LIVING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE Mark 9:14-29

 

"BRING HIM TO ME."
— Mark 9:14 -29

Our children are most precious to us. When they suffer, we suffer with them and for them. We are all God’s Children and when we suffer, He provides healing when we come to Him in prayer by faith. He allows our trouble to bring us to Him in prayer. 

There is a purpose for our troubles: James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

The purpose of our troubles is to draw us closer to God. They are designed to build our faith, get us ready for what’s ahead and to be a blessing to others

In Mark 9 a fathers brought his son to Jesus  to be healed. Like any parent, his heart is broken and needs a miracle for his son. We are all sons and daughters of  God the father in need of healing. We can not exist without the favor of God.

I want to focus less on the miracle, and more on the events that led to the miracle.  I will review the text from following point of view;

1. God makes all things work for the good of those who love Him

2. God used the devil’s violence to affect the son 

3. God used the son’s problem to bring the father to Christ

4. God used the fathers love for the son to bring him to belief 

THE TEXT

14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 16 "What is all this arguing about?" Jesus asked.

17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, "Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it."  19 Jesus said to them, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 

20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. 21 "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father.

He replied, "Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can."

23 "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." 24 The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. "Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak," he said. "I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!" 

26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?" 29 Jesus replied, "This kind can be cast out only by prayer." 

I want focus less on the miracle, but more on the events that led to the miracle,  I believe God used this this fathers anguish to teach us the wise of the devil and the way to quench his fiery darts 

BACKGROUND

Jesus had sent out the 12 disciples in pairs to cast out demons, heal the sick And teach the good news as described in Mark 6.  It was a successful trip. The same disciples in Mark 9 could not heal the fathers son 

Jesus took Peter James and John to the mount of Transfiguration. He was not present with the disciples that were left when the father brought his son seeking help. 

The devil used his influence to distract the disciples. With the religious leaders, the enemy of Jesus watching, the disciples decided to cast out the demon. They had  cast out demons before (Mark 6), with The power and the authority of Jesus, but they couldn’t do it this time

DON’T ARGUE SCRIPTURE WITH NON BELIEVERS 

They got into an argument with religious leaders and the teachers of the law. The argument was a distraction. The argument stopped the disciples from being a cohesive force. It stopped the disciples from seeking Jesus. It stopped the disciples from looking at themselves and evaluating their failure. 

The argument drew a crowd, which may have added to the confusion with the disciples. When you lead, all eyes are on you with the pressure to perform. Jesus did it, but could the disciples do the same?

ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP

Jesus showed up and established an order with the disciples and the religious leaders. He asked the right questions. Why was there an argument and what was it about?  Notice the devil and those he influenced stayed silent. It was the father of the demon possessed son who spoke up.

When asked to pray for someone or something it is important to know what we are praying for. The more information we have the better we can structure the prayer. 

Mark 9:17"Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.

This is added information that the disciple may not have obtained.

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM; LACK OF FAITH AND PRAYER

Mark 9:19 Jesus said to them, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

Jesus was not just talking to His disciples, He was talking to the crowd. He was talking to you and me.

The problem was lack of faith. The disciples had been with Jesus, witnessed His healing, participated in the healings, but had no faith in their ability to heal. The question by Jesus of “how long will you remain faithless suggests that we have many experiences of healing by Jesus and still didn't believe. Jesus was disappointed but tolerant.

You cannot expect anything from Jesus without faith. God brings us through trials from time to time to grow our faith. We must not take any of life’s experiences for granted. Always take time to see what God is showing you each day. You never know when previous experiences will be called to bear on current circumstances. 

BRING THE PROBLEM TO JESUS 

The father’s prayer and Jesus response

Mark 9:22 Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.

23 "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." 24 The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

We have to recognize that the devil shows up in the midst of your  agony to cast doubt on Jesus' will for you. The devil showed up in this case, but the disciples didn’t recognize him and had no plan to combat him.

The disciples had never experienced a situation before without Jesus. Jesus ’had cast out many demons in their presence, but they didn’t learn from them.  You will run into situations you have never handled before. But God’s word is the same.

THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS PRESENT

The moment you go in prayer with Jesus, the devil will remind you of his destructive influence. Prayer puts you in the presence of Jesus

Watch this: Mark 9:20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

Jesus was not disturbed, He continued establishing a relationship with the father of the demon possessed child. The devil’s job is to cast doubt and destroy any hope of help from Jesus. Remember there was a large crowd watching and many were being influenced by the devil

Mark 9:21  "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father.  He replied, "Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can."

