WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.820 You need to be dependent on Him. 00:00:02.220 --> 00:00:03.540 So you found your place there in Luke chapter 9. 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:05.400 ! We're going to begin reading in verse 37. 00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:08.060 We'll read down to verse number 45 where the Bible says this, 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:11.859 And it came to pass that on the next day when they were come down from the hill, 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:13.939 much people met Him. 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:16.760 Seems like everywhere Jesus goes there's a crowd gathering. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.039 And behold, a man of the company cried out saying, 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:26.379 Master, I beseech thee, he's begging, look upon my son, for he is mine only child. 00:00:27.060 --> 00:00:29.980 And lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:32.660 crieth out, and it teareth him, that he foameth again, 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:36.060 and bruising him, hardly departing from him. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:41.920 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:45.219 Verse 41, And Jesus answering and said, 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:50.659 O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you? 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:52.700 Bring thy son hither. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:59.840 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:00.919 and tear him. 00:01:00.919 --> 00:01:04.399 And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, 00:01:04.619 --> 00:01:07.420 and delivered him again to his father. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:12.140 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:14.179 But while they were wondering, 00:01:14.399 --> 00:01:16.959 everyone at all the things which Jesus did, 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:18.140 he said unto his disciples, 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.319 Let these sayings sink down into your ears, 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:25.140 for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:27.719 But they understood not this saying, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.879 and it was hid from them that they perceived it not, 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.620 and they feared to ask him of that saying. 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:37.099 This morning I want to preach a message entitled this, 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:39.319 When Faith Falters. 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:41.640 We would like to say, 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:43.579 My faith has never faltered, and it never will. 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:45.980 But that's not our testimony in here. 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:49.219 We can be excited, we can agree with the songs, 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:51.079 we can say amen, and we can open our Bibles. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:54.679 But listen, we face things in our life where we know what to do, 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:55.959 but faith is going to falter. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:57.780 Why does that happen? 00:01:58.539 --> 00:01:59.259 How does it happen? 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:01.539 What do we do when it happens? 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:03.579 And I think that's what Jesus is going to teach us, 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:05.280 and help us here with this morning. 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:06.280 So let's go to the hymn of prayer, 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:07.599 and then we're going to jump right in. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:08.740 Father, thank you for this day. 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:11.500 Thank you for the time that we've gathered here, 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:14.840 and we've already asked you to bless in certain ways, 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:17.120 but I pray you would just now quiet our hearts and our minds. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:21.080 Lord, I pray you would just help me to say what needs to be said, 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.659 and not what does not need to be said. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:26.759 Lord, I pray that there's somebody here that's just looking for answers, 00:02:26.920 --> 00:02:30.180 Lord, that they would realize very quickly that you are the answer. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:32.219 You are the way, the truth, and the life. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:34.040 Lord, I pray you would encourage hearts, 00:02:34.140 --> 00:02:34.960 you would convict hearts, 00:02:35.040 --> 00:02:38.040 you would just challenge us where we need to. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:39.500 Lord, I pray that when you do, 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:42.120 whatever area it is, that we would respond. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:44.680 And I pray you would be honored and glorified, 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.659 and we ask it in Christ's name, amen. 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:47.539 Thank you so much for standing. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:48.000 You may be seated. 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:53.919 The results have not come back conclusively yet, 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.060 but there's a high probability that I suffer from ultra-competitiveness. 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:00.519 It could be. 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:01.960 Some of you know this more than others. 00:03:02.019 --> 00:03:03.039 We've talked about this. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:05.639 And it really, it just doesn't matter what it is. 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:09.900 It doesn't matter if it's a child's board game or go fish. 00:03:10.519 --> 00:03:13.060 It doesn't matter if I'm trying to win Will of Fortune 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:14.460 while I'm sitting on my couch. 00:03:15.420 --> 00:03:18.120 Because I, you know, I want to win on everything I do. 00:03:18.300 --> 00:03:20.099 No matter if I'm playing golf, I play golf with some of you. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.860 This is what I, if you ever see me talking to myself, 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:22.659 here's what I'm telling myself. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:24.000 Remember, you're the pastor. 00:03:24.260 --> 00:03:25.840 You know, you've got to remember things like that 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:27.379 because we've got to have a good testimony 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:29.340 about how we're acting out there. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:30.819 Sometimes if I'm leaving the house, 00:03:30.860 --> 00:03:32.620 my wife says, remember, you're the pastor. 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.180 And those kind of situations. 00:03:35.100 --> 00:03:36.520 I mean, I'm so competitive. 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.200 When I put in an address in the GPS and it says, 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:40.520 here's the ETA, I'm like, bet. 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:43.580 Am I the only one that's like, 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.600 I'm going to beat whatever the time on this GPS is 00:03:46.600 --> 00:03:47.460 because then it makes it fun. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:48.140 Then it's a game. 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:48.800 And the kids are like, we stop. 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:51.379 We're like, no, we're on a game right now. 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:52.260 And we're going to win. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:55.540 Herm Edwards used to coach the New York Jets. 00:03:55.580 --> 00:03:58.160 And he said this, you play to win the game. 00:03:58.660 --> 00:03:59.840 And I think that's good advice. 00:04:00.200 --> 00:04:01.040 And I like it. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:02.620 And I subscribe to that. 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:04.360 And as much as I love to win, 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:06.640 there's one thing I cannot stand to do. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:07.740 Lose. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:09.680 I mean, I want to win, 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:12.819 but I think I hate losing more than I love winning. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:13.740 Why? 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:15.340 Because I think in our mind 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:16.939 and kind of how we experience it, 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:18.259 failure is never fun. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:19.920 You don't sit out in the morning, 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:20.680 wake up and say, you know what? 00:04:20.780 --> 00:04:22.060 I hope I fail today. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:23.959 Anybody do that? 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:24.199 No. 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:26.300 No, you want to have a good day. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:27.480 You want to have success, 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:30.699 but defeat is seldom something that we delight in. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:32.500 And as we kind of read this text, 00:04:32.539 --> 00:04:33.839 and we're going to get into it here this morning, 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:34.860 why is that? 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:36.420 I think it's because it can be painful. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:38.259 It can be embarrassing. 00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:39.899 It can be humiliating. 00:04:40.539 --> 00:04:43.199 But as much as we try to avoid failure, 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:45.360 it will come. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.199 But how do we respond to it? 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.259 How do we react to these moments in life 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:53.439 where maybe we're trying to live for the Lord 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:55.639 and we kind of falter there a little bit? 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:58.659 I think Jesus wants us to learn, 00:04:58.919 --> 00:05:01.939 and we can and we should learn from our failures. