Reading: Mark chapter 9 verse 14-29.
Ill:
Stephen Pile – Book of Heroic Failures.
(1).
• The prize for the most useless weapon of all times goes to the Russians.
• They invented the “dog mine.”
• The plan was to train the dogs to associate food with the undersides of tanks,
• In the hope that they would run hungrily beneath advancing Panzer divisions.
• Bombs were then strapped to the dogs’ backs,
• Which endangered the dogs to the point where no insurance company would look at them.
• The plan was begun the first day of the Russian involvement in World War II;
• And abandoned on day two.
• Unfortunately, the dogs with bombs on their backs had only been trained on Russian tanks;
• They forced an entire Soviet division to retreat.
(2).
• During 1978 during the fireman’s strike in England,
• The British army took over emergency fire-fighting (Green Goddesses).
• On January 14 they were called out by an elderly lady in South London to retrieve her cat.
• They arrived with impressive haste, very cleverly and carefully rescued the cat,
• And started to drive away.
• But the lady was so grateful she invited the squad of heroes in for tea.
• Driving off later with fond farewells and warm waving of arms,
• They ran over the cat and killed it.
In Mark chapter 9:
• The disciples of Jesus could have been heroes!
• But sadly they end up as failures!
• We will see in this story one reason why the followers of Jesus fail;
• And hopefully we might learn not to make the same mistake.
(1). Cause of failure - Prayer ignored (vs 28-29).
• In chapter 3 verses 14-15 Jesus sent the disciples out to preach, heal and cast out demons;
• And up to this incident it seems they had been successful.
• Puzzled as to why on this occasion they had failed in their ministry;
• They wait for a private moment and ask Jesus what they had done wrong.
“After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,
"Why couldn't we drive it out?"
29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "”
• Jesus tells them straight;
• He puts his finger right on the spot by saying;
• They failed because they did not pray.
• They were trying to remedy the situation in their own strength and power.
• The principle here that we need to note, is that:
• ‘You cannot have victory in public unless you are vigilant in private!’
The disciples' needed reminding that the power and authority to heal was not their own:
• It came from Jesus. It was delegated by Jesus and it is sustained by Jesus.
• To act independently of him is a guarantee to fail!
Ill:
• It was the late American pastor and author Donald Barnhouse;
• Who stunned his congregation one Sunday by declaring; “Prayer changes nothing”.
• The church was packed full of people,
• Yet you could have heard a pin drop.
• Now his comment was deliberately designed to make folks think.
• The point he wanted to make was; “It is God who THROUGH prayer changes things!”
Ill:
• I like the story of the 72 year old woman;
• Who went to bed one night and prayed this prayer;
• “Please God give me the skin like a teenager’s”
• The next morning she woke up covered in acne!
Ill:
• A more series story is told about a particular region of Africa,
• Where the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying.
• In fact, the believers each had their own special place;
• Outside the village where they went to pray in solitude.
• The villagers reached these “prayer rooms”
• By using their own private footpaths through the brush.
• When grass began to grow over one of these trails,
• It was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.
• Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare,
• A unique custom sprang up.
• Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,”
• He or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”
Question: Christian is there grass on your path?
• Remember that you......
• ‘You cannot have victory in public unless you are vigilant in private!’
Ill:
• Story told about a Jewish man in New York who bought a little shop;
• Problem was it was squeezed in between two gigantic department stores.
• He wondered what to call his little shop,
• After much thought he decided to call it ‘ENTRANCE!’
• As Christians we have 24/7 entrance into God’s presence.
• We have his undivided attention 24/7.
• Let us remind ourselves of the need to depend on him!
• ‘You cannot have victory in public unless you are vigilant in private!’
Ill:
• If you struggle with prayer (then welcome to the club);
• But this little ‘hand’ illustration might help:
• (1st). The closest finger to you is the thumb.
• Pray for those that are closest to you. Pray for your parents and your brothers or sisters.
• (2nd). The next finger is called your index finger. It is used for pointing.
• Let this finger remind you to pray for those that point you in the right direction.
• Pray for your teachers at school, your Sunday School teacher, and your pastor.
• (3rd).The next finger is the tallest finger.
