https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XqoJ9KilKw
Well each New Year persuades us to leave behind the old stubborn stains of yesteryear and look forward to the new unvarnished canvas with anticipation. Like a new brush with fresh oil in hand, we are ready to paint a future with brighter outlook and better prospect. For some of us, the New Year creates new energy to venture ahead with new vigor - personal, professional, relational, intellectual (academically). And no matter how bleak things were from the previous year/s, we still demand that the New Year brings more cheer, more joy, more favor. We want more wins, less disparity; more peace, less divisiveness; more progress, less setbacks. We pray for more vitality in health, more meaning in life, and more fruitful in ministry. Well if 2022 is going to be anything like 2021 (God forbid) which was a replica of 2020, the question is, will you remain steadfast to God? Will you still thank Him, keep following Him, and continue serving Him?
I was especially happy to see the graphic as the background for today’s livestream. What a great reminder for us who are here and those online as we enter into 2022. That only through the person of Jesus, we have a direct relationship with God. And that symbol next to his name, is more than a religious emblem. It represents the magnitude of God’s love. Sin separates us from God and Christ became sin for us. 2 Cor. 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, (Jesus had no sin, committed no sin, was holy, blameless and pure) so that in him (because of his unblemished and perfect nature, he became the only acceptable sacrifice, suffered and died on our behalf, so that) we might become the righteousness of God." Brother Cameron taught on “The Self-Giving Love of God” from John 3:16. Jesus bore our guilt on that cross and when he breathed his last, sin loses its grip on those who believe.
I was at a toss between the word believe and belief when working on the title. I know it’s grammar 101 but bear with me as I learn the difference:
Belief is a noun: A word that refers to a person, thing, a system, a
religion.
Believe is a verb: A word or phrase that describes a condition,
action, decision, confidence in the truth.
The great theologian Charles Spurgeon claimed that 98 percent of the people he met -- including the criminals he visited in England's prisons — told him that they believed the Bible to be true. But the vast majority had never made a personal, life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ. For them, "believe" was not an active verb.
Is Christianity a belief that you wear as a badge? Or are you a Christian who believes and honors the life, death and resurrection of God’s only begotten Son?
On this day as recorded in Mark chapter 9, a crowd had assembled and some of Jesus’ disciples were surrounded by an aggressive mob.
v14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. Earlier, Jesus had taken Peter, James and John to be alone with him at a distant mountain where these three disciples witnessed the magnificent transfiguration of Jesus. We’ll dive into that some other time but to give you an idea the Greek word in English is metamorphosis which means transformation. As they rejoin the other disciples, they saw a crowd, heard a commotion, and instead of walking away or pulling the other disciples away, Jesus confronted by asking v16 “What are you arguing with them about?” which brings us to our story for this morning.
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.”
Story Illustration: One of my favorite t-shirts is a gift from a co-worker. I found it on my desk one day with a sticky note that says, “A wise man once told me when I asked him a question.” The shirt says, “Idk … Google it.” I have worn it many times and many people at work associate me with the trademark. When I wear it at the grocery store people comment “I like your shirt.” It’s funny, but it can also be somewhat embarrassing.
The disciples probably wished they were wearing this shirt when they could not fulfill the request by the man to drive out the spirit from his son. Listen to Jesus’ response: v19 “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” To whom is Jesus addressing? The teachers of the law - experts but unbelieving; the people who were “overwhelmed with wonder” - impressed but unbelieving; yes, the man with a demon possessed child - desperate but unbelieving; and last but not least, the disciples.
Truth be told, the same can be said about us when Jesus sees us today - sophisticated but unbelieving. “What are you arguing about with each other?” Not enough TP, $5 gas, mask mandates, travel restrictions, vaccine, no vaccine… True, there’s a supply chain problem that’s plaguing the economy, there’s a labor shortage that’s affecting many businesses. But these are temporary. And when it comes to having a deficit with our faith in God, no New Year can offer any hope if our demand is anything other than growing stronger in faith, greater in knowledge, and deeper in love with our Lord Jesus Christ.
We step up our believe by learning more about Jesus.
We step up our believe by obeying what Jesus teaches.