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:04.399 One of my favorite commentators I read, 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:06.279 Yoda, he said this, 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:09.379 the greatest teacher failure is. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:12.899 For all my Star Wars nerds out there, 00:05:12.979 --> 00:05:13.659 there you go. 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:15.599 That's a great statement though. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.659 It is a great teacher. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:20.219 And when it comes to our walk with the Lord 00:05:20.219 --> 00:05:22.379 and as we're trying to live the Christian life, 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:24.240 as we're trying to follow Jesus 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:25.920 and trying to live on mission, 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:28.219 when failure comes, it can teach us. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:29.699 It can correct us. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:32.620 It can drive us back where we should have been all along, 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:35.540 leaning on the everlasting arms. 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:39.019 That's what it teaches and it's what it does. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:40.779 And sometimes in our life, 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:45.279 sometimes failure reveals that we didn't put the effort 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:47.439 that we should have in there. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:48.180 Anybody been there? 00:05:49.159 --> 00:05:50.259 You been to school? 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:52.360 You know, it's like, 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:54.199 but my teacher's just failing me. 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:55.579 Well, did you study? 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:58.879 Well, no, but sometimes we've got to put the effort in. 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:01.420 Sometimes failure comes because we're not prepared 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:02.480 for the situation. 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:04.560 But other times in our life, 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:07.159 and especially when it comes to our walk with the Lord, 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:11.039 failure reveals and it reminds us 00:06:11.039 --> 00:06:13.279 that we're not called to do it on our own. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:16.120 Jesus told his disciples there in the upper room 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:17.360 in John chapter 15, he said, 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:21.699 without me, ye can do nothing. 00:06:22.939 --> 00:06:26.020 But we are self-starting kind of people. 00:06:26.580 --> 00:06:29.100 We are, we're going to do it our way. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.540 And even when it comes to living the Christian life 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:33.379 and failure many times reveals, 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:35.040 who are you leaning on? 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.439 Where are you seeking your help from? 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:42.180 And the latter is exactly what is happening here in our text. 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:45.939 Last week we saw that Jesus took Peter, James, and John 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:47.819 up on the mountain and they were there 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:49.540 and Jesus was transfigured. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:50.860 He was there on the mountain, 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:53.740 but kind of his humanity was pulled back a little bit 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:56.180 and they really saw who Jesus was. 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:58.160 That he is the son of God, 00:06:58.199 --> 00:06:59.740 that he is God in the flesh. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.100 And I mean, Peter and James, 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:02.879 John are having a grand old time up there. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:03.920 In fact, Peter says, 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:04.840 you know what, Jesus? 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:06.319 I'd rather just stay up here. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:07.819 I don't like all those people down there. 00:07:07.960 --> 00:07:09.079 Let's just live on this mountain. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.659 Let's just build some tabernacles up here. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:13.779 But as we all know, 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:16.800 we can't stay on the mountaintops of life forever. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:18.079 You ever have a great day? 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:19.819 You think, man, I never want this day to end. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:22.060 Because you know, you know why we don't want to end? 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:23.099 Because we know it's coming tomorrow. 00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:25.099 We know it can't always be this good. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:26.620 It can't always be this great. 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:29.919 Because eventually we have to come back down to the valley. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.180 We have to come back to reality, to real life. 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:34.699 Maybe that's tomorrow. 00:07:34.799 --> 00:07:35.219 It's Monday. 00:07:36.019 --> 00:07:36.419 I'm sorry. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:38.319 That's usually what comes after Sunday. 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:41.180 And you're already kind of maybe dreading it. 00:07:41.599 --> 00:07:43.779 And going back into the real world, so to speak, 00:07:43.859 --> 00:07:46.680 where pain and problems and people await. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:50.019 And that's where we find the other nine disciples. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.740 As Peter and James and John are on the mountain, 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.620 they come back down and we see that they're struggling. 00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:58.319 We see that they've failed. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:01.360 This father came and he had a great need. 00:08:01.419 --> 00:08:02.740 His son was possessed by a demon. 00:08:03.039 --> 00:08:05.139 And he said, listen, I tried to talk to your disciples, 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:05.959 but they messed up. 00:08:05.979 --> 00:08:06.599 They couldn't do it. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:08.900 And they had failed this situation. 00:08:09.280 --> 00:08:11.700 And really, they were kind of humiliated by it. 00:08:12.140 --> 00:08:15.240 In Mark's account, the publicans and the lawyers, 00:08:15.320 --> 00:08:16.680 they kind of had surrounded them. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:18.900 I mean, they were letting the disciples have it. 00:08:20.520 --> 00:08:21.680 Why did they fail? 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:25.140 I think they came to the place where they realized 00:08:25.140 --> 00:08:26.439 they were trying to do ministry. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:30.860 They were trying to follow Christ without really depending on him. 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:33.940 Because we saw just a couple chapters back that Jesus sent them out 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:34.960 and they did all these things. 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:36.340 And they thought, you know what? 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:37.759 We did this before. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.379 We can just do it ourselves this time. 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:42.500 We don't really need Jesus in this situation. 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:45.139 You think, come on, disciples. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.860 How would you ever think that? 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:48.700 You ever look in a mirror? 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:51.680 You ever have something come up in your life and say, 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:52.879 oh, I can handle this? 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:54.139 No? 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:56.340 Y'all are super spiritual today. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:57.120 I'm very proud. 00:08:57.220 --> 00:08:58.039 I'm very proud of you. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:02.480 I know in my life that sometimes I get a little too big for my britches. 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:05.199 Okay, now we're there. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:09.159 Here's the truth I want us to take away as we walk through this text today. 00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:13.439 That we never advance beyond our need for Jesus. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:18.019 Without him, we will falter. 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:21.840 Without him, we will fail. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:24.480 And that's kind of where these disciples had found themselves. 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.940 So the first thing I want us to see is this, 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:29.660 is that we need Jesus in our struggles. 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:32.660 That's where we have to live there. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:34.200 And here's what it means for us today, 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:36.620 that in every challenge and in every criticism, 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:38.060 in every battle we face, 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:40.980 we have to be dependent on him. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.280 We must be. 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:46.040 Sometimes we only are dependent when we really think we need him. 00:09:46.180 --> 00:09:47.139 No, we already sang the song, 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:49.580 I need thee every hour. 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:51.660 We should really change it to seconds. 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:54.019 I mean, that's really where we need to live. 00:09:54.280 --> 00:09:55.740 We need to be dependent on him. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:59.300 And we need Jesus in our struggles when the critics surround us. 