WEBVTT

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 Turn to the Gospel according to Mark chapter 9.

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 I will begin reading in verse 14.

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!

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 And he answered them,

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 Immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

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 And Jesus asked the father,

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 How long has this been happening to him?

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 And he said,

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 From childhood.

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 And it has often cast him into fire and into water to destroy him.

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 But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 If you can, all things are possible for one who believes.

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 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said,

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 I believe.

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 Help my unbelief.

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 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together,

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 he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it,

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 You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.

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 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly,

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 it came out, and the boy was like a corpse,

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 so that most of them said,

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 He is dead.

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 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up,

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 and he arose.

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 And when he had entered the house,

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 his disciples asked him privately,

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 Why could we not cast it out?

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 And he said to them,

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 This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.

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 This is God's word to us.

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 It was written for his glory and our good.

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 We would all do well to listen to it,

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 to believe its promises,

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 and obey its commands.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father God, we do praise you for this day,

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 and the opportunity to come together with the congregation,

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 those whom you have called your own,

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 and to learn from your word.

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 And I pray, Father,

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 that will be the very thing that happens this day,

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 that all of us will submit ourselves willfully to it,

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 that we'll be taught by you, our great teacher,

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 that you will expose the places of our heart,

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 that we harbor deep sin,

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 that we harbor faithlessness.

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 And Father, we pray that you will help our unbelief.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 We have come a few stories into now the second act of sorts,

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 kind of a three-act play that Mark writes for us.

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 So far through the first half of chapter 8,

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 we've gotten really his lengthy introduction

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 in which he presents to us story after story after story,

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 some teaching interspersed,

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 but primarily stories to say that Jesus is in fact the Son of God.

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 All of these punctuations of miracles that he performs.

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 And we've noted he kind of seems to speed us along.

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 There's a real hastening to the last half of chapter 8,

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 and chapter 9, and chapter 10.

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 And this is the second act,

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 and it's when he begins his journey toward Jerusalem.

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 We all know what's going to happen when he gets there.

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 The disciples now have been with Jesus for about two years.

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 There's about six more months coming,

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 and he's come to a time in his ministry

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 where he sets aside largely the public aspect of his ministry,

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 and he turns his attention fully to the apostles.

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 They have been with him all this time,

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 but yet they have so many lessons to learn.

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 They are getting it, but they don't quite get it.

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 And so there's a number of lessons that are going to begin happening here.

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 We first see a blind man healed at Bethsaida,

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 which is on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee.

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 Then they move to the area north of the Sea of Galilee,

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 known as Caesarea Philippi,

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 where Peter makes the bold proclamation that Jesus is the Christ.

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 And then there's the immediate rebuke following that,

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 as he does not understand how it is that Jesus intends

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 to usher the kingdom of God into place.

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 And the lesson taught here to the disciples

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 is the cost of discipleship.

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 We talked about that two weeks ago.

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 Then Jesus leads a small band with him,

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 Peter, James, and John,

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 up onto a mountain, likely Mount Hermon,

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 just north of Caesarea Philippi,

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 and the transfiguration happens.

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 Jesus comes in his glory.

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 He gives them a visible manifestation

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 of what the kingdom of God will look like.

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 And we see Moses and we see Elijah in fellowship with him there.

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 And the lesson he's teaching them there

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 is the surety of the coming kingdom.

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 This week we're going to see the necessity of faith.

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 And then in the coming weeks,

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 the excellence of service,

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 the seriousness of sin,

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 the nature of marriage,

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 the childlikeness of faith,

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 the difficulty of riches,

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 and the prominence of humility.

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 And all of this is capped off in Mark's Gospel

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 with another blind healing,

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 the healing of blind Bartimaeus.

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 All that to say that Jesus himself

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 is the Lord of spiritual blindness.

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 It's metaphorical in that way.

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 And he's bringing about this process of education

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 with the disciples.

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 And so we see this fascinating story.

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 Mark is actually, in this case,

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 the most lengthy telling of the story

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 and gives us the most detailed.

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 Thank you, Mark.

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 You finally came out of your writing brevity

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 and you've given us more detail to the story.

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 And we'll talk a little bit about

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 Matthew and Luke's account,

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 some of the things that they add to this.

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 But we get this very lengthy account.

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 And for good reason,

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 because Mark is saying to us,

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 if you were going to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,

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 it is going to require faith.

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 It is necessary to be a disciple.

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 And he does that so beautifully

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 under the inspiration of the Spirit in this story.

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 So notice with me, firstly, the scene.

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 Verse 14 says,

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 And when they came to the disciples,

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 remember they have been up on the mountain.

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 The they here, the pronoun,

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 the help that we need with that

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 is to see that this is Peter

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 and James and John and Jesus.

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 When they came back,

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 when they rejoined this band of brothers,

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 they saw a crowd around them of scribes.

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 The scribes being the religious elite of the day,

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 the mouthpieces, arguing with them.

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 These scribes seem to follow Jesus around

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 his entire ministry,

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 hiding behind walls and bushes,

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 just popping up all kinds of places

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 at the most inopportune times.

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 And here they've ambushed the disciples

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 and they're having a debate with them.

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 Likely, it's around an event we're going to look at,

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 but likely on whether or not Jesus is the Christ

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 and if they should be following him,

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 if they should even be his disciples.

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 And verse 15 says that we see a crowd

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 and nothing amazing happened.

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 Jesus didn't do anything amazing,

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 but they knew who he was.

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 And so they were amazed

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 and they ran up and they greeted him.

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 And he wants to know,

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 he asks a simple question,

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 what are you arguing about with them?

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 Now notice they don't get a response.

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 He doesn't get a response from the scribes.

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 He doesn't get a response from the disciples,

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 but rather he ends up getting a response

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 from a man in the crowd.

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 And so it's likely that as Jesus comes back

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 as the great teacher,

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 they're ashamed in his presence

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 about the things they were arguing about.

