THE POWER OF UNBELIEF
MARK 9:24
1. INTRODUCTION. IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS, GRACE, AND POWER OF GOD, ONE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD, IN ORDER TO BE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE BLESSINGS THAT HE WANTS TO BESTOW. WHERE THERE IS NO FAITH, THERE WILL BE NO POWER, DELIVERANCE OR HEALING. THE BIBLE IS ON POINT WHEN IT EXCLAIMS IN HEBREWS 11:6, “BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” I PREACH ABOUT THE POWER OF FAITH, AND WHAT FAITH CAN ACCOMPLISH, BUT TODAY I WANT TO EXAMINE THE POWER OF UNBELIEF.
2. THE TEXT. THE FATHER HAS A SON WHO IS EPILEPTIC, DEAF, DUMB, AND POSSESSED BY AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. THE SON WAS CONSIDERED A LUNATIC.
a) THE DISCIPLES HAD TRIED TO HEAL THE SON BUT COULD NOT. WHY BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS DEFICIENT IN THEIR FAITH.
b) THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I AS YOUR PASTOR CANNOT DO. AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT OTHERS CANNOT DO.
c) SOME THINGS REQUIRE THE SPECIAL ATTENTION OF JESUS.
d) PLEASE DON’T MISS IT, YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR PASTOR AND OTHER PRAYER WARRIORS, BUT YOU NEED TO ALSO CALL JESUS.
e) THE MAN SAID IF THOU CANST DO ANYTHING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US.
f) JESUS REPLIES, IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVES.
g) YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN JESUS SAYS ALL THINGS, HE IS TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE WILL OF GOD…
h) THE MAN SAID LORD I BELIEVE, HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF.
i) HE BELIEVED BUT HE DIDN’T BELIEVE.
j) AND SUCH IS THE CASE WITH MANY SAINTS WHO PERMEATED THE PEWS, THEY BELIEVE BUT THEY DON’T BELIEVE.
k) MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAVING FAITH, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE LIVING FAITH.
l) LIVING FAITH COMES FROM AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE MASTER.
m) FAITH IS THE POSTURE OF THE HEART WHICH GOD APPROVES, MAKING THOSE WHO ASSUME IT CAPABLE OF BEING BLESSED.
n) CONSEQUENTLY, JESUS HEALED THE MAN’S SON.
3. WITHOUT FAITH. THE BIBLE IS REPLETE WITH INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT EXHIBIT FAITH. MATT. 13:58 TEACHES THAT JESUS DID NOT DO MANY GREAT WORKS IN HIS CITY BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF.
a) JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES ON NUMEROUS OCCASION, “O’ YE OF LITTLE FAITH.”
b) THE TEXT DID NOT SAY THAT THE MAN DID NOT HAVE FAITH, BUT HIS FAITH WAS WAVERING BECAUSE HE HAD JUST WITNESSED THE POWERLESS DISCIPLE TO HEAL HIS SON.
c) SHAKEN FAITH IS AN UNSTABLE FAITH.
d) WEAK FAITH IS A POWERLESS FAITH.
e) NO FAITH IS A POINTLESS FAITH.
f) WITHOUT FAITH WE CANNOT EXPERIENCE THE MIRACLES OF GOD.
g) DEAD FAITH OR DORMANT FAITH HAND-CUFFS GOD’S ABILITY TO BLESS US.
h) UNBELIEF WILL CRIPPLE OUR CHRISTIAN GROWTH.
i) UNBELIEF WILL SHORT CIRCUIT OUR TESTIMONY.
j) UNBELIEF WILL STAGNATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
k) UNBELIEF WILL PARALYZE OUR PROGRESS FOR THE MASTER.
l) UNBELIEF WILL RENDER US HELPLESS AND USELESS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
m) A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS NO FAITH IS LIKE AN EGG THAT HAS NO YOKE, AND WHEN IT IS CRACKED NOTHING WILL COME OUT.
n) MANY CHRISTIANS GET CRACKED BY THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE BUT NOTHING COMES OUT!
4. WHAT IS FAITH?
a) FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.
b) FAITH IS BELIEVING IN THE UNSEEN WITHOUT DOUBT OR FEAR.
c) FAITH SEES THE INVINCIBLE, BELIEVES THE INCREDIBLE, AND RECEIVES THE IMPOSSIBLE.
d) GENUINE FAITH UNLEASHES THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF GOD INTO OUR NATURAL LIVES, WHICH ALLOWS US TO TAP INTO THE DIVINE POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
e) FAITH IS BOTH A COMMAND AND DEMAND. CHRIST COMMANDS IT, AND IF BURDENS ARE TO BE LIFTED, HE DEMANDS IT.
f) DR. TONY EVANS SAYS, GENUINE FAITH IN JESUS WILL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN, LIVING FAITH WILL BRING HEAVEN TO YOU
g) LITTLE FAITH IS BETTER THAN NO FAITH AT ALL.
h) JESUS SAYS THAT FAITH THE SIZE OF A MUSTARD SEED CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS.
i) THE MUSTARD SEED IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST SEEDS, BUT INSIDE THE SEED IS TREE THAT GROWS 15-20 FEET JUST WAITING TO COME OUTS.
j) SO IF YOU JUST HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, TAKE YOUR LITTLE FAITH AND PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF AN ALL POWERFUL GOD, AND JUST WATCH WHAT GOD WILL DO!
5. WHAT FAITH REQUIRES. FAITH REQUIRES TOTAL TRUST IN JESUS!
a) FAITH REQUIRES THE BELIEVER TO RISK EVERYTHING FOR THE THING THEY HOPE FOR.
b) FAITH REQUIRES A CONFIDENCE IN JESUS THAT IS SECOND TO NONE.
c) FAITH REQUIRES THE BELIEF THAT NO MATTER HOW HIGH THE MOUNTAIN, MY JESUS IS THE MAKER OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND EVERYTHING MOVES AT HIS COMMAND, NO MATTER HOW HIGH THEY MIGHT BE.
6. HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY FAITH? THREE POINTS/ CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, TRY JESUS. THE MAN WENT TO JESUS WITH HIS SHAKEN FAITH.
b) TWO, TRUST JESUS. THE MAN PUT THE SITUATION IN JESUS’ HANDS…
c) THREE, TRACE JESUS’ TRACK RECORD. IT IS NO SECRET WHAT HE CAN DO.
• SO MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, YOU GOTTA BELIEVE THAT…
• NOT ONLY THAT HE CAN, BUT THAT HE WILL.
• HE CAN DO WHAT NO OTHER POWER CAN DO.
• HE CAN TURN DEPRESSION INTO DELIGHTS.
• HEARTACHES INTO HALLELUJAHS.
• PAIN INTO PRAISE.
• BURDENS INTO BLESSINGS.
• HURT INTO HEALING.
• HE WILL GIVE YOU FRUIT FOR YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.
• HE WILL GIVE COMFORT IN CHAOS.
• HE WILL GIVE YOU GRACE FOR YOUR GLOOM.
• STRENGTH FOR OUR WEAKNESS.
• HOPE FOR OUR HOPELESSNESS.
• HEAVEN FOR OUR HELL.
• SANCTUARY FOR OUR SUFFERING.