How often do we ignore a problem and let it drag on until it gets too big for us to handle?  Even in your prayers the devil is persistent. 

"

“IF YOU CAN”  That “if” is Satan casting doubt in the ability of Jesus. It is the same “if” the devil tried to use on Jesus after He was baptized. If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread. It is the same “if” he used on Jesus on the cross. If you are the Christ, get down from the cross and save yourself and me. 

Don’t let no “If” be in your prayer. If is a level of doubt. The if did not come from God it put in your mind by Satan 

Mark 9:23 23 "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." 

24 The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

THE DEVIL WILL NOT GIVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT

Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. "Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak," he said. "I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”   

26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

Even when Jesus is working, there is a tendency not to believe. Folk gave up on the child, he is still dead. God has the last word. Jesus took the child by the hand. Have you ever prayed for change in behavior in a child, but the “if”, the doubt was still in your mind because you didn’t see an immediate change?

The commands of Jesus is powerful, Its our job to rebuke the devil with the commands of Jesus. Then we must wait on Jesus to act, because the situation may get worse before it gets better.

FAITH DEVELOPS IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE

When you take a prayer to Jesus, leave it in His hand. I know a man that was  in a coma for six months and came out of it.

God specializes in the dead, the lost, the heartless, the vile and the proud.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAITH 

Mark 9:28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?"29 Jesus replied, "This kind can be cast out only by prayer." 

Let’s talk about this kind. Apparently there is more than one kind of demonic spirit. There are levels of evil in the world. 

This kind is violent. This kind hate children, this kind will hurt the father and kill the son. This kind makes a public show of its evil influence.

Faith in Jesus is encouraged in prayer. There were nine disciples whose father brought his son too. None offered up a prayer to Jesus. We must have an attitude of prayer. Not just on Sunday but every day

During Jesus time devout Jews prayed three times a day, 9am, 12 pm and 3pm. Jesus commanded us to pray without ceasing. We have the power in prayer through the Holy Spirit to call on Jesus for healing and miracles of any kind.   

Prayer and faith are intertwined  together.  

James 5:13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

SUMMARY LIVING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE

• DEVELOP AND IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

• MAKE FAITH IN JESUS AND HIS WORD YOUR PRIORITY

• BE PREPARED AT ALL TIMES TO DEFEND YOUR FAITH 

• TREAT EVERYONE WITH KINDNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

• NEVER ARGUE SCRIPTURE, DO BIBLE STUDY

• DON’T GET DISTRACTED BY THE ENEMY

• PRAY WITHOUT CEASING ALL YOUR WAKING HOURS

• RECOGNIZED THAT ALL ILLNESSES ARE   THE PRODUCT OF SATAN

• WHEN YOU PRAY FOR OTHERS, CALL ON JESUS IN FAITH

A MESSAGE OF HOPE, JOY, PEACE Psalms 73:24

 A MESSAGE OF HOPE, JOY AND PEACE

Psalms 73:24

We are all on a journey on this earth designed by God with a starting point and an ending. 

In  Isaiah  46:10 God said this;  Only I can tell you the future before it even happens.

Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.  

God has a plan for everyone. And everyone is in his plan 

I want to take a text from a verse in the Bible from  Psalms 73:24-25 NLT

IT IS A MESSAGE OF HOPE JOY AND PEACE

Psalms 73:24 -25

24 Lord You guide me with your counsel, 

leading me to a glorious destiny.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

There are 4 important points I want to speak to in this verse.

Divine Guidance

Divine Counsel

Heavenly Destination

A DESIRE TO BE LIKE JESUS

Psalms 73 was written by Asaph, the chief musician under King David

He was in charge of praise and worship. He considered his situation and observed that the rich, the powerful seem to enjoy life with no problems. They could say what they want and get away with anything, but I am suffering

 He said in verse 2  But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

I got so caught up in what the world was doing, that I almost gave up on God.

But I remembered God and His goodness. So he gave us this prayer;

24 Lord, You guide me with your counsel, 

leading me to a glorious destiny.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

This is what we all should be seeking from God. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know everything, in fact I know very little.  I need 

Divine Guidance

I need Divine Counsel and 

I want a Heavenly Destination

A Changed Heart to be like Jesus

Life is complicated. We live in a world of violence. We really don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  We cannot determine how our day will start or how our day will end. We can only look back and say what happened.