• This finger reminds us to pray for our leaders.
• Pray for the prime minister and other leaders in our government;
• And those who are leaders in our town.
• (4th). The fourth finger is the called the ring finger.
• Did you know that this is the weakest of all the fingers?
• Just ask anyone who plays the piano and they will tell you that is true.
• Let this finger remind you to pray for those who are sick.
• (5). The next finger is the smallest finger.
• The Bible says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought."
• Let the little finger remind you to pray for yourself.
• So the next time you are talking to God, and you can't think of anything to say,
• Let the "Five Finger Prayer" help you.
(2). Result of failure - Power obstructed (vs 14-18)
“When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
Ill:
• Like a car running out of petrol on the motorway;
• Like a shopper running out of money in a supermarket,
• Like McDonalds running out of food at a busy lunchtime,
• So these disciples ran out of dependence on Jesus when they needed him most!
As a result the disciples were powerless to act
• Notice that their failure affected their faith in at least two ways;
• Two evidences are seen in these verses.
(1). They failed in their witness (vs 14).
14 “When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them”.
• The reason the disciples were given authority to preach, heal and cast out demons;
• Was not just to help those who were afflicted but also to draw attention to Jesus Christ.
• Healings and exoticisms were supposed to make people stop and question;
• They were meant to cause people to respond with positive questions.
• They were meant to be the launch pad for the disciples to tell people about Jesus;
• The Messiah that you have been waiting for has arrived!
Ill:
• Just like a magnet attracts iron fillings to it,
• So the healings performed by the disciples;
• Were supposed to attract people’s attention to their message.
Ill:
• Aesop’s fable or just a legend.
• The sun and the wind got into an argument one day over which’ was the stronger.
• When a traveller came down the road,
• They decided to settle it by seeing who could force him to take off his coat.
• The sun hid behind a cloud and the wind blasted him,
• But that just made him wrap his coat around him more tightly.
• Then the sun came out with its gentle caressing warmth;
• And shone on him and he was forced to take his coat off.
• Like the sun the compassion of the disciples miracles and signs,
• Were supposed to warm the hearts of the people into thinking & listening to Jesus.
• Instead like a cold blast of wind their failure to do anything;
• Forced them into an argument of angry words with the religious leaders.
• Instead of a crowd of eagerly awaiting people ready to listen to Jesus;
• We find a crowd in turmoil,
• Voices are raised, and accusations of frauds, charlatans, imposters;
• Are being made by the religious leaders who are out to discredit Jesus.
• The disciples instead of pointing people to Jesus;
• Are embarrassed at their inability and want to escape the situation ASAP.
Application:
Question: How is your witness?
• Everyday every Christian is a witness to somebody;
• We are either a good witness or a bad witness, nut we are always a witness!
Quote:
• One person once said to a Christian who was trying to witness to them:
• “Sorry I can’t hear the words you are saying because your life is speaking too loud!”
• As well as pointing people to Jesus.
• We must let people see Jesus in us!
(2). They failed in their effectiveness (vs 18).
“Whenever it (demon) seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
Ill:
• Have you checked the labels on your shopping items lately?
• If not then you may be getting less than you thought.
• According to various sources instead of putting prices up,
• And risk losing customers to other brands.
• Some manufactures are simply keeping the same size boxes & bottles;
• But they have quietly reduced the amount inside them.
• For example, a box of well-known soap that once held 61 ounces;
• Now contains only 55 - same size box, less soap.
• For example, a well-known brand of toilet paper that once gave 261 sheets per roll;
• Now contains only 241 sheets per roll - same size packaging, less product.
Like those products these disciples were selling their customers short:
• Not intentionally because they wanted to help – “But they could not!”
• They were ineffective in their ministry because they were acting in their own strength!
Ill:
• They were like a torch with flat batteries inside;
• They had all the potential to shine brightly but instead they gave no light!
Application for us:
• How something is wrapped doesn’t always show us what’s on the inside.
• That’s true with people as well.
• We can wrap ourselves up in the same packaging every day;
• Nice clothes, big smile, friendly demeanour - yet still be less than what we appear to be.
• Remember what the Bible teaches:
• “Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart”.