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 And here he has a great opportunity

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 to set all of the argument straight.

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 But Mark here,

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 going from the telling of the transfiguration,

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 and again under inspiration,

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 but moving into this story

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 of the healing of this boy,

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 Mike's a stark juxtaposition

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 between the mountaintop

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 and the valley down below.

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 The scene changes

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 from unimaginable glory on a mountain

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 to the den of a crowd in the valley.

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 From the sweetest of fellowship

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 to the senselessness of an argument.

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 From the exaltation of the Son of God

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 to the suffering of another only child.

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 And Luke adds that detail for us.

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 I believe that Mark here

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 means to show us the stark contrast

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 between the kingdom of God

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 and this world.

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 And the great issue at hand

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 is the issue of faith.

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 Notice Jesus' response.

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 Skipping the man in the crowd,

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 the father,

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 as he tells Jesus what's going on for a moment.

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 But verse 19,

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 Jesus answers,

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 finding out that the disciples

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 are unable to heal the boy,

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 unable to cast out the spirit.

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 He answers them,

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 O faithless generation.

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 He's speaking to all those there,

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 including the disciples

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 who were really the object

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 of this story.

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 How long am I to be with you?

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 How long am I to bear with you?

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 Bring him to me.

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 I think that this phrasing

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 is very similar to the sigh we see

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 in chapter 7, verse 34.

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 As he just says,

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 just get it.

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 Just get it.

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 You recall back in chapter 6,

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 Jesus commissions the twelve apostles

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 and sends them out two by two

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 to minister the gospel of God.

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 He's shown them how to do it

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 as he's been ministering all these years

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 and then he sends them out to do it.

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 Mark 6.13 says,

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 And they cast out many demons

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 and anointed with oil

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 many who were sick

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 and healed them.

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 Because,

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 in verse 7 of chapter 6,

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 we see the record

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 that Jesus gave them authority

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 over the unclean spirit.

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 So they've been able

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 to do this thing before,

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 but now we find them

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 in a position

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 where they're unable to do it.

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 Remember in Mark 4, verse 40,

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 after Jesus has calmed

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 the storm of the Sea of Galilee,

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 these great 10 to 15 foot waves

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 on this little body of water,

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 He's spoken

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 and the waves,

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 the wind has obeyed Him.

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 He says to them,

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 Why are you so afraid?

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 Have you still no faith?

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 After Jesus feeds the 5,000,

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 then later He feeds the 4,000.

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 The disciples are fretting

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 because they only remembered

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 to bring one loaf of bread with them

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 on this boat journey

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 back across the Sea of Galilee

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 in one of the many crossings.

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 And Jesus asks them,

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 How many baskets full of broken pieces

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 did you take up

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 when I fed the 5,000?

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 And they responded,

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 12.

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 And He said,

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 How many baskets full of broken pieces

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 did you take up

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 when I fed the 4,000?

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 And they say,

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 Seven.

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 So 19 baskets of leftovers.

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 And so He says to them,

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 So I fed a multitude abundantly.

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 And then Mark 8, 21,

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 Do you not yet understand?

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 Do you still not have faith?

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 This section that we're in now,

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 the last half of 8,

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 chapter 9,

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 chapter 10,

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 before the journey to Jerusalem

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 really sets off

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 is punctuated by predictions

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 of Jesus' coming,

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 suffering,

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 death,

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 and resurrection.

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 We see three passion predictions

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 that are always followed

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 by some faithless misunderstanding

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 on the part of the disciples.

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 They have yet to fully understand

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 the power and provision

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 in Jesus' presence.

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 They're there with Him

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 and they still don't get

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 His power and provision.

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 How is it possible

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 that they would come

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 to understand these things

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 and experience these things

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 when He's absent?

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 This is what Jesus

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 is setting them up for

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 and this is what He's going

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.480
 to teach them

00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.199
 in this story.

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:05.699
 How is it that they're

00:12:05.699 --> 00:12:07.519
 to function when He's gone?

00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.360
 And here we see

00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:11.500
 the necessity of faith.

00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:13.980
 So first, that's the scene.

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.980
 This is what's happening.

00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:18.379
 Second, the son's situation.

00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:20.039
 Verse 17 and 18.

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:22.639
 As he asks what they're arguing

00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.779
 about, someone from the crowd

00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.580
 answers him,

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.519
 Teacher, I brought my son to you

00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.240
 for he has a spirit

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.220
 that makes him mute.

00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:30.080
 And whenever it seizes him,

00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:30.879
 it throws him down

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.639
 and he foams and grinds his teeth.

00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.759
 That's foams at the mouth

00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.259
 and he becomes rigid, tense.

00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.980
 So I asked your disciples

00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.700
 to cast it out

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:41.139
 and they were not able.

00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:43.200
 So we see a boy.

00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.480
 We don't know his exact age,

00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:45.539
 although when asked

00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:46.840
 how long this has been happening,

00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:48.159
 he said from childhood,

00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:48.899
 so he's potentially

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.840
 a little bit older boy

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.980
 who is demon-possessed.

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.299
 And this is the cause

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.700
 of all of these other symptoms

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.799
 that we see listed here.

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.700
 It's the demon possession

00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.179
 that is causing these things.

00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.200
 Now, as a bit of a side note,

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.259
 I do believe that this type of stuff

00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.559
 still happens in our world today,

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.879
 although not in the prevalence

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.440
 that it happened in this day.

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.559
 It seems that in all of history,

00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.199
 there was a great fervor

00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:18.599
 to demonic activity

00:13:18.599 --> 00:13:19.799
 in the days of Jesus.

00:13:20.479 --> 00:13:22.259
 It's my presumption

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:25.259
 this was Satan's attempt

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:27.479
 to occupy the people,

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.959
 to destroy their

00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:31.439
 God-image-bearing ability

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:33.859
 because the Son of God

00:13:33.859 --> 00:13:35.319
 was on the scene.

