In this message Pastor Scott Worthington teaches from Mark 9:14-29. God’s work in our lives is never limited by His ability but is often limited by our lack of faith in His ability. That is what we explore in this sermon. Let us know what stood out to you from the message in the comments below 🗣👇
Sermon Notes
The Gospel of Mark
Help My Unbelief // Mark 9:14-29
“The already, not yet”
“And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.” -Mark 9:14-15
1. The Disciples are Stuck
“And he asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ And someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.’” -Mark 9:16-18
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” -John 10:10a
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” -1 Peter 5:8
2. Jesus is Fed Up
“And he answered them, ‘O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.’” -Mark 9:19
“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” -Mark 6:7
Apart from the Spirit of God, there is nothing good in me.
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh…” -Romans 7:18a
3. The Dad is Honest
“’How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood…’” -Mark 9:21b
“’But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.’” -Mark 9:22b-23
God’s work in our lives is never limited by His ability but is often limited by our lack of faith in His ability
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” -Mark 9:24
God’s work in our lives is never limited by His ability but is often limited by our lack of faith in His ability.
4. The Demon is Stopped
“And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’” -Mark 9:25
5. The Disciples are Taught
“And he said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.’” -Mark 9:29
“He is saying that whenever we take to the spiritual battlefield, if we go in our own strength, pride, and self-sufficiency, we have lost the battle before it begins. Faith bridges the gap between divine omnipotence and human weakness, and that faith is experienced and exercised through prayer.” -Danny Akin
Prayer is a declaration of dependence that says, “God, I can’t, You can.”