We need divine guidance. We need the Lord who can order our steps. We need someone who knows where the road blocks are. We need someone who can guide us around or through an accident. We need someone that is bigger than the biggest gun, faster than a speeding bullet, smarter than the most intelligent person on earth to guide and direct us. 

We need someone who open closed doors and make a way out of no way

We need someone that is more powerful than all the leaders on earth to protect  us.

 I know that someone and his name is Jesus. 

WHAT DOES DIVINE GUIDANCE LOOK LIKE

Ps 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

In order to allow God to direct your steps you must know and submit to God’s will. To know God’s will to follow God’s will you have to know His Word. BIBLE STUDY

You have to make up your mind to follow His Word. You must be intentional in following God  word You must  be in prayer for every decision

God is a good leader and will and cannot guide you wrong.  

Isa 8:19  But shouldn't people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Why ask someone don’t know the Lord what to do?

The problem with trusting other people is you don’t know their heart. The only person you can trust is God. But what does that Look like? It your opinion  Or do you search scripture  then wait on God to reveal an answer? God may wait to see if you react or respond. We react on what we think. We respond based on meditation of God’s word

DIVINE  COUNSEL 

First You need divine directions and second ,

You need divine counsel. I don’t know about you, but I need divine counsel. I need someone to tell me the truth. We don’t need the opinions of others, we need the truth. Opinions are based on incomplete information. Opinions change as my thoughts change. Opinions change more often you change your underwear.

I need a truth that does not change, from a person that cannot change. Sometimes the truth hurts. Sometimes we don’t want to hear the truth. Sometimes we would rather go along with the crowd to be in the crowd. 

The Lord says I change not. He also said in Revelation you cannot add anything to my word or take anything away from it. The New Testament is over 2000 years old. Some parts of the Old Testament are over 4000 years old. It is the most read book in the world. It has survived the test of time.

Your situation is in the Bible. Whatever you are going through, somebody has already gone through it and the Lord has already talked about it, and given you directions on how to live with and deal with it.  Ecclesiastes 1: 9 say there is nothing new under the sun. 

Before Jesus returned to heaven He promised a divine counselor 

John 14: 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

How does this work? How do you receive God’s counseling? 

1. Jesus and the Father sent you a spiritual counselor

2. The counselor is always with you 

3. The spiritual counselor is just like Jesus

4. The spiritual counselor dwells within you

5. If you consult with Him, he give you the truth

6. You have to intentionally seek the truth that dwell in you

John 14:26  But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

1. Your teacher of the God’s Word is the counselor; the Holy Spirit

2. You have to study the Word to have reservoir of information stored in your brain

3. You have intentionally study the Word to get an understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit

4. In any situation the Holy Spirit will remind you of the truth

5. In any situation, you have intentionally listen for the Holy Spirit before responding

6. You must trust that Holy Spirit speaking is what you should say

There is hope. Despite what you are going through Family, there is Hope.

YOU HAVE DIVINE DIRECTION, YOU HAVE DIVINE COUNSEL 

AND YOU HAVE A GLORIOUS DESTINATION PREPARED FOR YOU 

There is no doubt in hope. It is a confident assurance in Jesus. Teach  the text to your family 

The Psalmist said in verse 21, I realized that my heart was bitter and I was all torn up inside.  He got caught up in what others had and was blinded to the grace God provided for his life

You have to come to the conclusion that everything will not be alright with you all the time. It’s ok, God designed life circumstance to keep you in prayer

All of us have or will experience a sense of brokenness. It is part of God’s plan to draw us closer to Him. He intends to make us perfect and lacking nothing. 

James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. NLT

Joy does not come from what you got, but who got you. Perfection does not just happen, its the pain God works in us.

Remember the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well in John 4, God designed her 6 Broken marriages to get her prepared to meet Jesus at the well. She accepted Jesus' words and took the Gospel to her whole village.  Her 7th marriage was to Jesus, a permanent relationship

Her brokenness was not just for her but her entire village. The Samaritan woman brokenness was a means to her wholeness. Your testimony brings others to Christ.

Consider this the woman had had 5 legal marriages but had not married the 6th. She may have given up on marriage. She was not a bad woman because 1. Jesus made a special trip to Samaria to meet her 2. Jesus did not condemn her and , 3 her message was accepted by the whole village,  they believed her testimony . 

HEAVEN IS YOUR HOME

The Psalmist  said in verse 23,  Lead me to a glorious destiny. Who do I have in heaven but you?

 Life is a journey to your heavenly home. Earth is not your home, you are just passing through  What a great prayer, God lead me to a glorious destination.