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:01.920 That's what we see there in verse number 37, 00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:05.379 that as Jesus and the three are coming down from the mountain, 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:07.139 that there's much people there. 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:10.379 And behold, a man out of the company cried, 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:13.259 saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.220 See, as they come down, 00:10:16.300 --> 00:10:18.519 the scribes are kind of causing problems. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:20.139 The disciples are embarrassed, 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.819 and they see, you ever do something, 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.519 and then your mom and dad walk in? 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.579 You're like, great. 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.779 Don't parents just have impeccable timing? 00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:30.279 Every time you fail and you messed up, 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.939 like, what's my dad doing here? 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:33.699 I can't just see the disciples. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:36.059 They're trying to maybe kind of do some damage control, 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:37.120 and here comes Jesus. 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:38.860 They're like, you've got to be kidding me. 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:40.819 And they're kind of embarrassed about it. 00:10:41.179 --> 00:10:43.500 And there's this father that's desperate for help. 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:46.840 And we see all this commotion that as Jesus is coming down, 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:47.980 and while he was away, 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:50.000 these disciples had failed so greatly. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:52.320 And Mark tells us that the scribes 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:54.679 just kind of jumped at the opportunity to attack. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:56.620 They jumped at the failure. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.480 Because here's kind of what they were saying 00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.200 when you read Mark's account. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:01.940 If your master was really who you say he is, 00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:03.820 then you should be who you say you are. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:06.320 Because they were kind of putting a bad light on Jesus, 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:06.980 so to speak. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:09.720 The Pharisees were always looking for opportunities 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:11.620 to kind of smear Jesus' name, 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:14.779 to kind of get him off track just a little bit. 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:17.519 And have you ever noticed how critics 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:20.480 always seem the loudest when we're at our weakest? 00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:23.580 It seems like it's just a little bit louder. 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:24.700 The volume's turned up. 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:26.160 The fire's turned up. 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:28.240 And I think that's kind of what's happening here 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.759 is you study this text and the other parallel text 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.960 that the messengers, they represent the master. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:36.460 And when the messenger fails, 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.440 the critics use it to question 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.120 the credibility of Jesus. 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.740 That's kind of what's taking place. 00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:45.019 And here's the reality. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.460 Sometimes that happens in our life. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.379 Sometimes we try to be a witness at school 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:52.000 and at work and just in our daily life. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.259 And we do a pretty good job. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.980 But every once in a while, you have a bad day. 00:11:56.040 --> 00:11:56.759 Anybody ever have a bad day? 00:11:57.540 --> 00:11:58.879 And you've been inviting them to church 00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.580 and doing all this. 00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:01.240 And then you're just tired of them. 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:05.340 And you just want to let them know how you feel. 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:07.100 And your spiritual gift has changed 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:08.759 from encouragement to bluntness. 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.860 And you pop off and say something. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.280 And they're thinking, well, yeah, 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:15.899 and you want me to go to your church. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.519 Oh, and you think you're better than I am. 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.200 Nobody? 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:23.259 That's kind of what's taking place. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.899 And they're thinking, well, you're not even different than me. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.000 You act the same way that I do. 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:30.900 Listen, the reality is we are going to fail. 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:33.400 And the disciples, they're kind of failing. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.820 They're kind of trying to figure out what's going on. 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:35.740 Here's the issue. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.720 They're looking inward for strength. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.840 You're not going to find it there. 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:41.860 You know what we find when we look inward? 00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:42.700 Weakness. 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.240 We find problems. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.720 Here's what we have to do. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:48.600 We have to look at Jesus. 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.860 We must look outward. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:52.000 We must look upward. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:54.480 Because Jesus never fails. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:57.140 Everything we've seen as we've walked through the gospel, 00:12:57.300 --> 00:12:58.700 every time there was an issue, 00:12:58.900 --> 00:12:59.900 every time there was a need, 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:01.700 Jesus met the need. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.560 The disciples forgot that. 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.159 Listen, there's going to be times maybe where people mock your faith. 00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:12.000 There may be times when your weakness becomes public. 00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:15.459 And remember, you're not called to defend yourself. 00:13:15.619 --> 00:13:17.579 We're just called to point others to Jesus. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:20.419 Sometimes we have to go and we have to say, listen, I'm sorry. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.500 I shouldn't have said that. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.419 I shouldn't have acted that way. 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:26.099 I didn't respond how I should have. 00:13:26.339 --> 00:13:29.519 And that's not how I want to live my life. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.460 You know what that does when we do that? 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.960 It points back to Jesus. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:34.960 That we're not the ones responsible. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.879 Jesus is always and constantly reminding his disciples, 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.699 point them to me. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.679 Because Jesus never fails. 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.980 See, we need Jesus in our struggles when the critics surround. 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:49.079 But we need Jesus when this spiritual battle confronts us. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.480 Because I don't know if you've found this out. 00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:52.139 We're in a battle. 00:13:53.280 --> 00:13:55.020 We wrestle not against flesh and blood. 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:58.780 We live in a world and I think we're seeing it more and more. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.660 I think the Bible makes that very clear. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:02.820 As we see the day approaching, we can feel it. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.320 We don't know when. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.600 I'm just going to throw this out there. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:07.600 All these people saying, well, Jesus is coming back then. 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:10.100 If you meet somebody, run away from them. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.279 Nobody knows that. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.600 But we do know the seasons and the times. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:16.980 And they're all around us. 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.860 And there's a battle around us. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.759 And we see here in verse 39, this battle the disciples were engaged in. 00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:26.940 And this father is saying, listen, my son is possessed by this demon. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.180 And this spirit taketh him. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.899 And he suddenly crieth out. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:30.899 And he tears at him. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.080 And he's foaming at the mouth. 00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:33.700 And he's throwing himself down. 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:38.700 It's real easy to see this is not some ordinary sickness. 00:14:39.640 --> 00:14:40.680 He doesn't got a cough. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.940 He doesn't got the flu. 00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:43.280 He doesn't have something like that. 00:14:43.540 --> 00:14:45.240 No, this is spiritual warfare. 00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.860 The devil is fighting. 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:49.500 And he is trying everything. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:54.580 And once again, as we've seen throughout Luke's gospel, it's a vivid picture of what Satan intends to do. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.840 To steal and to kill and destroy. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.080 He's a young man. 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.480 A young boy. 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:02.160 Satan doesn't care. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:05.079 He didn't say, oh, it's just a little child. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:08.419 In fact, I think we look at our world and our culture. 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:10.519 That's exactly who Satan's going after. 00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.899 That he's getting that next generation. 00:15:13.339 --> 00:15:14.799 He's tearing them down. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.139 He wants to kill and destroy. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:19.759 And we see the disciples attempted to cast this demon out. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.039 And they fail. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:31.240 I think it's a great, great, great reminder to us that past victories, past victories don't guarantee future power. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:35.039 They were kind of leaning on, well, we've handled this before. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:36.440 Hey, bring your son to me. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.419 I can handle this. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.039 I don't know if that's how they were. 00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:41.480 But maybe in their heart they were. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.899 They had seen this. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:45.940 I mean, we've seen multiple times Jesus sends them out. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.539 And they did this very thing. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.879 And they came back and they said, Jesus, you wouldn't believe it. 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:54.000 We went out there and just like you said, we prayed and we asked and it happened. 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.820 We don't see that taking place here. 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:01.200 We don't see that they prayed and they asked and they trusted God. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.960 Why couldn't they do it this time? 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:08.379 Because they were just depending on yesterday's experience instead of today's dependence. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:16.100 We can't live on just the good Sunday vibes that we have here at church for tomorrow. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:19.460 Now, when you wake up tomorrow, here's what you need. 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.080 You need the Lord. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.120 You need his grace. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.000 You need his spirit. 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:24.680 You need his power. 00:16:24.900 --> 00:16:26.280 Because without it, here's what's going to happen. 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:29.680 You're going to falter and you're going to fail every single day this upcoming week. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:33.259 And you may come back into church next Sunday and say, man, this week, I don't know what happened. 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:33.860 Here's what happened. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.139 We were dependent on us and not him. 00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:39.540 And that's what Jesus is teaching us here. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.120 That you're in a battle. 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:44.379 That we can't live on spiritual autopilot. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.759 We're like, hey, man, I'm doing pretty good. 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.240 I'm just going to cruise right here. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.899 This is a good little place for me to hang out. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.560 Listen, yesterday's faith doesn't win today's battle. 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.620 And that's where they're struggling. 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.399 And they're thinking, look, why can't we do this? 00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.799 What's happening? 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.840 Every new challenge. 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.519 Every battle. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.440 Maybe you're in a battle right now and you keep fighting and fighting it. 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.120 Here's what you need. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.460 You need dependence on him. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.920 You just keep trying to do the same thing over and over and over. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.720 The Lord's like, hey, I'm right here. 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:17.019 Cast that care on me. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.500 I mean, let's just bring it where we live. 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.880 Maybe you're facing something right now. 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.720 When's the last time you asked the Lord to help you about it? 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.240 I can do it myself. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.180 We're that little kid. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:28.860 You know, and your parents are like, hey, why don't you? 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:29.279 Nope. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:29.880 Nope. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.660 I know what I'm doing. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.039 I feel like that's how the Lord is with me sometimes. 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:35.140 Hey, no, I got this. 00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:37.400 He's like, go ahead. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:39.680 I'll keep watching you run into the door. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.080 And sometimes that's how our life is. 00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:45.140 Listen, we need Jesus when critics surround us. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.780 We need it when this battle is raging. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:49.380 And we need him when failure humbles us. 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:57.400 Verse 41, verse 40, and I besought thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.360 Jesus answered them, the crowd, and all those around him, and the disciples especially. 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:06.540 Oh, faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.059 And suffer you. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.639 So I don't think Jesus, sometimes we read into these kind of the wrong way, I believe. 00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:14.519 I don't think he was scolding them. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.819 I don't think he was mad. 00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:18.299 I don't think he was trying to shame them. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.879 No, he chastens who he loves. 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.539 Here's what I think he's doing. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.599 He's reminding them where they're supposed to be. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.839 That they're supposed to be with him. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.759 They're supposed to be seeking him. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.099 Here's what Jesus is doing. 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:34.099 He's calling them back to faith in him, not themselves. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.940 They had zeal. 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.840 I mean, they were excited. 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:40.120 I'm sure when that father came, they said, oh yeah, bring him here. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.340 We're the disciples. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.660 You know, they had done these things. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.420 I mean, they're one of the 12 chosen ones. 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:50.140 They had zeal, but they didn't have power. 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:53.320 Because power is not in us. 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:56.300 God didn't say, hey, show them who you are. 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:59.060 I'm pretty sure where in the Bible it says, show them who I am. 00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:04.500 Let your light shine so they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:06.300 That it's always pointing back to him. 00:19:06.520 --> 00:19:08.160 They had zeal, but no power. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.180 They had a lot of effort, but no dependence. 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:14.240 And they were working themselves to the bone. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:16.460 And it kind of reminds me of this in my own life. 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.500 And maybe you've thought it. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:21.279 Have you ever worked so hard for God and seen nothing accomplished? 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:26.899 Like, Lord, I'm doing all these things. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.359 Lord, I'm giving. 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.639 And I'm going to church. 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.839 And I'm doing all this stuff. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.819 Lord, I'm doing this. 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.379 Yeah. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.700 I'm. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.480 I'm. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.220 I'm. 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:36.980 I'm. 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:43.079 Maybe the Lord is just gently reminding you like he was here to them. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.899 You're trying in your own strength. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.879 It's not going to work. 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.700 You're going to be frustrated. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:56.399 But how we respond to failure is going to change the course. 00:19:57.660 --> 00:20:00.460 We can't let failure drive us away from God. 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.960 See, God calls us to follow him. 00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.799 He calls us to trust him. 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.619 He calls us to be dependent on him. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:10.319 And then we don't do any of those things, and then we blame him. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:14.440 Well, God, I did all these things, and you just left me out to dry. 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:18.000 I don't think God's ever left any of us out to dry. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.920 No, I don't think that's the case. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:26.799 We got to look at our own life, and even here this morning, are we letting the failures 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:31.399 and the times we falter drive us away to God or drive us to him? 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:34.320 Because that's really what God wants to do. 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:39.420 See, when you reach the end of your ability, that's exactly where you need to be. 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:42.180 That's where true strength begins. 00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:47.060 He told Paul that my grace is sufficient, that in your weakness you'll be made strong. 00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:52.200 Jesus tells his disciples at the very beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, here's where it all begins. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.900 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:59.480 Those that realize that they are spiritually bankrupt, that they have nothing to offer to God. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:04.900 That's where true strength, that's where true power will be evident in your life. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:09.680 And so they come, and Jesus says, bring thy son hither. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:14.319 And as he comes, the demon's fighting all the way to the very end. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.819 It just says so casually. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.299 And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:23.339 I love that. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:28.240 That what Satan tries to destroy, Jesus, it's no match for him. 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.539 He can just restore it like that. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.379 That's what Jesus wants to do. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:35.519 They tried and tried and tried and nothing happened. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.539 And Jesus just speaks. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.519 And everything happens. 00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:40.960 And everything changes. 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:43.819 See, the disciples' problem wasn't just failure. 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:46.159 It was misplaced faith. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:50.500 And what Jesus is kind of calling them back to, and he's bringing them once again, 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:54.220 is they needed to rediscover what real dependence looks like. 00:21:55.040 --> 00:21:57.840 I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded often of that. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.640 I need to be reminded daily of that. 00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:04.440 That's why Paul tells us, I die daily. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.880 You know what Paul was saying? 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.940 I've got to decide when I wake up in the morning who I'm going to be dependent on. 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.900 Paul or God. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.720 And that's what we have to do. 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:16.000 And that leads us to our second truth here this morning. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.940 That we need Jesus for stronger faith. 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:22.259 That Jesus is the one that gives us faith. 00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:24.720 He's the one that allows us to have that. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.300 And here's what it means for us today. 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:29.300 When our faith falters, we have to learn to trust Jesus, 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:31.180 even if we don't understand everything. 00:22:32.340 --> 00:22:33.200 I don't know if you're like me. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.360 I like to have all the answers. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.540 How many of you are like me? 00:22:36.560 --> 00:22:38.460 When you're going to go somewhere, you're going to go eat somewhere, 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.700 you Google it first. 00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:43.620 You want to get all the research done. 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:46.579 You're not going to roll into a restaurant and spend money that's got two stars. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:49.939 I mean, you want to read all of it, make sure the good reviews, you're going to buy something. 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:51.119 That's just how I operate. 00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.599 I want all the facts in. 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.039 I want to understand everything before I make a decision. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.919 But sometimes we don't understand everything that God is doing. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.979 And we need Jesus for stronger faith. 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:07.120 We need him when faith falters because his power will always stand. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.880 Verse 43, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:13.079 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.299 But while they wondered, everyone at all the things which Jesus did, 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.680 he said unto his disciples, 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.920 Let these sayings sink down into your ears, 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:25.620 for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:31.779 See, the crowd, the same crowd that saw the failure of all the disciples, 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.099 they were there and they kept thinking, 00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:36.159 All right, are we missing something? 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:39.000 Is something supposed to happen right here? 00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:42.239 When Jesus shows up, they see deliverance. 00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:44.519 And that's the difference. 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:51.699 That sometimes God allows us to fail so that we'll rediscover where the power really lies. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:51.819 Jesus. 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:55.500 The disciples had to get that in their mind again and again and again. 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:58.059 That Jesus said, Hey, it's not you guys. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.340 It's me. 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.220 That's where the power is. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.200 That's where the strength is. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:04.059 And I just want to remind us here this morning, 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:07.740 the world doesn't need to see how great a Christian has come to Central Baptist Church. 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:10.059 They need to see Jesus. 00:24:11.100 --> 00:24:12.440 That's what the world needs to see. 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:15.720 They need to see a people that are dependent on God. 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:17.799 Even sometimes when life doesn't make sense. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.880 You don't have to have all the answers. 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:23.900 You don't have to have all your ducks in a row, so to speak. 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:27.660 They need to just see a powerful Savior working in your life. 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:31.760 That you live a life that is dependent upon Christ. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.860 See, because when we respond to failure with this renewed faith in Jesus, 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.560 here's what it does. 00:24:38.800 --> 00:24:41.980 It testifies that God is greater than any of our weaknesses. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:45.820 Because the world around us sees when we mess up. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.639 They see when we fail. 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:52.059 They need to see us respond and say, Jesus, I'm still going to trust you. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:58.879 Because if you're anything like me, and I think you are because we all have these same parents, Adam and Eve. 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.220 You know when we fail? 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:02.179 It's that woman's fault. 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:05.619 I mean, it starts in the garden. 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.419 We deflect and we blame. 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.799 Here's who Adam was really blaming. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.740 He blamed God. 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:14.440 Hey, I was good until you gave me her. 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:16.400 I mean, I was doing all my jobs. 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.420 I'm out taking care of the garden. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:18.380 I'm naming all these things. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.259 Like, oh, that's a giraffe. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:22.079 You know, I'm getting way sidetracked. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.160 How does he know that? 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.599 Anyways. 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.120 Isn't that how we do? 