God Gives Faith to Believe to Those Who Ask

1. God Gives Faith to Believe to Those Who Ask Mark 9:14-32

2. While Jesus, Peter, John and James are on Mt. Hermon see the Transfiguration The other 9 Disciples are Ministering Locally

3. High Mtn. Scenario Jesus, Peter James & John Scribes 9 • Mark 9:14 • And when he came to his disciples he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

4. Mark 9:15-16 • And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. • And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

5. Commentary • Jesus doesn’t ask the question in order to ascertain an answer but instead engages the scribes and the crowd to pull the attention from disciples to Himself.

6. Mark 9:17-18 • And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:

7. #1 We See the Problem

8. A Major Problem • Epilepsy (Sickness) • Demon Possession (Spiritual Warfare) • Deaf (physical handicaps) • Dumb (mute) • Self-destructive Behavior (psychological struggles)

9. Before We Blame God Let’s recognize that all of this is a direct or indirect consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve

10. The very ‘freewill’ that we prize is the reason we have this problem. You would NOT want to live in a world without consequences or judgment.

11. Mark 9:18b • and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

12. #2 Prayer Has NOT Worked.

13. # 3 See the Greater Problem in v. 19!

14. Mark 9:19 • He answereth him, and saith, • O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? • how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

15. Greater and Lesser Accountability Look back at Mark 6:11

16. Mark 6:11 • And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerablefor Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than forthat city.

17. Human Responsibility Is Always Tied to the Exercising of Faith/Believe

18. Only Those Who CANNOT Exercise Faith Have an Excuse

19. Jonah 4:11 • And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

20. Mark 9:20 More Details Emphasize the Severity of the Problem • And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21. Mark 9:21-22a Questions for the Crowd’s Benefit • And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him

22. The Text Reminds Us That Dads have a responsibility to care for, lead, guide, shepherd the hearts, and provide for the needs of their children.

23. Mark 9:22b Dads says, • but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. See the doubt

24. Mark 9:23 • Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

25. ESV | And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” NKJV |Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” HCSB | Then Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can’? Everything is possible to the one who believes.” NASB95 |And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

26. #4 God Requires Faith

27. Faith Belief in that which has no tangible proof; trust and confidence in God.

28. Vs. 23 Side Note Does ‘all’ mean “all”?

29. John 14:13-14 • And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. • If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

30. What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

31. Prayer Questions • How does God answering this prayer bring glory to His Name? • Is this a legitimate need? • Is this request clearly within the revealed Will of the Lord according to the Word of God?

32. Mark 9:24 Oral Petition • And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; • help thou mine unbelief.

33. God Requires Faith Even Faith Can Be Given By God To Those Who Desire/Need More of It

34. Turn To James 4:1-3

35. From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss [wrongly], that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

36. Turn Back To Matthew 7:8-11

37. For every one that askethreceiveth; and he that seekethfindeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

38. Lesson Learned Those who are struggling with NOT having enough faith to believe should ask God for more faith

39. Consider the Difference Between asking God to save you from your sins and asking God to give you the faith to believe in Him

40. Mark 9:25 • When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

41. Mark 9:26 • And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; • insomuch that many said, He is dead.

42. Mark 9:27 A Picture Of: Dead to Alive • But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

43. Shackled by a heavy burden, 'Neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same. He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole, I will never cease to praise Him, I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

44. Hard Question Is my lack of faith the reason God has not answered my prayer?

45. Not Always Paul’s Answer 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

46. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

47. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. • Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

48. Private Instruction v. 28-32

49. Mark 9:28 • And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, • Why could not we cast him out?

50. Mark 9:29 Is Prayer a Source of Faith? • And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.