00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:37.599
 So it would be irresponsible

00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.799
 to assume that anyone

00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:39.899
 with similar symptoms

00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.299
 also has a possession.

00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:43.319
 This would be a bad hermeneutic.

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.319
 This would be a bad way

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:46.000
 to deal with the Scriptures.

00:13:46.099 --> 00:13:47.159
 But this certainly is

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:49.959
 the cause of this boy's infirmities.

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:52.199
 The father says that he's mute,

00:13:52.959 --> 00:13:54.059
 can't talk.

00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:55.359
 Jesus later adds

00:13:55.359 --> 00:13:56.759
 that he is deaf

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.120
 in verse 25.

00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.839
 The father may not have even known

00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:01.419
 that the boy couldn't hear

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:03.779
 what it is he was saying.

00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.879
 This young boy was living

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.519
 in complete isolation.

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:08.439
 Right?

00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:09.979
 Had the presence of people around him

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.200
 but couldn't hear a thing they would say.

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.139
 No comforting words

00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.259
 could enter into his mind.

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.879
 And he couldn't express

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.180
 the anguish that he was in.

00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:19.200
 In complete and total isolation.

00:14:20.420 --> 00:14:21.480
 Verse 18.

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.700
 The father says that the demon

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.519
 that possesses him

00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.180
 throws him down.

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.440
 If you have an NASB,

00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.820
 the word used here is slams.

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:34.019
 The original Greek is a violent word.

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:34.600
 Right?

00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:36.120
 Not tosses him to the ground

00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.560
 but slams him to the ground.

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.519
 Luke adds in chapter 9,

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.239
 verse 39,

00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:43.099
 and shatters him.

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.119
 Right?

00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:44.919
 This is a violent,

00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:45.819
 this is a pummeling.

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.079
 This boy is being beat

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.739
 against the ground

00:14:47.739 --> 00:14:49.459
 again and again

00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:50.679
 and again.

00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:53.039
 Matthew 17, 15

00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.339
 says that he has epilepsy.

00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:57.339
 And this is a Greek word.

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.239
 The word we use,

00:14:58.459 --> 00:14:58.879
 epilepsy,

00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.399
 is a Greek word

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.000
 which means

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.779
 to seize,

00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:02.599
 possess,

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.199
 or afflict.

00:15:05.099 --> 00:15:05.559
 In fact,

00:15:05.619 --> 00:15:06.399
 our common use,

00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.299
 our western use

00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:08.059
 of the word epilepsy

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:09.199
 just refers to a group

00:15:09.199 --> 00:15:10.279
 of neurological disorders.

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.379
 It's not a particular one.

00:15:11.719 --> 00:15:12.259
 It's a group

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.279
 of neurological disorders.

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.479
 The cause of which

00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:16.599
 mostly are unknown

00:15:16.599 --> 00:15:19.120
 although brain damage

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.779
 can often be the cause

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.859
 of epilepsy.

00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.159
 And so it's likely,

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.939
 we don't know this for sure,

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.839
 but it's likely

00:15:26.839 --> 00:15:28.019
 that this demon

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.279
 has been throwing this boy

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.000
 so violently

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.879
 against the ground

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.819
 that he has sustained

00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.559
 head injury

00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.779
 after head injury

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.979
 after head injury.

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.580
 And the other things

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.220
 that are happening

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:37.700
 to him

00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.700
 are a result

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.500
 of the demon

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.860
 trying to kill him

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:42.080
 by throwing him

00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.659
 into the ground.

00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:45.000
 We know that the demon

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000
 was trying to kill the boy.

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.399
 The father says

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.240
 that he's trying

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.320
 to destroy him.

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.100
 Verse 22,

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:52.000
 it's often cast him

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.720
 into fire

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.320
 and into water.

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.060
 The father believes

00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:56.519
 that the demon

00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:58.440
 is trying to destroy him.

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.019
 There would have been

00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.060
 a lot of open fires

00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:00.960
 in this day.

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.240
 They didn't go camping

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:02.779
 all the time.

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.179
 They just lived their lives

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.519
 and open wells.

00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:07.839
 This father is

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:09.759
 following his son around.

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:11.000
 I would imagine

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.139
 at all moments

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.000
 and all time

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.500
 to save him

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.740
 from being burned alive

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.600
 or drowned

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.240
 by this demon.

00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:21.779
 Now, demons

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.799
 are created beings.

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.500
 We don't have time

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.519
 to get into the theology.

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:27.379
 I don't have time

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.339
 to study it right now.

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.299
 But they're fallen angels.

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:30.860
 We know that

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:32.079
 they were created by God.

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.740
 And therefore,

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.540
 they fall under

00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:34.379
 the reign of God.

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.420
 God permitted

00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.259
 this boy

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.160
 to be possessed.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.720
 He permitted it

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.139
 to happen.

00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:41.680
 It's not the causation

00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.000
 of it,

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:42.860
 but He permitted it

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.759
 to happen.

00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:44.720
 And therefore,

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.960
 He also reigned

00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.960
 over what was happening

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.040
 to this boy.

00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.960
 And that's a hard thing

00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:50.620
 to understand.

00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.160
 I don't know why.

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.220
 I don't know why

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:53.960
 any of us deal

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.420
 with the things

00:16:54.420 --> 00:16:55.060
 that we deal with

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:55.820
 and why this boy

00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.400
 would have to go

00:16:56.400 --> 00:16:57.580
 through such a terrible thing.

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.060
 His father as well,

00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.899
 as a loving dad

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.859
 witnessing what's

00:17:02.859 --> 00:17:03.839
 happening to this boy.

00:17:05.399 --> 00:17:06.799
 We can certainly say

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.519
 that Jesus was exalted

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.500
 in this situation

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.759
 and that may be

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.740
 the greatest reason

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.279
 that this thing

00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.799
 is happening

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.519
 to this boy

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.000
 and to this father.

