus. When. He. Saw. Him. Straightway.
[25:21] The. Spirit. Tear. Him. And. He. Fell. On. The. Ground. And. Walloped. Foaming. What. Was. Happening. We. Have. Here.
[25:31] The. Devil's. Last. Desperate. Attempt. To. Keep. This. Boy. Away. From. Jesus. You see.
[25:42] Satan. Never. Gives up. Any. Of. His. Victims. Without. A. Fight. And. Often. It. Is. Right. Before. Someone. Comes. To. Jesus. Whether. Literally. Or. Spiritually.
[25:52] That. Satan. Makes. His. Most. Violent. Assault. When. A. Soul. Shows. Any. Movement.
[26:03] Towards. Jesus. Be. Assured. Satan. Will. Be. There. He. Is. Going. To. Try. And. Make. Things. As. Difficult.
[26:14] As. He. Can. When. He. Sees. A. Sinner. Now. Interested. In. The. Things. Of. God. When. He. Sees. A. Sinner. Now. Reading. The. Bible.
[26:24] When. He. Sees. A. Sinner. Now. Making. Use. Of. The. Means. Worship. When. He. Sees.
[26:34] A. Sinner. Praying. To. God. When. He. Sees. Someone. Starting. Moving. Towards. Jesus. He. Is.
[26:45] There. So. Don't. Be. Surprised. At. The. Struggle. In. All. This. There. Is. A. Struggle. Jesus.
[26:56] Says. To. Us. Strive. To. Enter. In. At. The. Straight. Gate. When. Anyone. Moves. Towards. Jesus.
[27:08] Satan. Will. Put. Every. Obstacle. And. Every. Stumbling. Block. And. Every. Hindrance. In. The. Way. To. Keep. That. Person.
[27:19] From. Coming. To. Jesus. In. Pilgrim's. Progress. John. Bunyan. Relates. To. Us. That. When. Christian.
[27:30] Was. Stepping. In. At. The. Wicked. Gate. That. Goodwill. Gave. Him. A. Pool. Then. Said. Christian. What. Means. That. And. Goodwill. Told. Him.
[27:41] A. Little. Distance. From. This. Gate. There. Is. Erected. A. Strong. Castle. Of. Which. Bethel. Is. The. Captain. And. From. Hence. Both.
[27:51] He. And. Them. That. Are. With. Him. Shoot. Arrows. At. Those. That. Come. Up. To. This. Gate. If. They. May. Die. Before. They. Enter. In. Then. Said. Christian. I.
[28:01] Rejoice. And. Tremble. You. See. At. The. Gate. Christian. Learns. That. Seeking. After. Christ. Means. Drawing.
[28:11] The. Attention. Of. The. Enemy. Of. Christ. Satan. Goodwill. Wants. Christian. Of. The. Arrow. Shot. At. Those. Who.
[28:22] Would. Heat. The. Call. Of. The. Gospel. And. Satan. Would. Like. Nothing. Better. Than. To. Kill. Those. In. Whom. The. Holy. Spirit. Is. At. Work. He. And.
[28:32] His. Demons. Watch. And. Target. Those. Who. Are. Thrown. To. Christ. And. Who. Come. Knocking. At. The. Gate. And. That. Is. A. Thought. That.
[28:44] The. Devil. And. His. Demons. Watch. They. Know. You. Better. Than. You. Think. If. There's. A. Little.
[28:54] Movement. Tonight. Tells. Jesus. If. There's. A. Little. Desire. In. Your. Heart. Tonight. Tells. Jesus. Tells. The. Salvation. Well.
[29:05] I. Don't. Know. What's. In. Your. Heart. Tonight. I. Don't. Know. If. There's. A. Desire. In. Your. Heart. Tonight. To. Come. To. Jesus. If. There's. A. Desire. In. Your. Heart. To. Come.
[29:15] And. Seek. That. Salvation. But. I. Tell. You. The. Devil. Knows. He. Knows. The. Church. Isn't. Aware. Of. It. But. He. Not. He. Knows. And.
[29:26] The. Thing. Is. This. That. If. There. Is. A. Movement. You. Are. His. Target. And. Don't. Doubt. That. You. Are. His. Target. And.
[29:37] He. Will. Do. His. Outmost. To. Bring. Obstacles. He. Will. Do. His. Outmost. To. Bring. Strumbling. Blocks. He. Will. Show. You.
[29:47] All. The. Failings. And. The. Defects. Of. The. Christian. Church. Of. Individuals. In. Order. To. Stop. You. From. Coming.
[29:57] To. Jesus. Is. That. Your. Position. Tonight. Well. See. As. Virgin. Says. But. Bunyan.
