"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;
God makes all things work for the good of those who love Him
God used the devil’s violence to affect the son
God used the son’s problem to bring the father to Christ
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.
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“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
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