Mark 9:14-29
June 15, 2014 AM
Father’s Day
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
Bible Baptist
Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (Mark 9)
A.
It’s Father’s Day!
1.
One time a little boy was
asked to define Fathers Day and he said, It is just like Mothers Day, only… you
don’t have to spend as much on the present.
2.
Becoming a father is easy
enough, but being one can be very rough.
3.
A little girl was sitting in
her father's lap as he read her a story. From time to time, she would take her
eye's off the book and reach up to touch his rough and grizzled cheek. She would
reach back and stroke her own cheek, then his again.
4.
Finally she spoke, "Daddy, did
God make you?"
5.
"Yes, sweetheart" he answered,
"God made me a long time ago."
6.
"Oh” she said, “then Daddy,
did God make me too?"
7.
"Yes, indeed honey" he assured
her. "God made you just a little while ago."
8.
"Oh" she said. Feeling both
their faces again, she concluded, "God's getting better at it now isn't He?"
B.
Dads, by nature are not
normally afraid – that is one of the requirements of being a dad – you cannot be
afraid
1.
Of the dark
2.
Of huge, hairy spiders
3.
Of stopped up toilets
4.
Of midnight robbers
C.
You see, dad “always” know
what to do – we just do! (smile…)
D.
But
this father we are going to learn about this morning, was afraid –
very afraid – of losing his son!
E.
He was experiencing a father’s
worst nightmare – which is having a problem, and not knowing what to do!
Especially a problem in one of his children!
F.
It is into THAT moment in his
life that Jesus speaks – not only to him, but to every father today!
II.
Background to Mark Chapter 9
A.
It is just after the
Transfiguration
1.
Where Jesus took three of His
closest apostles with Him to the top of a small mountain and He was transformed
in front of their eyes, and he became as bright as the sun!
2.
They were awed that they got
to have a glimpse of the coming day of the Lord!
B.
Peter, James and John wanted
to stay up on that mountain for ever! Who wouldn’t?
C.
But then it was over!
D.
They had to get down that
mountain – because there was a need, a desperate need of a father,
for his son!
III.
Message
A.
The Commotion (Mark 9:14-16)
1.
A great multitude of people
was gathered tightly together watching an argument
2.
In the middle, two groups were
arguing
a.
Jewish Scribes, lawyers were
mocking and accusing – they hated Jesus and His disciples
b.
The other 9 apostles were
arguing back and trying to defend themselves against their attacks
B.
The Problems (Mark 9:17-18)
These problems are very common still today
1.
A Dad steps forward out of the
crowd
2.
He points to his son, and says
he needs help – big time!
a.
Here was a young teenager –
that’s bad enough!!!
b.
He has gone crazy – a lunatick
(Matthew 17:14,15)!
1)
Having unexplained
difficulties with him
2)
“Under the influence of the
moon” – a way of saying “something was affecting him” like the Moon affects the
tides - demonic
3)
Parents watch today as their
kids pierce themselves, tattoos, start drinking, drugs
c.
He has a dumb spirit –
something was stopping him from being able to speak
d.
That spirit controlled him –
involuntary movements
e.
Tore at him – went wild – we
today call these “epileptic fits”
f.
Caused the boy to foam at his
mouth, and gnash his teeth together
g.
Suicidal (Mark 9:22)
h.
He was pining / wasting away –
wasn’t getting any better - it was killing his son!
i.
And this father was watching
it before his very eyes, and could do nothing to help him!!!
j.
It tears every one of us apart
as well watching this take place in any of our children!
3.
Then he points to Jesus and
was upset that Jesus had not been there when he had come
4.
Then he pointed to the
disciples and blamed THEM for not being able to help him – they were supposed to
be able to help, but they were powerless
5.
This father had already given
up on the scribes and Pharisees and on his religion!
6.
This father, was desperate,
and didn’t know what to do – helpless
a.
His wife is not around – maybe
has completely given up
b.
Sometimes, problems and
troubles tear homes apart when God put them together to hold it together!!!
C.
The Rebuke (Mark 9:19)
1.
You may THINK Jesus had no
compassion here, but as always, He used every situation, every trouble to teach
us how to trust God and how to get through our disasters!
2.
He rebukes the entire crowd…
a.
For being a faithless
generation – much like today!
1)
Oh they were all religious –
at least they LOOKED the part
2)
But they were faithless! With
all their praying, and going to the synagogues, and hearing people teach about
God… they had no real faith in God!
b.
They were not learning!
1)
Jesus had been teaching
constantly now for over 3 years, almost DAILY!
2)
And He wonders how long do
they expect Him to hang around
c.
They were like little children
simply attracted by the entertainment – they wanted a circus show, NOT a
Saviour!
d.
They, like almost ALL
religious people today, only wanted to be impressed, and entertained, and not
saved!
3.
He Rebukes the Scribes…
a.
For jumping at the opportunity
of this situation and finding fault with His disciples
b.
These scribes had NO answer,
and yet were attacking the Apostles for not being able to fix things!
4.
He rebukes the father as well…
D.
Where Did The Father Go Wrong?
1.
I am sure this man had a lot
of good things going for him…
a.
I am sure he was a good
provider for his home – paid the bills, worked hard
b.
A good husband (his wife is
not there to ask, but we will give him the benefit of the doubt)
c.
I am sure he tried to be a
good father (you can see it in his desperation here)
2.
But…
3.
He was not a disciple of Jesus
– like many a Dad - always been just a part of the crowd mentality
a.
You think that is not really a
problem?
b.
How much trouble would be
saved if Dad’s walked with God, and leaned upon God, and depended upon God DAILY
instead of only in the disasters?!
4.