00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:16.940
 But what we can say

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.740
 for sure is that

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:19.240
 as God reigns over this,

00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.339
 God did prevent

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:21.139
 the demon

00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:22.399
 from taking the boy's life.

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.819
 The demon was doing

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.399
 everything it possibly could

00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.639
 to take this boy's life.

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.580
 And God,

00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:29.620
 by His grace,

00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.520
 was preventing it

00:17:30.520 --> 00:17:31.060
 from happening.

00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:31.940
 Whether it be through

00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:33.259
 simply sustaining

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.140
 the head injuries

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.280
 that would come to him

00:17:35.280 --> 00:17:36.100
 or by his father

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:37.020
 scooping him up

00:17:37.020 --> 00:17:37.940
 out of fire

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:40.140
 and out of open wells.

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.800
 This boy is in a

00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:44.560
 horrible, horrible state.

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.440
 This is his only son.

00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:48.160
 I have two sons.

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.180
 And I know a lot of you

00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.440
 in the room

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.259
 don't have children,

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.220
 but when you have children

00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.120
 and you start to see them

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:53.540
 get hurt,

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:54.780
 it is absolutely

00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:56.200
 heartbreaking.

00:17:57.300 --> 00:17:58.840
 When Cade was finally

00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:00.120
 able to form tears,

00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:02.120
 babies can't form tears

00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:02.620
 really early

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.180
 if you don't know that.

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.259
 When he could form tears

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:04.740
 and the first time

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.140
 he got hurt

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.920
 and he cried,

00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:06.920
 I cried too.

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.320
 It was so heartbreaking

00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:09.320
 to me

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.220
 that he got hurt.

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:10.540
 Gosh,

00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:11.280
 you want to rescue them

00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:12.500
 from every pain

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.720
 in this world.

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.560
 In fact,

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.140
 I think Sam

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.820
 had to take Cade

00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:17.440
 to the bathroom

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.360
 when we were singing.

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.380
 When they came back in,

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.320
 when they got to the corner,

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.840
 Cade was holding Judas' hand.

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.300
 I think he thought

00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:22.680
 it would be funny

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.380
 to sling him

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.040
 around the corner.

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.520
 And my heart like,

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:27.779
 because I was looking at,

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.720
 thinking Judas' head

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.700
 was going to get slammed

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.339
 into the wall

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.639
 the way this boy

00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:32.859
 was slammed repeatedly

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.359
 into the ground,

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.220
 but this by his brother

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.259
 rather than a possession

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.940
 of sorts.

00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:40.140
 But what I'm trying

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.779
 to point out to you

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.360
 is that this boy

00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:41.960
 is suffering,

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.080
 but the father

00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.539
 is suffering as well.

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.559
 The father is suffering

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.519
 as well.

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.559
 I am sure that many times

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.740
 in the life of this father

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.200
 and this son,

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.660
 this father has desired

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.580
 to trade places

00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.340
 with his son.

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.580
 Please,

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:57.240
 let me take the beating.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.140
 Spare him.

00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:02.039
 And Jesus says to him,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.299
 verse 19,

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.880
 bring him to me.

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.240
 He has immediate compassion.

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:09.079
 They're arguing over here.

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.500
 What are you arguing about?

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.559
 The father tells them

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.500
 what they're arguing about

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.319
 and he says,

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:15.960
 bring him to me.

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.579
 In verse 20,

00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:16.839
 it says,

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:17.519
 and they brought the boy

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.140
 to him.

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.440
 And when the spirit saw him,

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.620
 this is the unclean spirit,

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.140
 the demon inside the boy,

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.220
 immediately it convulsed the boy

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:27.039
 and he fell on the ground

00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.339
 and rolled about,

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.700
 foaming at the mouth.

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.099
 And we see here

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:32.420
 a picture of darkness

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.799
 colliding with light.

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:36.159
 The demon sees Jesus

00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:36.940
 and it knows

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.039
 what's going to happen.

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.579
 And it tries to get in

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.919
 its last punch.

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.639
 It tries to get in

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.039
 its last damage

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.220
 to this child.

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.039
 Such a picture

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:46.680
 of evil incarnate.

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.759
 This great collision.

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.440
 Verse 21,

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.480
 and Jesus asked his father,

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.000
 how long has this

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.019
 been happening to him?

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.139
 And he said,

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.480
 from childhood.

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.039
 And then we see

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.619
 the explanation

00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.379
 of the fire

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.600
 and the water.

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.940
 We shouldn't miss

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.580
 at this point

00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:03.720
 this question

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:05.860
 that Jesus asked the father.

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.660
 How long has this

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.280
 been happening

00:20:08.280 --> 00:20:09.460
 to him?

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.020
 Jesus doesn't need

00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:12.700
 to know

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:14.800
 as if he's got to work out

00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.540
 the equation

00:20:15.540 --> 00:20:16.420
 of his power.

00:20:17.080 --> 00:20:18.500
 Let me dial my power

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.920
 meter up properly

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.540
 so that I can

00:20:20.540 --> 00:20:21.540
 put the right amount

00:20:21.540 --> 00:20:22.200
 of power

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.480
 into the situation.

00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:25.340
 Jesus,

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.160
 we could argue,

00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:26.960
 is omniscient.

00:20:27.020 --> 00:20:28.180
 He already knows.

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:28.960
 How long

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.820
 it's been happening

00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:30.280
 to him?

00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:31.700
 But what he does

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.520
 in this great display

00:20:32.520 --> 00:20:33.160
 of compassion

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.440
 is he empathizes

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.960
 with the father's

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.660
 suffering.

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.760
 We've heard about

00:20:37.760 --> 00:20:38.540
 the son's suffering,

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.320
 but as I pointed out,

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.440
 the father has suffered.

00:20:40.760 --> 00:20:41.700
 And he asks him a question.

00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.580
 How long

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.440
 has this been happening

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.600
 to him?