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:31.519 As long as we mess up and we've been trying to be this witness, we're trying to live for Christ. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:36.200 And then all of a sudden, without even realizing, we're kind of blaming God for the things that happen in our life. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:39.240 How we reacted to the boss when we didn't like what happened. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:42.880 Well, it's this, and if the Lord would have just handled that, I wouldn't even have to be in this situation. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:46.380 Maybe God put you in that situation just to trust him. 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:51.400 That, yes, you may not understand what's going on, but we need him. 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:53.279 We need to lean on him. 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:55.339 We need Jesus for stronger faith. 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.559 You're not going to find it within. 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.779 I hate to tell you this. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.319 I don't want to be a bearer. 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.839 There's not a champion inside of you. 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.539 I don't care what some preachers say. 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:04.680 No. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.039 What we need inside of us is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:09.359 We need his spirit guiding us. 00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:18.759 See, while everybody else was amazed at the miracle, Jesus turns around and everybody's thinking, wow, man, this is, this is, what kind of man is this? 00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:21.119 He just kind of turns around to his disciples. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:24.259 And I just picture it kind of just real quietly and real subtly. 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.960 He just looks and says, hey, don't miss this. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.279 Let all the things you've been hearing me say, let them sink in. 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:34.220 Because it's not just about these great miracles, you see. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.759 That's not why I came. 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.920 The Son of Man is going to be delivered up. 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:41.079 I'm going to die for this. 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:44.799 You think, what a party pooper. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:48.220 I mean, that's kind of how I think, what a change in tone. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:56.460 I mean, Jesus just seems to, at this point, really, from this point on in Luke chapter 9, everything, it just goes from this miracle and it goes right to the cross. 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.900 Let me remind you, because that's what it's always been. 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.440 That's why he came. 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:04.240 He didn't come to do a bunch of miracles and draw great crowds. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.600 He came for the cross. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:11.880 And Jesus was teaching them, and he's teaching us still today, that faith just isn't for the mountaintop. 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:15.660 That faith really is when you don't understand what's going on. 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.960 You know what he's saying? 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:19.460 Hey, put this in your mind. 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:23.860 Hey, lock this down, because you're going to come to a place where you don't understand what's going on. 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.440 Because they're going to see the Messiah on the cross. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:29.920 They thought it was a crown coming. 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.600 And they're not going to understand. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.200 And here's what he's saying. 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:35.000 When you don't understand, you're just going to need stronger faith. 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.920 And you're not going to find it within. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:39.500 It's not going to be deep within your heart. 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:42.340 No, you're just going to have to trust that God is in control. 00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:45.300 See, because he, Jesus understood this. 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:48.579 When the cross came, it would rock their world. 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.740 And it did. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:55.619 When you study the crucifixion, I mean, they show up and the disciples scatter. 00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:58.680 They don't know what's taking place. 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:03.319 And he knew that they would need to remember what real faith means. 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:09.639 That it means believing his plan is still good, even when it's hard to see. 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:17.540 And I'd imagine some of you in this room, in a room this size, you've got some things in your life that are real hard. 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.340 And life is difficult. 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:21.160 And you're thinking, Lord, what is going on? 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.880 You may not understand it, but here's what you can trust. 00:28:24.280 --> 00:28:25.700 God is still God. 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.480 He is still good. 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.900 And he is still working. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:32.020 Sometimes we're in this situation because we put ourselves in this situation. 00:28:32.300 --> 00:28:32.880 Here's the great news. 00:28:33.020 --> 00:28:34.440 He still loves us and he's still good. 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:38.860 But sometimes we're just doing everything God wants us to do and we still find ourselves there. 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:39.420 Why? 00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:41.340 Because God is working in our life. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:48.220 And maybe he's allowing you to walk through a difficult thing because others around you at your school and in your life are looking and they're saying, 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:50.380 how can they walk through that? 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.960 When it doesn't make sense. 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.740 I mean, they're good people. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.539 Why do bad things happen to good people? 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:58.180 Because it will give an opportunity to show who Christ is. 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.720 And not just strengthen your faith, but others. 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.799 I love verse 45. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:04.440 This is when I really relate to the disciples. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.799 They had no idea what was going on. 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.519 And I love this. 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.980 And they were way too afraid to ask. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.419 You ever been in those situations? 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.399 Why don't you ask? 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.039 I'm not asking. 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:14.579 You ask. 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.539 They don't know what's going on. 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:20.619 They wanted. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.519 Here's what they didn't get. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.599 They wanted the glory without the cross. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.519 See, all this in chapter 9 is connected. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:31.399 They keep trying to circumvent the cross. 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:33.900 And great mountaintops come. 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:35.160 They say, I'm looking for that. 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:36.000 Great miracles come. 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.980 Sign me up for that. 00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:38.560 Jesus said, let me just remind you. 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.040 This is about a cross. 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:42.200 This is about a sacrifice. 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:44.960 They wanted the power without the pain. 00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:46.860 That's not how it happens. 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:51.120 And I think so often in our life, we want the blessing without the burden. 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:54.779 We want the strength that God gives without the surrender. 00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:57.919 We don't like to surrender. 00:29:58.719 --> 00:29:59.779 But that's where it's found. 00:30:00.719 --> 00:30:06.079 Maybe the reason you're having some issues in your life and it seems like you're just running into the wall, banging your head against the wall, 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.759 is because you're not willing to surrender. 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.639 But that's where it's found. 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:11.779 That's what Jesus is teaching them. 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:17.759 See, faith grows deeper not when life is easy, but when it's hard. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:21.299 And I know some of your testimonies in this room. 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:25.160 And you walk through some of the deepest, darkest valleys possible. 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.440 But you know what you found there? 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:28.579 Jesus. 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:28.740 Jesus. 00:30:30.159 --> 00:30:31.659 The doctor said, you got cancer. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.599 There's nothing that can happen. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.359 There's nothing we can do. 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.259 Well, guess who you found there in that valley? 00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.199 Jesus. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.699 And you're sitting here today. 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.759 Maybe it was a family situation. 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:42.059 Maybe it was a marital situation. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.379 Maybe it was a work situation. 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:44.579 You lost everything. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:46.419 You think, Lord, how did I get here? 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.939 And maybe it was bad decisions. 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.679 Maybe it was just how the Lord is working in your life. 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:52.359 But what God is wanting you to see is I'm here. 00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:55.859 And you can trust me, even when it doesn't make sense, 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:58.979 because our God can make broken things beautiful things again. 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:01.859 And he's going to do that on the cross of Calvary. 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:05.039 And when the valley comes, we are still to trust him. 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:07.000 That's when faith becomes real. 00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:09.979 It's easy to say God is good on the mountaintop. 00:31:10.699 --> 00:31:12.819 But he's still the same God in the valley. 00:31:13.699 --> 00:31:15.979 And they are literally coming off a mountaintop. 00:31:16.219 --> 00:31:18.619 And Jesus is saying, listen, you need to hang on to those things. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:21.539 And you need to trust me because just who I was up there, 00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:23.679 I'm going to be the same person on the cross. 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.080 That there's still hope found there. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:29.060 Listen, faith isn't forged on those mountaintops. 00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:31.360 It's refined in the valley. 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.980 That's what Jesus is teaching his disciples. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:37.779 So we see that Jesus, we need him in our struggles. 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.900 And we need him in our faith. 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:43.340 But there's one more area of dependence that shows up most clearly. 00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:45.820 That we need him all the time. 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.660 And it's in our prayer life. 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:54.279 Every time I talk about prayer and preach about prayer, I feel like an imposter. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:56.180 I'll just be 100% transparent. 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:59.000 Is there anybody in here that says, I pray too much? 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:03.759 I think prayer is one of those things that every time we start talking about prayer, 00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:05.180 everybody realizes, you know what? 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.920 I probably should pray more. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:10.580 I probably should be a little more sincere about it. 00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:11.620 And here's what we need. 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:14.660 We need Jesus through sincere prayer. 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:17.460 Turn over with you in your Bibles to Mark. 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:19.500 Mark chapter number 9. 00:32:21.040 --> 00:32:23.759 This is the parallel account of this. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.980 Mark chapter 9. 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:31.100 Jesus has healed this young boy. 00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:34.880 And they get back in the house in verse number 28 of Mark chapter 9. 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:39.080 And when he was coming to the house, his disciples asked him privately, 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:43.240 why could not we cast him out? 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.319 Notice Jesus' response. 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:53.519 And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting. 00:32:55.380 --> 00:32:59.440 Jesus is reminding them, you weren't connected to the right source. 00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:02.700 Why is prayer so important? 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:06.259 Because doesn't the Bible say that Jesus already knows everything? 00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.500 I mean, he knows everything, doesn't he? 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:11.240 Doesn't the Bible say that he already knows what we need before we even ask? 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.559 Yes, it does say that. 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:17.279 And there's nothing that we go to God in prayer and he's like, I didn't know that. 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.319 You know, sometimes we pray like that. 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:23.079 Lord, I'm not sure if you've looked at your calendar, but have you looked at mine? 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.720 Because it's not working out. 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.779 Okay, y'all pray. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.900 I don't know how y'all pray. 00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:30.759 But I sometimes go to the Lord and act like he doesn't know what's going on. 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.839 You know what prayer really does? 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.380 Prayer keeps us dependent. 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.500 Prayer isn't a backup plan. 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:43.900 But that's kind of what it was in the disciples' life right here. 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:47.339 They got there and they said, okay, here's what we're going to do. 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:49.079 Remember last time we said this? 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:51.759 Remember last time we did this and all of a sudden these demons came out? 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.960 So let's just follow that list. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.220 What's going on? 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.039 But you know what? 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.599 When you really said those other accounts, here's what they did. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:00.019 They were connected to the source. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.000 They were praying about it. 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:05.339 They said how they taught and they prayed and they did all these things. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:06.759 Prayer keeps us dependent. 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:09.519 It's foundational for spiritual victory. 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:17.579 Every time we stop praying, it's usually because we think we can handle situations on our own. 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.539 That's the hard reality of it. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.340 And that's how it is. 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:24.940 We look at a situation and we say things like this. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.159 I don't even got to pray about this. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.179 Okay. 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:30.559 I say things like, I don't even got to pray about this. 00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:33.359 I'm laying it out here for you this morning. 00:34:35.359 --> 00:34:37.139 But it really just means, you know what, I can handle this. 00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:39.319 I've done this before. 00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:41.779 I mean, we say things, this is what we say. 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:42.879 This ain't my first rodeo. 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.139 Yeah, there we go. 00:34:45.279 --> 00:34:46.579 Now it's connecting. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.279 You know what prayer does? 00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:52.039 It keeps us aware of our need for God. 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:56.239 It's a posture of dependence. 00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:00.320 That we come to him, he's already working. 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:04.320 He already knows what he wants to do and how he's going to do it. 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.400 But here's what it gets us. 00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:08.019 We can sometimes go to God and say, God, I really need you to do this. 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.199 I need you to get on the same page with me. 00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.759 No, no, no, no, no. 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.400 That's wrong. 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.659 We need to be on his page. 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:16.039 That's why people take these verses that God will grant us the desires of our heart. 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:19.599 No, here's what it means, that when we're in communion and we're in fellowship with him, 00:35:19.820 --> 00:35:21.739 God places those desires in our heart. 00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:23.860 Then we go to him and ask for those desires. 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.920 He says, yeah, I'll do that. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.019 That we're on the same page with him. 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:31.259 Saying in Jesus' name is not a signature to get what you want. 00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:35.420 No, it's saying, listen, that I'm in line with what God wants. 00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:39.980 And that God, if this is God's will, then God will accomplish it. 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:41.320 That it keeps us dependent. 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:42.579 That it keeps us aware. 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:48.239 And when you pray before you act, you acknowledge this, that it has to come through him or it's not going to happen at all. 00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.799 That's why we pray on Sunday mornings. 00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:51.719 We pray every time we gather. 