Quote:
“Be what you are,
Cause if you aint what you are,
You are what you aint!”
(3). Cure for failure – Priority given (vs 17-27)
“A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
19 "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23 " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."
24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”
(1). The Problem - evil spirits or Demon possession.
• In the gospels Jesus often encountered people who were possessed:
• Often a possessed person behaved in a way that was very unnatural;
• E.g. Cases in the gospels where an evil spirit caused an individual to become violent;
• E.g. In other cases an evil spirit caused the individual to experience aggressive fits.
• E.g. Other cases in the New Testament people spoke in totally different voices;
• E.g. Some individuals displayed powers of telepathy of clairvoyance.
Note:
• In the ancient world people often attributed mental illness as demon possession;
• Not Jesus!
• He made a clear distinction between demon-possession and physical & mental sickness.
• e.g. Matthew chapter 10 verses 1&8).
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness”.
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons”.
• So in the gospels Jesus made a clear distinction:
• Between demon-possession and physical & mental sickness.
The fact that we do not hear much regarding ‘evil spirits’ is due to our culture:
• Although cable TV it is shocking how many programmes are to do with the occult;
• The supernatural, contacting the dead, investigating ghosts etc.
• We live in a world today that is fascinated by the unexplained.
• Often that means delving into the ‘spiritual’ side of life that the Bible warns us to keep well away from.
• Why because ‘they can’ (not always will) lead a person into dangerous territory!
• Yet when it comes to the Bible and demon possession;
• The same people would dismiss it and even mock it!
The Bible is very clear:
• That there are spiritual forces at work in our world.
• Some people who foolishly open up their minds;
• Through a deep interest in the occult or through alternative religions;
• Or new age practices or mind altering drugs.
• Can open themselves up to ‘evil spirits’
• Which in the long term will cause them incredible problems.
Question: Scan the passage and look at what these verses tell us about ‘evil spirits’?
Answer: A number of things.
(First).
• Verse 17: ‘Evil spirits’ can possess people.
• Note: I would suggest you are in no danger from ‘evil spirits’ unless you choose to
• Open up your mind; maybe through a deep interest in the occult;
• Or through alternative religions or new age practices or mind altering drugs.
(Second).
• Verse 17: ‘Evil spirits’ need a body to carry out their wicked schemes.
• In the gospels we note that they can indwell both humans and animals.
(Third).
• Verse 25: Their very name ‘evil spirits’ tells us that they are harmful.
• They pollute and destroy those they indwell.
(Fourth).
• Verse 20 tell us;
• ‘Evil spirits’ know who Jesus is! They are aware of his deity.
(Fifth).
• Verses 25: Tells us that they will respond to the authority of Jesus Christ.
• So it must always be in his name & power that we defend ourselves!
(Sixth).
• Verse 25: They will depart when they are commanded to,
• But often in departing there can be a struggle.
(2). The solution – involve Jesus!
Ill:
Archbishop LaPhon.
• The cross is the key to everything....
• Picture of violence key to peace
• Picture of suffering key to healing
• Picture of death key to life
• Picture of utter weakness key to power
• Picture of capital punishment key to forgiveness
• Picture of hatred key to love
• Picture of shame key to boast!
INVOLVING JESUS - was the key to the healing of the boy.
• Verse 15: “...the people saw Jesus...”
• Verse 17: The man (father) came to ask Jesus.
• Verse 20: “So they brought him (son)” to Jesus.
INVOLVING JESUS - was the key to the disciples discovering why they had failed.
• Verse 28: “...his disciples asked him...”
• Verse 28: “...why couldn’t we...”
INVOLVING JESUS - is also the key to discovering God the Father.
• Ill: Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life...”
• Ill: Jesus said: “no-one comes to the Father except by me”.
Ill:
• Charles Darwin Tale of Two Cities quote.
• Sydney Carton & Charles Denby.
Quote:
“The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Are read by more than a few,
But the one that is most read and commented on
Is the gospel according to you.
You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day
By the things that you do and the words that you say,
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true
Say, what is the gospel according to you?
Do men read His truth and His love in your life,
Or has yours been too full of malice and strife?
Does your life speak of evil, or does it ring true?
Say, what is the gospel according to you?”