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.700
 How long?

00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:46.600
 Let me share

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.660
 in this story with you

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.580
 before I do

00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.840
 this mighty,

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:52.180
 mighty work.

00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:54.000
 And then the father

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.140
 makes this request

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.660
 at the end of verse 22.

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.020
 This is the father's request.

00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.440
 But if you can do anything,

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:02.700
 have compassion on us

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.520
 and help us.

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.600
 And you see here

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:07.200
 that the father understands

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.260
 that Jesus is empathizing

00:21:08.260 --> 00:21:08.660
 with him.

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.720
 The Greek word for help

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.720
 is a much,

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:13.420
 much mightier word

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:14.440
 in the original language.

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.600
 Boatheo.

00:21:15.760 --> 00:21:17.360
 It means to run

00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.620
 to our aid.

00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:21.040
 Help us with urgency.

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:23.000
 We need your help.

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.900
 That's what he's saying.

00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:24.859
 Right?

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.880
 And he includes

00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.279
 that plural pronoun

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.940
 of compassion on us

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.319
 and help us,

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.440
 deliver us

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.480
 from the torment

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.519
 of this demon.

00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.220
 Fourth,

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.420
 notice the response

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:39.940
 of Jesus.

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.220
 And Jesus says to him,

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.900
 if you can,

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:47.599
 all things are possible

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.199
 for one who believes.

00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:52.079
 He says to him,

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:54.019
 I can and I will

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.779
 if only you will believe

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.139
 that I can.

00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.379
 The father's response

00:21:59.379 --> 00:21:59.959
 is the opposite

00:21:59.959 --> 00:22:00.959
 of the leper's request

00:22:00.959 --> 00:22:01.639
 in chapter 1,

00:22:01.699 --> 00:22:02.879
 verse 40 of Mark.

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.119
 You remember that?

00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:04.579
 He said,

00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.459
 if you will,

00:22:06.459 --> 00:22:08.000
 you can make me clean.

00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:09.879
 The leper says,

00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:11.219
 I know you can,

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.000
 but I just don't know

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.939
 if you want to.

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.799
 The father here says,

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.299
 I think you will,

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.259
 but I don't know

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.740
 if you can.

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.500
 And then Jesus follows

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:24.279
 with this axiom statement,

00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.579
 this hinging statement,

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:28.480
 all things are possible

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.319
 for one who believes.

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.619
 The power of God

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:35.379
 is accessed, beloved,

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:37.139
 by our faith,

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.659
 by our belief

00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.559
 in his power,

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.940
 that he has the ability

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.879
 to do the things

00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:42.960
 that he said

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.700
 he's going to do.

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.339
 This is what he means

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.059
 by all things.

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.980
 He means all things

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:49.220
 within the will

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.220
 of the father.

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.859
 All those things

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.879
 that are ordained

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:54.899
 by God himself.

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.419
 I think the word all

00:22:57.419 --> 00:22:58.299
 quite possibly

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.559
 may be one of the greatest

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.500
 misunderstood words

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:00.980
 of scripture

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:03.139
 for modern evangelicals.

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.940
 If we take this

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:05.659
 at its face value

00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:06.339
 and say all things

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:06.659
 are possible

00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.379
 for one who believes,

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:08.779
 every Christian

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.480
 can do anything

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.139
 they want to do.

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.419
 Isn't that fantastic?

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.879
 What a poor,

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.639
 poor hermeneutic.

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.380
 What does he mean?

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.140
 All things.

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.280
 He means all things

00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:18.580
 in the will of the father.

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.340
 John 14.14 is similar.

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.259
 If you ask me

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.300
 anything in my name,

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.940
 Jesus says,

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.740
 I will do it.

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.400
 What does anything include?

00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:27.759
 Things in his name.

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.220
 Things that exalt him.

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:29.860
 Things that are within

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:31.780
 the will of the father.

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.580
 All things are possible

00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:35.720
 for the one who believes.

00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:39.320
 For the one who has faith.

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:42.439
 Notice fifth,

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:44.240
 the sufficient faith

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.839
 of the father.

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.519
 The sufficient faith

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.599
 of the father.

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.399
 Immediately the father

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:52.220
 of the child cried out,

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.879
 verse 24,

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.559
 I believe,

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:57.319
 help my unbelief.

00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:59.659
 And I love this statement.

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.200
 I love it.

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.939
 I have just meditated

00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:04.519
 for hours this week

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.299
 on this statement.

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.240
 I believe,

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:08.200
 help my unbelief.

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.440
 It's such a beautifully

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.740
 humble statement.

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.860
 And doesn't it so readily

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:14.019
 sum up the experience

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.720
 of our lives?

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.400
 It does mine.

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.620
 I think it does yours as well.

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.740
 I'm always working

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.559
 to get my heart

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.580
 to catch up to my head.

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.680
 I know things,

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.620
 but I just don't believe them.

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:28.019
 I'm in constant ebb

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:30.080
 and flow in my faith.

00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.799
 For many years,

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.360
 I ran Appalachian Outfitters

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.460
 in town here.

00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:36.019
 On the Chesity River,

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.440
 there's a bend in the river.

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:40.319
 And on the inside bank,

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:42.220
 which is how rivers function,

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.819
 there's a beach.

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.460
 And we called it

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.380
 Big Bend Beach.

00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.819
 I'm sure it's still called that

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.360
 this day.

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.779
 And that beach changed

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.240
 all the time.

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.420
 Every time there's a little change

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.620
 in the water fluctuation,

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.299
 the water level,

00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.980
 more sand would be deposited

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.700
 or some sand would be carried away.

00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:00.360
 But there was always a beach there.

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.480
 The beach always existed.

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.160
 We always would send people down there

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.160
 and let them camp on it.

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:05.059
 We never wondered

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.600
 if the beach was going to exist or not.

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.839
 It always existed,

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.199
 but it changed.

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.359
 Many of you are going to go

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.579
 to the beach this summer.