[30:08] Alludes. To. The. Fact. That. When. Souls. Are. Just. Upon. The. Verge. Of. Salvation. They. Are. Usually. Assailed. By. The. Most. Violent. Temptations. They.
[30:18] Are. Seeking. The. Saviour. They. Have. Begun. To. Pray. They. Are. Anxious. To. Believe. On. The. Lord. Before.
[30:31] Then. Spurgeon. Goes. On. To. Describe. Some. Of. The. Arrows. Which. Are. Short. At. Those. Who. Are. Seeking. Christ. He. Mentions. The. Fiery. Art. Dart.
[30:41] Of. The. Remembrance. Of. Sins. The. Devil. Brings. Up. All. The. Bad. Things.
[30:52] In. Your. Life. Maybe. The. Sins. That. You. Committed. In. Your. Earlier. Years. May. Be. The. Way. That. You. Led. Others. To.
[31:02] Sin. He. Brings. All. These. Nasty. Things. Up. There. Is. A. Resurrection. Of. All. Sins. And.
[31:12] He. Says. Is. It. Possible. That. Such. Sins. As. Yours. Can. Be. Blotted. Out. Well.
[31:24] The. Promises. That. If. We. Confess. Our. Sins. That. He. Is. Faithful. And. Just. To. Forgive. Us. Our. Sins. And.
[31:34] To. Cleanse. Us. From. All. Unrighteousness. That's. His. Promise. Us. Then. This. The. The. Fiery. Yard. Of. It's.
[31:44] Too. Late. For. You. To. Be. Saved. You. Have. Heard. Many. Gospel. Invitations. There. Was. A. Time. In. Your. Life. When. You. Were. Almost. Persuaded.
[31:56] But. You. Halted. Between. Two. Opinions. And. Now. It's. Too. Late. Now. You. Are. Past. Hope. But. The. And.
[32:11] Believe. In. Jesus. Christ. You. Shall. Be. Forgiven. That's. The. Promise. Jesus.
[32:23] Asked. His. Father. Here. This. Father. Here. How. Long. Is. It. Ago. Since. This. Came. To. Him. And. He. Said. Of. A. Child. And. Often. Times. It. Hath. Cast.
[32:34] Him. Into. The. Fire. And. Into. The. Waters. To. Destroy. Him. Jesus. Asked.
[32:45] How. Long. Is. Jesus. Asking. You. Tonight. How. Long. How. Long. Have. You. Been. Without. Christ.
[32:57] How. Long. Have. You. Been. Without. Salvation. How. Long. Have. You. Been. Going. On. In. Sin. How. Long. Have. You. Been. Refusing. Christ.
[33:10] I. Think. That. Jesus. Here. Is. Presenting. To. The. Father. The. Difficulty. Of. The. Situation. This. Is. Not. A. Reasoned.
[33:20] Problem. He. Has. Been. Like. This. Since. He. Was. A. Child. Likewise. The. Problem. Of. Sin. In. Your. Life. And.
[33:31] In. My. Life. Is. Not. A. Reasoned. Problem. This. Is. The. Way. That. David. Puts. It. Behold.
[33:41] I. Was. Shapen. In. Iniquity. And. In. Sin. Did. My. Mother. Conceive. Me. We. Must. Realize. That. The. Problem.
[33:51] Of. Sin. Is. Deep. Rooted. Because. Here. Jesus. Is. Not. Merely. Interested. In. The. Case. History. Of. This. Boy.
[34:02] But. He. Is. Working. The. Father. And. He. Is. Bringing. The. Father. To. The. Point. Of. Confessing. How. Great. His. Need. Is. He's.
[34:12] Been. Like. This. Since. He was. Been. A. Child. And. He's. Bringing. The. Father. To. Realize. That. There. Is. No. Other. Resource. Of. Help. For. Him. But. Jesus.
[34:24] Alone. And. My. Friend. Jesus. Through. His. Word. Brings. Me. And. You. To. That. Point. Where.
[34:36] We. Must. Confess. How. Great. Our. Need. Is. We. Were. Shapened. In. Iniquity. And. Sin. Did. Our. Mothers. Conceived. From. The. Moment. Of. Our. Conception.
[34:47] We. Were. Sinners. We. Were. Born. Into. The. World. As. Sinners. And. Tonight. We. Are. Sinners. And.
[34:59] There's. No. Other. Resource. That. Can. Help. Us. But. Jesus. Alone. Our. Sin. Deserves. God's.
[35:10] Wrath. And. Curse. We. Are. Destined. For. Hell. And. There. Is. No. Resource.
