What Happened to the Power?

Andrea Peters

Midland SDA Church 

October 3, 2009

Response: faith is the victory 608

Scripture reading: Mark 9:23-29

Text: 

Mark 9: 14 -29, Matthew 17: 11-13, 14-21 Boy Healed

Mark 9:14-18 coming down from the mountain

Experts in the law engaged in discussion with them... this is the very thing Peter hoped to avoid.

• On the mountain top , in the presence of glory Peter has said “this is a good place for us to be”
• Life was so much better & so much nearer to God there on the mountain top. 
• The solitary is necessary, for a man must keep his contact with God, but if a man in search for the essential solitude , shuts himself off from his fellow-men, if he shuts his ears to the appeal of men for help, if he shuts his heart to the cry of the tears, then that is not religion.
• Solitude is meant to make us better able to cope with the demands of everyday life.
• The boy was an epileptic. All the symptoms are there.
• While the discussion is occurring, then Jesus arrives.  It was at his sudden, unexpected arrival, just at the right moment that they were surprised.
• Those hostile scribes may have been the same ones who came from Jerusalem to alienate respect of the people for Jesus & report what he did & said...they often attacked Jesus through his disciples ( Mark 2:16, 18, 24; 7:1,5)
• Here we learn 2 things about Jesus, He was ready to face the cross & the common problem.
• V17- one of the multitude -this gave the father of the poor demon possessed boy the opportunity to present his request personally. Describes the condition & ends with it worsening...& verse 18 –disciples could not!...hopelessness 
• Personal example: Sometimes we experience disappointment from church, disciples...press through to Christ. We can wrestle with him face to face he will not disappoint us (Isa 1:18)

Mark 9: 19-24 The Cry of Faith

• Faithless Generation-The Fathers faith was not the only obstacle in the way of healing his son. Because the disciples themselves were primarily at fault (V29) but by prayer
• How long- Jesus asks for the case history...father has already explained the symptoms
• v22- sore vexed was used to describe a situation in which human skill had been unable to alleviate.
• Help us- the father here makes the boys case His own
• v 23- To the Father of the boy Jesus stated the conditions of the miracle. It was as if Jesus said   “ the cure for your boy depends, not on me but on you.”
• v24- the Father would not have brought his son if he had not already possessed a measure of faith ( James 1: 5-8)... this man is in tears...Jesus is speaking to His heart.
• Mark 9:23 what about the father...believe James1: 5-8 unstable and double minded

Mark 9: 25-29The cause of the Failure

• It seems as if Jesus had taken the Father & son aside...crowd comes running..one last struggle to complete exhaustion & the boy was cured.
• Jesus Rebuked the unclean spirit- the demon had cause the boys physical condition. Jesus desire is that it enters us no more? Matthew 12: 43-45 ...latter end is worst
• v26- rent him sore- “greatly convulsed him”
• As one dead- the boy was utterly exhausted from the violence of the spasm that had siezed him.
• Demon departed- it's the touch of Jesus that restores the boys strength
• Why could we not- the 12 had cast out demons during the course of their ministry
• Did the disciple ever have the power? Mark 3: 13-15  yes  ( parallel account Matthew 10, 11: 1-19)
• Did the disciples ever have success? Mark 6: 7,12,13  yes Luke 9:1, 2; 
• Were they the only ones? no... 70 others also Luke10: 1,2 9, 16-20
• What happened to the Power
• The real trouble, lay not in the power of the demon, but in the spiritual impotence of the disciples.Why could the disciples not cast out the demon? DA 471 
• Jealousy ...argue, got into a dispute w/ Satan himself.
• Christ is not concerned with momentary prayer but a life actuated by prayer.  During the absence of Peter, James & John the 9 disciples had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances, in a spiritual jealousy because of the favor shown their companions
• This kind of cure demanded prayer. They had been equipped with power, but it needed prayer to keep & maintain that power. 
• There is a deep lesson for us here. God may have given us some gift, but unless we maintain close contact with him that gift may wither & die. 
• Unless we maintain contact with God we loose 2 things however great our gift may be.

1. We lose Vitality- living power, that something plus that makes for greatness
2. We lose humility- what should be used for the glory of God  we begin to use for the gloryof ourselves, & the virtue goes from it.

• We keep our gifts whenwe enrich them by continual contact with the God who gave them. 

• Yesterdays victory is not sufficient for todays challenge? I need revival & reformation daily 1Cor15:31

Solution: I need to take my weakness to God in faith and tell him I am powerless over it. Ask Him to help my unbelief.

I need to occupy till he comes, what were the disciple doing while Christ was away?

Be more expedient in doing the will of the Father  

Example: Acts 8:26-40 Philip

v 26. Who spoke to Philip? Angel    (did he tell him why? No)  27. Philip's response – arose & went

v28. Who was he to meet? Eunuch  and what was he doing? 

1. Who now speaks to Philip? Spirit does Philip recognize the voice? Ran   30. Eunuch – how can I?

Why was he in the area? Jerusalem to worship...could he go into the temple...no, not a Jew

what is the prerequisite for Christianity? Believe Mark 16:16

When was the last time I, you were on fire for God? Ministry? Sharing faith?

What Happened to the power?

Jesus needs us dead to self before he can use us...fill us.

Personal Example: testimony...lost! I was dead & out of the Lord...he brought me back...

Ephesians 6:10 -13 -put on the whole armor of God

What Happened to the Power?

What about us today? Romans 8: 1-4, 31,33, 34, 35, 37 conquerers through Christ 

Light...needs to be plugged into outlet for power to flow through...

Matt 5:16...Is it your desire to experience the power, daily? ( Explain how to)