God never really tells us what heaven is but He does tell us what heaven is like. 

Isa 46:10

10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens.

Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

TAKING RESPOSIBILITY FOR HOPE

Eden asked me about heaven. Is Aunt Roro in heaven? Well Eden the Bible says this in 2 Corinthian 5:8 Absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. Your aunt Veronica who you called RoRo is with the Lord. 

Then Eden asked me, will I know her in heaven? Matthew 17:3 says three of Jesus' disciples went up to a mountain with Him, they saw and recognized Moses and Elijah who lived hundreds of years before they were born. Yes Eden you will know RORO when you get there. 

In heaven you will have a place prepared especially for you. Jesus said to all of us;

John 14:1-3 14 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Heaven will be all about praise and worship. Revelation 4:9 The angels sang Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty the one who was who is and still is to come 

Rev 4:9-11

9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.

It is a place of meet and greet, in Matthew 17:3,  that what Eden asked about  You will know people you never met.

Matt 17:2-4 Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.  4 Peter blurted out, "Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

It is a place where there will be no pain or sorrow Revelation 21:4  There will be nothing but good times. 

Rev 21:3-4  God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Rev 21:4  "Look, I am making everything new!"

  

HEAVEN IS A PLACE WHERE JESUS RESIDES

John 14:1-3

Is that a place you will want to go? It is available to you

 Let me tell all of you, you cannot get there without a relationship with Jesus. 

You don’t have time to waste,  You don’t know the time or the place  Jesus will come for you.

TAKING RESPOSIBILITY FOR HOPE

Rom 15:13-14

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus' hope has no ifs and no doubt. It is the absolute assurance from God. You have to believe and take hold of it. It will over flow through you. Our job is to express that hope to everyone

Hope Changes what you can see 

Luke 4:18  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 

1. You have the Good News

2. It up to you to trust God’s word

3. God has set you free from the devils influence

4. You have been sent to excite others about Jesus

5. Jesus opened eyes so people can see the truth

6. Your circumstances may seem oppressive, but God is your freedom

The Bible says who ever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have everlasting life  John 3:16

God didn’t say you have to belong to a church. God didn’t say you have to be doing any good work to be accepted in heaven. He did say whoever believes in Jesus, will have home in heaven. Jesus will take care of the rest. John 3:16

AMEN 

UNBELIEF A KILLER OF HOPE Numbers14:11

 

UNBELIEF A KILLER OF HOPE

       Numbers 14:11

Num 14:11 And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?

UNBELIEF IS A MONSTER

Strive with all diligence to keep out that monster unbelief. It dishonours Christ. It promotes the lie that He will withdraw His visible presence from us. It is true weed, the seeds of which we  can never entirely remove from the soil of our lives. We must aim at its root, the lie of the devil and do all we can with zeal and perseverance to rid ourselves from it. We have to take responsibility for removing all unbelief that exists in our hearts.

Have you ever planted a garden? You prepared the soil, put in the right nutrients and planted seeds. But weeds show up in the mist. Weeds will take over unless you pull them out. Unbelief is a weed of ungratefulness.

Unbelief overlooks all that God has done in favor of a negative view of current circumstances. The whole group of Israelites had witnessed  their release from bondage in Israel. They saw the Red Sea parted and all walked on a dry sea bed to safety. They witness the drowning of the entire Egyptian Army in the same sea.  They were given the law as a guide to live by. 

They would rather go back and live as slaves in Egypt than be free  in the desert with God’s provisions.  They were a nation of complainers rather than a nation of grateful people. They could not see that it was God who was protecting them from the enemies all around them.

Before you ever complain. Remember that there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who would gladly change places with you.

UNBELIEF IS A HATEFUL THING

 Among hateful things unbelief is the most to be feared. Its injurious nature is the venom of a deadly snake that is hurtful  to you as a child of God and to Him that chose you before the foundation of the earth.  Unbelief  is   wicked, because it ignores the grace and mercies of the Lord that He has showered on our past. It  increases the guilt of doubting Him . When we distrust the Lord Jesus, we cause Him to withhold future favor to us. At the  tomb of Lazarus Jesus was grieved at their unbelief that He was the Lord of resurrection and life.

We are chosen as the bride of Christ. Our unbelief dishonors Him our bride groom who shed His blood on the cross for our salvation, 

It is saying to God, your good is not good enough. Your work in my life don’t please me. I wish you would give me what I want or let me get it for myself. Unbelief devalues the good in our do only to God  for a fantasy. 