[35:21] In. The. World. That. Can. Help. Us. But. Jesus. Alone. And. The. Father. Said.
[35:31] But. If. Can't. Do. Anything. Have. Compassion. On. Our. Son. Help. Us. The. Father. Has. Come. To. Realize. His. Own. Helplessness. In.
[35:41] The. Situation. And. He. Was. Probably. Shaken. At. The. Failure. Of. The. Disciples. For. At. Least. When. He. Came. To. Them. He. Entertained. Some. Hope. But. They.
[35:51] Had. Failed. And. Now. He. Comes. To. Jesus. Oh. Maybe. The. Church. Has. Failed. You. But. Be. Like. This. Man.
[36:02] He. Persevered. Because. The. Church. Was. Not. The. Cure. The. Church. Is. Not. The. Cure. But. Jesus. Alone. Notice.
[36:14] That. Despite. All. The. Disappointments. But. Despite. All. The. Disappointments. He. Keeps. Going. If. Thou. Canst. Do. Anything. Have. Compassion.
[36:25] On. Us. And. Help. Us. It. Is. Interesting. That. Now. In. This. Appeal. To. Jesus. It. Is. Not. Just. An. Appeal. For. A. Cure. For. A. Son. But. He.
[36:35] Includes. Himself. Have. Compassion. On. Us. On. Me. And. My. Son. And. Help. Me. And. My. Son. Help. Us. The.
[36:47] Father. Has. Come. To. Realize. Not. Only. Does. The. Son. Need. The. Compassion. And. Help. Of. Jesus. But. He. Needs. The. Compassion. And. Help. Of. Jesus. Himself. There.
[36:58] Is. No. Doubt. That. He. Must. Have. With. You. How. Long. Shall. I. Suffer. You. He. Became.
[37:09] Aware. Of. His. Need. Of. Faith. Are. You. Aware. Tonight. Of. Your. Need. Of. Faith. The. Father. Said.
[37:19] If. Thou. Can't. Do. Anything. He. Had. Come. To. Jesus. For. Compassion. And. Help. And. Get. We. Can. Detect. Those. Elements. Of. Doubt. If.
[37:31] Thou. Can't. Do. Anything. Here. He. Is. As it were. Putting. A. Question. Upon. The. Power. Of. Jesus. However.
[37:41] Do. We. Do. The. Same. Thing. We. Come. To. Jesus. With. Our. Ifs. However. Do. We. Question. The. Williness. Of. Jesus.
[37:52] To. Forgive. Us. Our. Sin. The. Williness. Of. Jesus. To. Accept. Us. The. Problem. As. I've. Already. Said. Is. Not. On. The. Part. Of. Jesus. But. On. Our. Part.
[38:03] Our. Unbelief. So. We. See. That. In. This. Appeal. There. Is. Much. Good. He. Has. Come. To. Jesus. He. Has. Acknowledged. His. Own. Headlessness. His. Need. Of. Compassion.
[38:13] And. Help. And. Yet. It. Is. Utter. With. An. Element. Of. Unbelief. Questioning. Of. The. Power. Of. Jesus. To.
[38:24] Help. But. Jesus. Turns. The. Question. Of. The. Father. Around. Jesus. Said. To. Him. If.
[38:34] Thou. Can't. Believe. All. Things. Are. Possible. To. Him. That. Believeth. We. Have. Already. Noted. That.
[38:44] Jesus. Spoke. Of. The. People. As. A. Faithless. Generation. But. Now. He. Speaks. To. The. Father. It. Is. More. Personal. And. He. Confronts. The. Father. With. His.
[38:54] Lack. Of. Faith. The. Issue. Is. Not. Whether. I. Can. Act. The. Issue. Is. Whether. You. Can. Believe. You. If.
[39:05] Is. In. The. Wrong. Place. He. Says. To. The. Father. It. Is. Not. If. I. Can. Can. But. If. You. Can. Believe. The. Issue. Here. Is. Not.
[39:16] Jesus. Ability. But. The. Father. Capacity. To. Trust. In. The. Ability. Of. Jesus. Tonight.
[39:26] The. Problem. Of. Your. Salvation. Is. Not. If. Jesus. Is. Willing. To. Harm. You. If. He. Is. Willing. To. Accept. You. If. He. Has. The. Power. To. Forgive. Your. Sins.
[39:38] The. If. Is. On. Your. Side. Are. You. Will. To. Believe. The. Call. Of. The. Gospel. Is. Always. A. Call. To. Repentance. And. It.
[39:52] Is. Always. A. Call. To. Repentance. And. Trust. What. Is. Faith. You. Ask. You. May. Be. Here. And. You. Say. Well. My. Difficulty.