Then Jesus said, “Bring the boy to me.”
The author of Mark is said to waste no words in writing a gospel that is practical, urgent and intentional. Charles Swindoll describes the book of Mark as a fast-paced Gospel of drama and high-energy action that emphasizes events rather than words.
20 So they brought him. It took a number of people to carry this grown young adult man but no number can restrain him from the power of the demon. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell, he rolled, and he foamed. 21 Jesus, “How long?” Man, “From childhood,”. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.” So many times I’ve had to pull him away from the oven or up from the well. I don’t think I can do this anymore, I can’t handle this anymore … “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Well your disciples couldn’t!” snapped the man. No, the Bible does not say that. I made that up. Jesus followed up,
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Illustration: An old American Indian Chief was teaching a gathering of young warriors about the struggle within. “It is like two dogs fighting inside of us,” the chief told them. “There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight. But sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning the fight. A young warrior asks, “Who is going to win in the end?” The chief answered, “The one you feed.”
Within us is a dog named Faith and the other named Fear. In order for Faith to overcome Fear, we must study God’s Word to provide us with Daily Bread. Make it your commitment to spend time in God’s Word regularly, organically and habitually. Don’t make resolutions. Create habits. Remember Psalm 23? The LORD who is our shepherd leads us into green pastures. When your relationship with God grows, so will your pasture become greener and wider. The more you love God, the more you’ll hunger for His Word. Feed faith, regularly, organically, and habitually.
Someone once quoted: Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace (Thomas Kampis, Sermon Illustrations).
The invitation to God’s grace is in v23 “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father “exclaimed with tears” (other versions) “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Faith is the key to unlock Grace. My final point is this:
True faith means
We believe God can
We believe God will
We believe God is.
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure 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.
28 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.”
At this point, I would like to shift my exposition work on Mark 9 to spotlight v27 and focus the application on our young men and women in the congregation. When I was studying the text I couldn’t help but think about the young man whose life was changed. This was a person (lucky if even considered human) whom people were terrified of, not very useful, had no friends, no education, and no dignity of his own whatsoever. But, is now free from the bondage of silence. Free from suffering physical pain, and multiple near death experiences. Today he is completely healed. So what happens to him tomorrow? And I think about you, the people in this group as I often do when preparing messages. What happens to you tomorrow? 2022 and beyond? Just as Mark wasted no words in writing a gospel that is practical, urgent and intentional, I too wanted to employ another method to encourage you in this New Year which begins tomorrow.
This is a short video about a little Chinese girl named Luna Chu. I just want to callout there’s a particular scene where Luna paid homage in a traditional way that we are very familiar, as Christians, we try to refrain from practicing. I’ll say a few words after the video to close us out.
After video: God has your next pair of shoes. Video also reminds me as an earthly father the verse in Matt. 7:11 - If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
v27 Jesus took him by the hand, lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Jesus has taken all of us by the hand and still holding it, lifted us to our feet, and given us the strength to stand on our own through others who have served faithfully year-after-year.
My idea for this video was not inspired by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Richard Branson although 2021 was a year of remarkable space exploration. But the idea of the video came from talking with Matthew (aerospace) and Don (architect) and when I see all of you who are made in God’s image and having the spirit of God in you, I am so excited to see how God is going to use your life to impact the world. When Jesus healed, held, and helped that young man Jesus also handed him to someone else. The boy wants to discover his dreams. He wants to experience life. He deserves a chance to explore and to taste success. Who’s gonna add his contact, send him an email, take him to coffee, lead him to Christ?
God brought you into this world for a reason. God puts you in this church for a reason. Know how you can strengthen this Adult English Ministry? Take someone’s hand and walk with them in their spiritual journey. And be ready to exercise your faith actively as a Christian who believes in the resurrected power of Jesus Christ. Here are 5 action items for all of us to get started in the New Year:
Grow in faith, one step at a time
Acknowledge God’s provision in every success
Work hard - Pray harder. Endeavor great things - all for the glory of the Master
When life beats you down, believe God can, God will, and God is
Be strong and courageous, with humility and compassion
These are not resolutions. They are habits worth forming. Don’t just have a good year. Make it a great year!