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.559
 I'm not.

00:25:12.659 --> 00:25:13.599
 Praise God I'm not going

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.259
 to the beach this summer.

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.319
 Many of you will.

00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.779
 Watch the sand as it comes

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.339
 and it goes.

00:25:18.459 --> 00:25:19.779
 There's always sand on the beach.

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.699
 There's always faith,

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.980
 but it ebbs and flows.

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:24.639
 It waxes and it wanes.

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.859
 And this is the statement

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.819
 that he says,

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.679
 I believe.

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:29.579
 Help my unbelief.

00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:32.219
 Praise God

00:25:32.219 --> 00:25:33.519
 that he does not require

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:36.160
 of us perfect faith.

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.500
 But rather he requires

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.139
 of us humble faith,

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:43.660
 which is sufficient faith.

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.160
 I believe.

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.240
 Help my unbelief.

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.639
 And we know that his faith

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.160
 is sufficient

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.960
 because Jesus responds to it.

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.879
 The Father has said,

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.980
 if you can do this,

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.119
 if you can do it,

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.500
 and Jesus' response to him is,

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.519
 if you can,

00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.359
 all things are possible.

00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:03.000
 The very thing you're requesting

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.000
 of me is possible

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:06.459
 for the one who believes.

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.299
 The Father responds,

00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:08.859
 I believe.

00:26:08.979 --> 00:26:09.699
 Help my unbelief.

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.199
 And the evidence

00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:11.500
 that he actually believed,

00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.359
 that he has faith,

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:16.039
 is that Jesus heals his son.

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.759
 Verse 25.

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:19.299
 There's a crowd running together.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.159
 So it would seem

00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.279
 that the fact that Jesus is there

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:24.479
 is gathering a larger crowd.

00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:26.819
 And so he quickly rebukes.

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.859
 His public ministry

00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:29.159
 has largely completed.

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.079
 Remember?

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.939
 Like, he's got to get in these days.

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:34.220
 He doesn't want to be taken captive,

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.939
 to be put in charge,

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:38.199
 to be a military ruler.

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.119
 This was the thing

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:40.199
 he's trying to avoid

00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:41.859
 as he's functioning in secrecy.

00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:45.519
 So he quickly rebukes

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.279
 the unclean spirit,

00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:46.980
 says to it,

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.240
 you mutant deaf spirit,

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.879
 I command you,

00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:49.439
 come out of him

00:26:49.439 --> 00:26:51.079
 and never enter him again.

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.919
 This boy is delivered

00:26:52.919 --> 00:26:54.539
 and he's delivered forever

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:56.799
 from the power of this demon.

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:59.960
 And after crying out

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.059
 and convulsing him terribly,

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.339
 it came out again,

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:03.940
 giving him one last go,

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.579
 it came out

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.879
 and the boy was like a corpse

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.339
 so that most of them said,

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.339
 he is dead.

00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.440
 Mark records for us

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.859
 the faithlessness still

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.599
 of the crowd.

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:15.159
 See that little detail

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:16.099
 he includes for us.

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.839
 Most of them said,

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.539
 he is dead,

00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.759
 but Jesus took him by the hand

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:20.059
 and lifted him up

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.119
 and he arose.

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.680
 In verse 27,

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:24.279
 he lifted him up.

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.900
 And this is what Jesus does.

00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:30.200
 He takes those who are sin sick

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:32.759
 and makes them whole again.

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.920
 He takes those who were dead

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:37.480
 and he makes them alive.

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:40.500
 And as I reflected on this phrase this week,

00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:42.160
 he lifted him up.

00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:44.140
 My mind was taken to Ephesians 2.

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.240
 So please go there with me.

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.240


00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.299
 Amen.

00:27:52.680 --> 00:28:03.640
 The metaphor of this boy's life,

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.519
 this real event that happened,

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:07.640
 it points to something greater

00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.180
 that has happened in your life

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.560
 if you have placed your faith in Christ.

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.480
 Oh, and I pray that you have.

00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.200
 Ephesians chapter 2,

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.060
 And you were dead

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:18.240
 in the trespasses and sins

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.200
 and once you once walked.

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.820
 You were dead.

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.400
 Walking, but dead.

00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:23.220
 Following the course of this world.

00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:25.519
 Doing all the things that this world does.

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.740
 You just go along with the flow.

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.720
 Following the prince of the power of the air.

00:28:29.580 --> 00:28:30.380
 You were dead.

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:32.720
 You were a worshiper of Satan.

00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:35.680
 The spirit that is now at work

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.200
 in the sons of disobedience.

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.980
 Not that we're demon-possessed

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:41.080
 prior to Jesus delivering us.

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.280
 We're not demon-possessed.

00:28:42.280 --> 00:28:45.140
 But yet there's a work that's happening in us.

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.100
 By our nature,

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.140
 we are enemies of God.

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.220
 Verse 3,

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.460
 among whom we all once lived

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.299
 in the passions of our flesh,

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.660
 carrying out the desires of the body

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:53.319
 and of the mind,

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.720
 and we're by nature,

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.380
 there's that word,

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.799
 children of wrath

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.920
 like the rest of mankind.

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.339
 Precious conjunction.

00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:02.740
 But God,

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.559
 being rich in mercy

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.339
 because of the great love

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.160
 with which He loved us,

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.740
 even when we were dead

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:09.279
 in our trespasses,

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.920
 made us alive together with Christ.

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.600
 By grace you have been saved.

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:15.599
 He's lifted you up in Christ

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.319
 and raised us up with Him

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.159
 and seated us with Him

00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:19.199
 in the heavenly place in Christ Jesus

00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:20.079
 so that in the coming ages

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.379
 He might show the immeasurable riches

00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.679
 of His grace and kindness

00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:24.159
 toward us in Christ Jesus.

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.539
 I read past where I wanted to,

00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.399
 but it's so good.