[40:02] Is. What. Is. Faith. Well. Faith. This. Faith. Yet. What. We. Are. Called. Unto. Faith.
[40:14] Is. A. Casting. A. Way. Of. Our. Own. Self. Reliance. And. Exercise. Complete. Trust. In.
[40:25] Jesus. Christ. For. Salvation. Faith. Is. A. Coming. To. An. End. Of. Our. Selves. And. Our. Reliance. Upon.
[40:36] Our. Own. Works. It. Is. A. Person. Coming. In. His. Own. Emptiness. Nothing. In. Their. Hand. They. Can. Bring. And.
[40:47] Casting. Themselves. Upon. A. Crucified. Christ. Simply. To. Thy. Cross. I. Clean. Faith.
[40:58] Is. A. Casting. Ourselves. Completely. Totally. Upon. The. Mercy. Of. God. Alone. If. Thou.
[41:08] Canst. Believe. All. Things. Are. Possible. To. Him. That. Believeth. The. Question. Jesus. Says. Is. Not.
[41:19] Am. I. Willing. The. Question. Rather. Is. Are. You. Willing. To. Believe. And. Straight. With. The. Father. Of. The. Child. Cried. Out.
[41:30] And. Said. With. Tears. Lord. I. Believe. Help. Thou. With. Mine. Unbelief.
[41:44] This. Is. Not. A. Statement. Of. Great. Faith. But. It. Is. A. Statement. Of. Faith. It. Is. A. Reminder. To. Us. That. When. A. Person. Puts. Their. Trust. In.
[41:54] Christ. It. Is. Not. The. End. Of. The. Struggle. With. Unbelief. And. This. Might. Be. A. Shock. Because. Some. People. Have. This. Notion.
[42:05] That. The. Christian. Is. Never. Assailed. With. Unbelief. And. Doubt. In. This. Scripture. We. Have. The. Best. Known. Example. Of. Thomas. After. The. Resurrection.
[42:15] Of. Jesus. When. He. Doubted. That. Jesus. Had. risen. And. Jesus. Met. With. Thomas. And. Seized. Him. Richer. Thy. Finger. And. Behold.
[42:25] My. Hands. And. Richer. Thy. Hand. And. Thrust. It. Into. My. Side. Be. Not. Faithless. But. Believing. There's.
[42:37] A. Great. Difference. Between. The. Unbelief. Of. The. Unbeliever. And. The. Unbelief. That. Assails. The. Christian. And. The. Most. Notable. Difference.
[42:47] Is. Brought. Before. Us. Here. What. Does. The. Father. Do. With. His. Unbelief. He. Takes. It. To. The. Same. Place. As. He. Took. His.
[42:57] Son. He. Takes. His. Unbelief. To. Jesus. This. Is. Where. We. Have. To. Take. Our. Unbelief.
[43:08] This. Is. A. Place. To. Come. With. All. Our. Defeats. The. Unbelief. Of. The. Unbeliever. And.
[43:19] The. Unbelief. That. Assails. The. Christian. There. Is. That. Notable. Difference. Between. That. Because. The. Unbeliever. Will. Never. Take. His. Unbelief. To. Jesus. But.
[43:30] The. Believer. Will. Take. His. Unbelief. To. Jesus. Some. People. May. Be. Thinking. That. You. Must. Have. Strong. Faith. Before. You. Come. To. Christ. Well.
[43:40] It. Is. Right. For. Us. To. Seek. Strong. Faith. The. Disciples. Ask. Lord. Increase. Our. Faith. But. This. Father. Came. With. His. Weak. Faith.
[43:51] And. He. Said. Lord. I. Believe. Help. Thou. Mine. Unbelief. You. See. What's. Important. For. Me. And. You. To. Remember. That. It. Is. Not.
[44:02] The. Strength. Of. Our. Faith. That. Saves. Us. What. Saves. Is. The. Existence. Of. Our. Faith.
[44:13] Not. The. Strength. Of. Our. Faith. That. Saves. But. The. Existence. Of. Our. Faith. He. Says. To. Jesus.
[44:23] I. Believe. Now. You. Help. Me. With. My. Unbelief. When. He. Brings. His. Belief. It's. Assured. Evidence. Of. His.
[44:33] Faith. As. I. Said. The. Unbeliever. Wallows. In. His. Unbelief. But. The. Believer. Brings. It. To. Jesus. And.
[44:45] Even. With. His. With. His. Weak. Faith. And. Conscious. Of. The. Deficiency. That. Belonged. To. His. Faith. This. Father. Was. Not. Disappointed. When.