He allowed the spirit into his
home in the first place (Mark 3:27) – many of us are guilty of this!
a.
In this end time, we are
allowing such bad spirits into our homes – through TV, music, attitudes
b.
Spirit of complaining
c.
Of bitterness, of anger and
wrath
d.
Of backbiting and disrespect
e.
Of lust and pornography
f.
Of tolerance of sins and
things God calls an abomination!
5.
He had kept putting off the
spiritual needs of his family
6.
He was faithless himself, and
uninterested in spiritual things… until disaster struck
7.
Full of unbelief in Jesus
8.
Turned to Jesus LAST! He
probably tried to get the help of doctors and counsellors – that is what any
normal parent would do! Not wrong… But none of them could help (see Mark
5:25,26)
9.
He only NOW was humble enough
to try Jesus – worth a “try”!
10.
Had no idea what to do, or
what to believe
E.
What Jesus Did For This Desperate Father
(Mark 9:19-27)
1.
He invited the father to bring
the son and all his problems to Him
a.
You don’t have to push God to
take your problems… he usually waits for us to let go of them
b.
Jesus took infirmities and
sicknesses upon HIMSELF (Matthew 8:16,17) to prove He can take all our sins away
as well!
2.
He upset the spirit – praise
God!
3.
He only asked the father
to believe – to have faith IN HIM,
and in HIS abilities.
To trust HIS care, and HIS will, and HIS help no matter how confused you may be!
4.
Even with the father’s very
little faith, Jesus went ahead and healed the boy
a.
Rebuked the foul (wicked,
filthy) spirit
b.
Restored the child whole, and
without any remaining problems
c.
Restrained the spirit from
EVER entering into him again
d.
Returned him to his gobsmacked
father! A gift!
e.
Jesus did it all almost in an
instant!
5.
Through it, Jesus taught this
father about FAITH
a.
Living
BY faith - Facing every
problem
by faith
b.
Trusting God, to do the right
thing, to lead you, as you pray and ask! Knowing He is SO able!
F.
Confused Disciples (Mark
9:28,29) – when they were away from the crowds…
1.
They were quite upset
a.
They had FAILED
b.
They had been given powers
over this kind of spiritual problems back in Mark 3:13-15
c.
Yet, THIS was the first time
they had ever dealt with something they couldn’t fix
d.
The Scribes had mocked their
inability, their lack of power – they had called them frauds and stupid for
following ‘Jesus’
e.
They were very upset because
they were so embarrased!
2.
Their real problems…
a.
They were cocky – arrogant
about faith
1)
Just expected miracles
2)
Expected God to do what THEY
thought should be done
3)
Expected the power to be
theirs to do with as they pleased
4)
NEVER expected to be
humiliated and seen as weak themselves, and failures
5)
They were NOBODIES, but a
little bit of power changed them, and that needed to be fixed!
b.
They were not willing to pay
the price themselves for answers to prayer – fasting!
c.
They themselves just had a
superficial walk with God – only what
they could get from God
3.
So, What is faith?
a.
More than just “believing”
b.
It is humbling ourselves
before God and men – becoming desperate for GOD alone!
c.
It is losing your own control
and instead doing whatever GOD says do – like fasting
d.
It is being WILLING to do
whatever is necessary – fasting! The opposite of what is natural
e.
It is patiently en-trusting
the problem to God’s care
f.
It is paying attention to
everything Jesus said (Romans 10:17), learning how to live this way!
IV.
Application – What can We Learn from this Father?
A.
Start following Jesus Ourselves
- Jesus calls ALL MEN to follow Him!
1.
Whether He is popular today,
or not; whether there is an emergency or not
2.
Read of Him through the Bible
– Grown men, especially fathers need to know this Book!
3.
Listen to Him as you read
4.
Pay close attention to
what He says and does instead of RTE and Sky and Enda Kenny
B.
Act on spiritual needs
1.
Notice spiritual problems in
yourself and your family instead of just visible and physical ones
2.
If someone came into the house
with a broken arm, you would act on it, right?
C.
Do things alone if you have to
1.
Usually it is a wife, or a
mother what acts when things go wrong in the home
2.
Here it is a man, a father,
without his wife nagging him, or dragging him
3.
Your friends may think you are
crazy and leave you
D.
Ignore the mockers and the ultra-religious
E.
Accept rebuke – correction – it will help you do better next
time
F.
Realise that your children need YOU – not just Mom! Need you
to KNOW God, love God!
G.
Admit your own unbelief – unbelief blocks God’s help so much
1.
Our unbelief shows in the
sterility of our homes
2.
No prayer time together
3.
No thanking God for meals, or
for everything that comes our way
4.
No praying to God first when
troubles com
H.
Desire more faith than you currently have
1.
We all know we could use more
money, more good looks, more hours in a day
2.
When are we all going to
realise that we need greater faith (Luke 17:6)
I.
Trust Jesus Christ for the impossibles
– quit being so “down on God” thinking nothing will work out
V.
Invitation
A.
Are YOU like this father? Most
every one of us are! Especially DADs!
1.
Are you at the end of your
line? Faithless, and just trying anything and everything you can find?
2.
Have problems brought you to a
desperate search for answers? If they haven’t, they will!
B.
Jesus is not a
try-before-you-buy kind of God
C.
He is Lord!
D.
And all He asks of us, is to
believe solidly, and
unreservedly in Him
1.
Not just as a fact
2.
But as your Saviour – the only
One capable of saving a wretch like you!
E.
It is a decision, a choice, a
heart cry…
F.
From a desperate heart, to the
ONLY Saviour, Jesus, the Son of God!
G.
Don’t wait until a disaster to
become desperate! Get born again, today