00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.659
 And then verse 8,

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:29.759
 for by grace you have been saved

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.619
 through faith.

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.619
 Faith has been given to us

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.699
 as a gift of God.

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.879
 This boy couldn't deliver himself

00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.439
 from the demon,

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:38.159
 but Jesus delivered him.

00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:41.880
 Praise God

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.279
 for the sufficient faith

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.500
 of the Father.

00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:47.360
 Sixth,

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.640
 look at the disciples' doubt.

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.779
 Verse 28,

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.200
 And when He had entered the house,

00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:55.960
 presumably a house

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.000
 that they were staying at

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.620
 in the area,

00:29:58.340 --> 00:30:00.460
 His disciples asked Him privately,

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.800
 Why could we not cast it out?

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.920
 And He said to them,

00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:06.840
 This kind cannot be driven out

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:09.519
 by anything but prayer.

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.459
 Now it would be really,

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.939
 really dangerous at this point

00:30:12.939 --> 00:30:14.779
 to try to form some sort of

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:17.480
 doctrine about types of demons,

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:19.159
 species of demons.

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:21.299
 The lesson here ultimately

00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.599
 in this story

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.859
 is not even about

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.879
 casting out demons.

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.659
 It's the lesson of faith

00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:27.279
 and the power

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.639
 and how do we access the power

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:30.379
 to do the work of God,

00:30:30.439 --> 00:30:31.639
 more generally speaking.

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.279
 So it would be wrong

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:32.959
 to look at that and go,

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.679
 What does He mean,

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.899
 this kind?

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:36.539
 What does He mean by that?

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:38.119
 He's simply saying

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.259
 an enemy of God.

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:40.279
 An enemy of God,

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:41.699
 the demon-possessed person,

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:43.980
 can't be exercised

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.799
 by anything but prayer.

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.419
 So the question I asked earlier,

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.459
 how would the disciples

00:30:49.459 --> 00:30:50.500
 access the power,

00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.199
 presence,

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.799
 and provision

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.039
 of Jesus Christ

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.659
 in His absence?

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.359
 They would,

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.599
 as we should,

00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.259
 access it by prayers

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.659
 of faith.

00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:05.519
 Prayer is the natural response

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:07.460
 of the person of faith.

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.180
 We believe in the God

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:10.480
 who says He will do things

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.619
 and therefore we ask Him

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:14.279
 to do those very things.

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.180
 How do we know

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.139
 that I'm right about this?

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.700
 How do we know

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.639
 that Jesus isn't trying

00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:19.440
 to set up a doctrine

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.879
 of species of demon?

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.019
 Right?

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.740
 Matthew,

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.839
 His explanation

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.019
 is more explicit.

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.859
 Matthew 17, 20.

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.240
 He said to them

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.379
 in response to their question,

00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:31.059
 why could we not cast it out?

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.200
 He says to them,

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:34.559
 because of your little faith.

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.860
 For truly I say to you,

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.120
 if you have faith

00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:39.340
 like a grain of mustard seed,

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.380
 you will say to this mountain,

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.460
 move from here to there

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.620
 and it will move

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:44.680
 and nothing will be impossible

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.799
 for you.

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.480
 Now again,

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.160
 Jesus is not teaching them

00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:49.819
 literally,

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.440
 you guys are going to start

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.620
 an excavating company

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:54.019
 because you're going to have faith

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.019
 and it's going to be amazing

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.580
 because you're going to need

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.100
 no equipment.

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.840
 You're just going to go out there

00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:57.299
 and talk

00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.960
 and things are going to get

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.940
 moved around.

00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.299
 This isn't what He's saying to them.

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.059
 He's saying if you even just have

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.639
 a little faith.

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.240
 The problem in this situation,

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.159
 the reason that they couldn't

00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.879
 cast out the demon

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.279
 is because they had no faith.

00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:10.460
 They had no faith at all.

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.639
 They thought that they

00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:13.079
 could exercise demons

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.579
 and they didn't go to the source

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.379
 of the power.

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.480
 They didn't believe that Jesus

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.700
 is the Christ

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:19.059
 and Jesus is the source

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.960
 for the ability

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.139
 to do such things.

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:23.480
 They had zero faith.

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:24.940
 He says to them,

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.659
 if you have faith

00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:27.940
 like a grain of mustard seed

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:29.659
 and mustard was the smallest

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:31.900
 seed in this region.

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.740
 Maybe ever.

00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:33.259
 I don't know.

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.259
 But very small.

00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:34.880
 They would have gotten

00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:35.820
 what He meant by this.

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.400
 And if you've ever seen

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:36.940
 a mustard seed,

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.080
 it's like a little flake.

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.460
 It's really easy to like

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.480
 breathe too hard

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.320
 and it blows off your hand

00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:42.320
 and you never find it again.

00:32:42.540 --> 00:32:42.860
 Tiny.

00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.980
 You just have a little,

00:32:44.300 --> 00:32:44.540
 right?

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.380
 It doesn't have to be

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:45.920
 perfect faith.

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.480
 It just has to be

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.220
 sufficient faith.

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:47.980
 Humble faith.

00:32:48.300 --> 00:32:48.880
 Know that the power

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.460
 doesn't come from you

00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:51.259
 but it comes from me.

00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:54.240
 This is the further

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.000
 juxtaposition

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.319
 of the Father's faith

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:59.640
 and the disciples' doubt.

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.460
 He believed

00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.900
 and the disciples

00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.519
 did not.

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:08.059
 Habakkuk 2.4

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:10.700
 God says by the prophet,

00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:12.859
 the righteous shall live

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:14.680
 by his faith.

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:17.759
 Paul cites Habakkuk 2.4

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.779
 in Romans 1.17

00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.940
 and Galatians 3.11.

00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.579
 Again, the righteous

00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.539
 shall live by faith.

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.559
 The author of Hebrews

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.359
 does it as well

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.119
 in 10.38

00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:25.279
 but my righteous one

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:27.500
 shall live by faith.