[44:57] Jesus. Saw. The. People. Came. Running. Together. He. Rebuked. The. Foul. Spirit. Saying. Unto. Him. Thou. Dumb. And. Death. Spirit. To.
[45:08] Him. And. The. Spirit. Cried. And. Rent. Him. Sore. And. Came. Out. Of. Him. And. He. Was. As. One. Dead. In. So. Much. That. Many. Said. He. Is. Dead. But. Jesus. Took. Him. By.
[45:18] The. Hand. And. Lifted. Him. Up. And. He. Arose. And. When. He. Was. Coming. To. The. House. His. Disciples. Is.
[45:38] Rebuking. The. Disciples. For. As. We. Have. Already. Noted. At. The. Beginning. Of. Our. Study. Here. This. Evening. He. Spoke. Of. The. People. As. A. Faithless. Generation. And.
[45:48] Then. He. Spoke. To. The. Father. Of. The. Boy. In. A. More. Personnel. Way. Confronting. Him. With. His. Lack. Of. Faith. And. Now. Again. He. Speaks. To. The. Disciple. Regarding.
[45:59] Their. Failure. To. Heal. The. Boy. And. He. Said. It. Was. All. Due. To. Your. Lack. Of. Faith. And. Prayer. Because. Prayer. Is.
[46:10] A. Demonstration. Of. Faith. Remember. How. The. Lord. Directed. Ananias. Regarding. Paul.
[46:20] Or. Saul. Ananias. Wanted. A. Sign. And. He. Was. Given. A. Sign. Regarding. Paul. Behold. He.
[46:31] Prayeth. You see. Prayer. Is. A. Demonstration. Of. Faith. And. That's. Important. For. Us. To.
[46:42] Remember. And. To. Examine. Ourselves. In. The. Light. Of. That. Prayer. Is. My. Prayer. Life. My. Prayer. Life. Will. Tell. Me. Where. My. Faith. Is.
[46:53] Because. Prayer. Is. A. Demonstration. Of. Faith. We. See. This. Connection. Between. Faith. And. Prayer. Especially. In. The. Gospel. Of. Matthew. And.
[47:03] His. Record. Of. This. Incident. That. We. Have. Been. Speaking. Of. Tonight. There. In. Matthew. We. Read. When. The. Disciples. Came. And. Said. Why. Could. Not. We. Cast.
[47:14] Him. Out. That. Jesus. Said. To. Them. Because. Smell.
[47:25] And. Remove. Hence. To. Yonder. Place. And. It. Shall. Remove. And. Nothing. Be. Impossible. Unto. You. How. Be. At. This. Kind. Goeth. Not. Out. But. By. Prayer. And. Fasting. Thus.
[47:36] We. Noted. At. The. Beginning. This. Whole. Narrative. About. The. Father. And. The. Son. And. The. Failure. Of. The. Disciples. It's. Really. A. Lesson. For. Us. On. Faith. And. Prayer.
[47:47] Where. Do. I. Stand. Where. Do. You. Stand. In. The. Light. Of. This. Incident. That. Took. Place. At. The. Foot. Of. The. Mount. The. Word. Of. God. Is. A. Living.
[47:57] Word. And. It. Is. Speaking. To. Me. And. To. You. Tonight. And. Here. Is. A. Great. Where.
[48:13] Do. We. Stand. Before. God. Our. Weakness. And. We noted. This. In the. Morning. And. I'll. Just. Mention.
[48:24] It. Our. Weakness. Is. Often. Due. To. Neglecting. The. Resources. That. God. Has. Given. To. Us. The.
[48:35] Resources. That. God. Has. Given. To. Us. And. Prayer. Is. A. Resource. That. God. Has. Given. To.
[48:45] Us. And. Where. There. Is. Faith. There. Ought. To. Be. Prayer. When.
[48:55] Faith. Is. Strong. There. Is. Prayer. When. We. Come. To. That. Place. Where. We. Understand.
[49:06] Our. Own. Weakness. Our. Insufficiency. When. We. Stop. Relying. On. Our. Own. Strength. And.
[49:17] We. Come. To. As it were. Throw. Ourselves. Upon. The. Mercy. Of. God. In. Jesus. Christ.
[49:29] That's. What. This. Father. Did. And. That's. What. You. Have. To. Do. If. You. Are. Going. To. Be. Cured. If. You. Are. Going. To.
[49:40] Receive. Salvation. It. Can. Only. Become. Your. Way. By. You. Giving. Yourself. Totally. To.
[49:52] Jesus. Christ. Committing. Yourself. To. Him. As. This. Father. Did. Lord. I.
[50:03] Believe. You. Held. Me. With. My. Unbelief. May the Lord bless us.