Scripture:
Mark 9:17-27 NKJV
[17] Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. [18] And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” [19] He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” [20] Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. [21] So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. [22] And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” [23] Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” [25] When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” [26] Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Observation:
It seems like a lot is going on with not just the people I know but in the world as a whole. The enemy is on the prowl. The bible tells us he lurks around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. That is an important statement to pay attention to. Especially if you believe what GOD’S word says. Because that is what the enemy is going to come against the most. This morning as I was praying about some things I have going on in my life, and what to write about in the SOAP this story stood out in Mark chapter 9 it starts a few verses before where we pick up, and has 2 or 3 after where we end this morning. However, the point of why this story was chosen is in verses 22 and 23. But I don’t want to miss what’s going on here, so let’s back up. A crowd had developed around a boy who had a demon. In today’s modern medicine, they would call it epilepsy and give him a pill that would make these events happen less often. Do you see how the enemy works? Stealing our beliefs away from the LORD. Ok, moving forward. But honestly, someone has to make a hard stand, or no one will. As Jesus comes into the situation and is made aware of what’s going on. HE is informed by the boy’s father that the demon seizes him regularly and has even tried to kill him by seizing him and throwing him in the water to drown or into the fire to burn.
It’s been an ongoing battle, and I’m sure the boy’s father had prayed fervently. Asking for answers and healing. Even going as far as to seek out the disciples to see if they could do anything. All with no avail. The boy was still overcome by this demon. You can name it epilepsy if you want. In fact, it’s good to know their names. I will tell you why in the application. So, as the boy’s dad is explaining to Jesus what’s going on with his son, he says something that Jesus clues in on. Let’s take a close look at it. It’s in verse 22, ” But IF you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” There it was. The disciples had tried to cast it out and had no progress. In fact, it might have been why there was a big crowd around the kid as he lay there bound up by this demon of epilepsy. As you finish reading the last few verses that were not included in this SOAP, you can see the disciples had tried to do something. That may have been part of the reason for the man’s unbelief. Maybe there were several attempts made that amounted to nothing but another seizing moment. We don’t know the bible doesn’t say how many times they had tried just that they had made an attempt and failed. The keyword that Jesus had heard from the boy’s father was “IF.” Now this word is very small, but in the bible, it has a very big impact. The statement that is given by the SON of GOD brings that very small word to the forefront of this man’s attention. “IF” you can believe all things are possible to him who believes.” This statement shook something in the young man’s father. With tears in his eyes, he was moved with compassion for his son, who was seizing at the moment his desperate cry went out to Jesus. “I believe, please help my unbelief.” It was just enough faith. A small glimmer of what was needed. A mustard seed worth you might say. But it was enough that what he was asking for was made possible. In a sense, he was telling Jesus I’m giving you every ounce of belief I got. Holding on to hope. I’m planting this little mustard seed right here on the healing of my son. Will you help it grow? That little bit of belief was enough. It was enough to hold on to hope. It was enough to produce some kind of action. A plea for help from the savior. Jesus took the small amount of faith that the man gave HIM and planted it in the life of his son. Telling the demon to come out, and it did. Leaving the boy to look lifeless on the ground. But Jesus knew that what had been asked for took place grabbed the young man’s hand and brought him to his feet. It’s just a little bit just enough to hold on. Faith the size of a mustard seed can produce great things.
Application:
As the time gets closer and closer to the return of Christ. The enemy is going to test your belief. He wants to know if you truly believe as well. I’m going to be honest. He does it to me all the time. Bringing me right to the edge of…. oh, forget about it and…. maybe I misheard what GOD said. I’m going to tell you how he works. But GOD is always right on time. HE wants your faith to make an impact. He wants that mustard seed to take root and form a tree inside you that can not be shaken. A tree that others can lean on. But in order for it to do so, you have to plant your faith. Jesus said that in order for a seed to produce, it must first die and fall to the ground. I know HE was talking about HIS resurrection. But look at the faith that has produced. The question is not do you have enough faith, Its, do you have any faith at all? Just to hold on to what looks like the very end. Can I tell you something. GOD wants to grow your faith. So if you are holding on and your grip is the him of HIS garment, don’t let go. Ask HIM to. GOD likes to work in what we think looks impossible. That’s where all the glory is. I have a question. DO YOU BELIEVE? Then don’t let go of the belief. Plant it. Faith is made to grow. Look at the way it’s described in the bible as a seed. The enemy is always going to try to get you to doubt GOD… to doubt what HE says. So that you won’t hold fast to HIS promises. It’s his game. it’s been his game from the very beginning…. think about it… what did he say to Eve…. did GOD really say? Our stand has to be GOD SAID IT I BELIEVE IT AND THAT SETTLES IT, and that’s that. We can not afford to let the enemy push us around. If you believe even a little bit. It’s enough.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you are good and your word is true. You are able to do far more than our minds can fathom. We want to have faith that has been planted. So we give you the little bit that we have. This little seed and pray that by holding on you your word it will grow. You know how long we have been at this and how far we have come. But we also know that you will bring us to the end of ourselves so that our only option is to trust in you and believe what your word says. So I want to speak it out right now. We are healed, we are set free, we are more than conquerors, mighty warriors, over comers,you are our provider, and you will do so according to your riches and glory, you will not see, your righteous begging for bread, the only true GOD that keeps HIS promises, you will never fail, as your word goes out it will produce the fruit you intend for it to. It will produce a crop in us 30 60 or 100 times what was sown. You are our GOD and we are your people. We stand in faith that these promises are true. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.