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.679
 It is by faith

00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:29.159
 that we have

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:30.079
 our very being,

00:33:30.179 --> 00:33:30.919
 our access into

00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:31.759
 the kingdom of God

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.899
 and it is by faith

00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.699
 we continue

00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:35.039
 in this life.

00:33:37.219 --> 00:33:38.240
 So the application.

00:33:39.219 --> 00:33:40.399
 What areas of your life

00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:42.079
 do you lack faith in?

00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:44.359
 What areas of your life

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:44.639
 do you have like

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.259
 no faith?

00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:46.119
 You have no faith

00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.799
 if you're not responding

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.719
 properly to the gospel.

00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:49.339
 You don't have to have

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.019
 perfect faith.

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:50.719
 You just have to have

00:33:50.719 --> 00:33:51.799
 sufficient faith.

00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:53.259
 Faith like a mustard

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.579
 seed.

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.799
 Another way to ask

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.460
 the question would be

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.259
 in what ways have you

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:58.859
 failed to trust God?

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:01.420
 Do you trust Him

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:03.180
 with your very soul?

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.980
 Do you trust Him

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.680
 with your very soul?

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.599
 Have you placed

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:08.440
 believing faith

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.920
 in Jesus Christ?

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.340
 John 3.18 says,

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:14.039
 whoever believes in Him

00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:15.920
 is not condemned.

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:18.079
 But whoever does not believe

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:19.219
 is condemned already

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:20.699
 because he has not believed

00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.760
 in the name of the only

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:23.180
 Son of God.

00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:23.920
 Whoever believes

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.500
 is delivered

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.640
 from the consequence

00:34:25.640 --> 00:34:26.300
 of his sin.

00:34:27.140 --> 00:34:28.200
 But the one who doesn't

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:30.140
 has already been condemned.

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.000
 Do you trust Him

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.120
 in all the circumstances

00:34:33.120 --> 00:34:34.420
 of your life?

00:34:35.160 --> 00:34:35.920
 Romans 8.28,

00:34:36.020 --> 00:34:36.920
 I hope this is not a promise

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.040
 that grows old to you.

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.880
 And we know that

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.700
 for those who love God,

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.680
 all things,

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:42.000
 all things work together

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.140
 for good for those

00:34:43.140 --> 00:34:43.520
 who are called

00:34:43.520 --> 00:34:44.400
 according to His purpose.

00:34:45.040 --> 00:34:46.180
 Do you trust Him

00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:47.440
 in all of the circumstances

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.519
 of your life?

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.599
 Matthew 28.20,

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.159
 behold,

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.380
 Jesus says,

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:53.000
 I am with you always

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.599
 to the end of the age.

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.200
 Do you trust Him

00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:57.780
 with your children,

00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:59.139
 with your wife or husband,

00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:02.260
 or future wife or husband?

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.559
 Do you trust Him

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.380
 with your finances?

00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:09.740
 Matthew 6.25-33,

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.480
 Jesus tells us

00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.039
 not to be anxious

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.700
 about our life,

00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:12.380
 what we're going to wear,

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.059
 what we're going to eat,

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.420
 all these things.

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:14.960
 It's ridiculous

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.760
 to be worried

00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.480
 about these things.

00:35:16.540 --> 00:35:17.260
 For the Gentiles

00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:18.460
 seek after these things,

00:35:18.540 --> 00:35:19.120
 verse 32,

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.300
 and your heavenly Father

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:21.720
 knows that you need them all.

00:35:22.660 --> 00:35:23.260
 But seek first

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.920
 the kingdom of God

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.540
 and His righteousness

00:35:24.540 --> 00:35:25.800
 and all these things

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:27.820
 will be added to you.

00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:29.020
 Do you trust Him

00:35:29.020 --> 00:35:30.680
 in your finances?

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.780
 Do you trust Him

00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:33.460
 with your plans?

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:35.700
 College students,

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:38.340
 the transition of life

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:38.780
 right now,

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.320
 do you trust Him

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:39.800
 with your plans?

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.880
 Proverbs 19.21,

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.320
 this is many of the plans

00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.140
 in the mind of a man.

00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:44.700
 You all can relate

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.420
 to that, can't you?

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.400
 Many are the plans

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.099
 in the minds of a man,

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.400
 but it is the purpose

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.440
 of the Lord

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.960
 that will stand.

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.079
 To give some explanation

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.400
 to that,

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:55.539
 James 4.13-15,

00:35:55.680 --> 00:35:56.500
 Come now you who say,

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.119
 today or tomorrow

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.380
 we will go into such and such town

00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.639
 and spend a year there

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.960
 and trade and make a profit.

00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:02.599
 Yet you do not know

00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:03.539
 what tomorrow will bring.

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.880
 What is your life?

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.180
 For you are a mist

00:36:06.180 --> 00:36:07.260
 that appears for a little time

00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:07.880
 and then vanishes.

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.820
 Instead you ought to say

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.700
 if the Lord wills,

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.639
 we will live

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.220
 and do this or that.

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.639
 If God directs,

00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:14.559
 I will go.

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.480
 You can rest

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.240
 and trust,

00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.079
 have faith

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:19.240
 in a plan

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:21.340
 for your life.

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.700
 The disciples

00:36:23.700 --> 00:36:24.780
 of Jesus Christ,

00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:26.619
 this is what Mark

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:28.159
 is driving us to be.

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.639
 This is the very point

00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.119
 of this.

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.340
 Believe that Jesus

00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:32.099
 is the Christ

00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.420
 and follow Him.

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.280
 The disciples

00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:35.980
 of Jesus Christ

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.059
 will be so

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:39.039
 by faith.

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:41.960
 Let us cry out together

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.579
 to God,

00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.779
 I believe.

00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:46.500
 Help my unbelief.

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.559
 Let's pray.

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.000


00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.139
 Let us pray.

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