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:54.199 Lord, we need you to show up. 00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:58.900 Listen, if God didn't show up, we just had a good time eating donuts, drinking coffee, and talking to each other. 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.739 But we need God. 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.719 We need him to be here. 00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:04.900 We need him to show up in our lives. 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:07.619 Prayer keeps us dependent, but it keeps us humble. 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:11.759 When the disciples failed, they said, Jesus, why couldn't we do this? 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:18.039 I believe they sincerely tried, but they were self-reliant. 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:21.380 See, what true prayer does is it humbles us. 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:23.840 It admits this, Lord, I can't, but you can. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.460 That's where the strength flows from. 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:28.980 It keeps us connected to his power. 00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:32.920 We're not going to get into this long because we're running out of time and you're Baptist. 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:35.360 But it says prayer and fasting. 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:38.679 You say, what's the big deal with fasting? 00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:40.019 What's the purpose of it? 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:42.360 Here's the reality. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:43.179 You're going to like this point. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.219 We need food. 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:46.099 No? 00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:47.699 Yeah. 00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:50.940 Don't act like you're not thinking right now what you want to eat after this. 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:54.079 You're like, this guy needs to wrap it up and we need to eat. 00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.820 You know what fasting is? 00:36:57.820 --> 00:37:03.760 It's voluntarily setting something aside that you need to focus on what you need even more. 00:37:04.660 --> 00:37:05.019 Him. 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:06.960 That's what fasting is about. 00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:11.120 It's not about being some religious, pious person like, well, I fast. 00:37:11.160 --> 00:37:12.039 Because that's what the Pharisees did. 00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:13.519 I fast twice a week. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.039 No, here's when you fast. 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:18.460 Lord, I know I need food, but what I really need right now is you. 00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:23.360 Maybe you have something in your life and you don't have the answers and you're trying all the things in your strength. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:25.119 Hey, maybe try fasting. 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:31.320 Go to the Lord in prayer and say, Lord, look, I'm not going to eat for a couple days because I need you to show up. 00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.800 Because here's what it does. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:34.340 It refocuses our life. 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:39.500 When we fast and we pray, we're declaring that Christ is our greatest need. 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.280 That's what it is. 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:44.660 So what have we seen today? 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:49.140 That we need Jesus, whether it's in our struggles, in our faith, in our prayers. 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:53.500 That we never advance beyond our need for him. 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:55.980 We're all going to fail. 00:37:56.800 --> 00:38:00.800 But let's make sure with God's help that we are failing forward. 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:03.380 We are failing in his direction. 00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:05.300 And when he does, we don't run the other way. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.360 We don't blame him. 00:38:06.519 --> 00:38:07.660 We don't blame others in the church. 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:09.320 No, we say, Lord, would you help me? 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.280 Would you grow me? 00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:18.000 Will you let your failures drive you closer to Jesus, deepen your faith, and strengthen your prayer life? 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:22.640 See, we'll never reach a time in our life where we don't need Jesus. 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:26.360 Where we have enough faith and we pray too much. 00:38:27.240 --> 00:38:28.860 It's never going to happen to anybody in this room. 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:32.000 Failure doesn't disqualify you. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:34.579 It reminds you who to depend on. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.519 Maybe that's where you're at. 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.300 Maybe that's why you're stuck. 00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:39.440 Maybe that's why it feels like you're in the mud and your wheels are spinning. 00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:41.280 Because you're trying to do it on your own. 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.260 Here's the truth. 00:38:42.539 --> 00:38:43.239 You need Jesus. 00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:49.420 Christian friend, let me just remind you that maybe you're in a season where your faith feels weak. 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:53.320 Maybe you're trying to handle life in your own strength and it's not working. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:55.440 Maybe the critics have been loud. 00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:58.199 Maybe the battle has been fierce and you've just grown weary. 00:38:58.199 --> 00:39:02.500 Just let this truth in this morning remind you you're never too big. 00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:04.099 You never outgrow Jesus. 00:39:05.359 --> 00:39:11.000 Let it be a moment maybe this morning when the invitation starts in just a second to be just a moment of surrender. 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:17.259 In Mark's account, the father says, Lord, help my unbelief. 00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:19.119 Lord, I need you. 00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:24.599 Here's a beautiful thing that Jesus is not repelled by our weakness. 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:27.440 He's actually drawn to it. 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:36.519 That because his strength is made perfect in the weakness, maybe today if you know him as your savior, you still need to return to him in full dependence. 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.539 Maybe in your marriage. 00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:40.099 In your ministry. 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.420 In your home. 00:39:41.859 --> 00:39:43.739 In your private walk with the Lord. 00:39:43.739 --> 00:39:48.000 Maybe there's some here this morning that are just still searching. 00:39:48.959 --> 00:39:49.799 Who is Jesus? 00:39:51.019 --> 00:39:52.859 Does he really make that much difference? 00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:56.079 Maybe you've been trying to live life on your own. 00:39:56.299 --> 00:39:57.739 And I want you to hear this very clearly. 00:39:58.139 --> 00:40:04.799 You cannot win the battle against sin and guilt and fear and all the things you're facing on your own. 00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:13.519 See, the greatest failure of all is to live without the savior who came and died for you. 00:40:14.519 --> 00:40:16.960 That's the greatest failure that anybody can ever have. 00:40:18.180 --> 00:40:20.100 Because Jesus came down from the mountain. 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:22.600 Not just in this story, but he came down from heaven. 00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:26.180 And he came to live a perfect sinless life. 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:28.280 And to die on the cross of Calvary. 00:40:28.560 --> 00:40:31.000 Not for himself, but for my sin and for your sin. 00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:33.220 And he faced our enemy. 00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:34.500 And he bore our sin. 00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.659 And he died our death. 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:37.699 And he raised a new life. 00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:39.360 That we might have hope. 00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.780 And that we might have joy. 00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.440 And that we might have life. 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:46.500 You see, this same Jesus who took this boy by the hand. 00:40:46.659 --> 00:40:47.800 And raised him up. 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:49.719 And called him up to a new life. 00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:52.119 He can do the very same thing for you today. 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:54.960 Maybe you're here and you're just frustrated. 00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:56.400 And you're tired. 00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:59.179 And you're thinking, Lord, I just want to do the right thing. 00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:01.519 And there's so many answers in the world. 00:41:01.659 --> 00:41:02.480 No, there's one answer. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:05.280 Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:08.539 And maybe you're searching and here's the great news. 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:09.740 You found it today. 00:41:12.099 --> 00:41:13.760 You don't have to clean yourself up. 00:41:14.300 --> 00:41:18.280 You don't have to be perfect and have some great giant faith. 00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:20.480 Just the faith of a mustard seed. 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:25.059 Just bring your trembling, imperfect, real faith to him. 00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:27.380 And he'll change you. 00:41:27.940 --> 00:41:29.259 He'll meet you right where you are. 00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:31.259 The question is, will you come? 00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:34.239 And will you trust him today? 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:36.900 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed? 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:45.289 And will you trust him alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém alguém