The Israelites hated being in the desert, They never ceased  complaining  to God 

Ex 16:3 "If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt," they moaned. "There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death."

Their complaining was hurtful to them, their families and to God Almighty. They were free, but freedom has a cost and comes with responsibility. Freedom with God requires you to give up your agenda and take on His Agenda for your life. 

UNBELIEF IS A SIN

The sin is needless, foolish, and unwarranted. Jesus has never given us any reason to doubt Him. By His nature, His character, love for the Father and love for us, we have all evidence to believe in Him. Our conduct of unbelief is sin against the one true and living God. Jesus is the Son of the Highest, and has unlimited wealth. Unbelief is a waste of time and energy because it takes sides with the enemy of God who defeated him in the heavens and cast him as the father of darkness. We should never doubt an all powerful and all sufficient God. 

UNBELIEF IS A TRAITOR

Only you can get rid of the lying traitor unbelief with complete submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. After being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. After which the flesh that embodied Him was weak. With power of the Word of truth He resisted the devil and he left him.The Word of God will triumph over unbelief every time its shows its ugly face. 

UNBELIEF IS DESTRUCTIVE

Ps 14:1  Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

A  man without the Word of God travels blindly 

Hos 4:6 My people are being destroyed because they don't know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I forgot to bless your children

Your family and future generations of family may be affected by your unbelief.

1 Cor 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you

Unbelief eliminates God’s help out of the situations you get in.

UNBELIEF IS INFECTIOUS 

• Unbelief affects those around you. When unbelief is in the mind, it is hard to remove it 

• Adam and Eve was told to be fruitful and multiply which they did. The question was Cain and Able their first children? God does not tell us. Cain was counseled by God about his anger but would not listen. He killed his brother and a nation of unbelievers were born 

• We are commanded to teach the word to our children Deu 6:7. Not teaching the word is unbelief

• Unbelief separates you from God 

• Unbelief in the promises of God separates the believers from blessing

• Unbelief hardens the heart

• Unbelief blinds you the spiritual insight

• Unbelief results in missed opportunities to experience God’s power and provisions. In Mark 6:5, In Jesus hometown, Nazareth, He could not do any miracles because of the people's unbelief.

THE BIBLE IS ACCURATE AND THE TRUTH TO BELIEVE

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE SURVIVED OVER 4000 YEARS WITHOUT CHANGE? 

 ARCEOLOGY DATA SUPPORTS THE ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE

1. The Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Quran caves  outside of Jerusalem in 1947

         They proved the accuracy of the Old Testament. There are fragments 

          Basically every book in the Old Testament. They are dated 300 years  

          before the birth of Christ and found to be word for word accuracy with  

          The current Old Testament.

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2. The Cyrus cylinder found in 1879  In 539 BEC, after conquering Babylonia, Cyrus II of Persia (Cyrus   the Great) permitted various religias the Cyrus Cylinder, was  discovered in March, 1879 in the foundation of the Ésagila temple in  Babylon by the Assyrian Christian Assyriologist and archaeologist      Hormuzd Rassamous groups, including perhaps 40,000 Jews, to return to their native land. Cyrus also issued a  declaration inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform on a clay cylinder. The   cylinder, which has become known 

3. The Pool of Saloam found in 2004 

• en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pool_of_Siloam

• Pool of Siloam - Wikipedia

• The Pool of Siloam was built during the reign of Hezekiah (715–687/6 BCE) to leave besieging armies without access to the spring's waters. The newly constructed Siloam tunnel fed the pool.

The Siloam Pool has long been considered a sacred Christian site, even if the correct identification of the site itself was uncertain. According to the Gospel of John, it was at the Siloam Pool where Jesus healed the blind man (John 9:1–11). 

THE CURE FOR UNBELIEF

1. TRUST GOD

2. STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD

3. ACT ON THE WORD

4. FIND GOD’S PROMISE THAT FITS YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE

5. COUNT GOD’S BLESSINGS EACH DAY

6. DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRADITUDE

7. PLACE YOUR HOPE IN JESUS

The Bible is the only truth you can believe. To live without

Applying the word of God to your life is foolish. 

The devils job is to keep in doubt and to believe the lie 

That Jesus will not do what He promised you. The Bible is the printed word of God to prepare you to live an abundant life with overflowing love, peace, and joy full of assurance 

Hope in the Lord. It has been proven to be accurate.

The Lord wants to answer all our prayers, Faith is the answer.

Pray this prayer;

Mark 9:24  The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"