Title: Shift the IF
Theme: Jesus was telling the father that he was putting his “if” in the wrong place. It was not “if Jesus could” it was “If he believed”.
Text: Mark 9:17 - 27
Announce: Garden City Mission
Introduction
In Mark 9, Mark describes to us this “transfiguration” on the mountain. This reminds us of the glory of the Lord that sat in the tabernacle of Solomon or Ezekiel. This glory that Moses experienced on the mountain that made his face glow. There is Peter, James and John experiencing this powerful revelation of Jesus. It was so powerful that Peter (afraid, but not quiet) said, “Let’s stay here and build three tabernacles.” One for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. Equating Elijah and Moses to Jesus was his first mistake. The Father speaks from heaven, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then things settle.
It was time to go back down from the mountain.
When then get down into the valley, the crowd is there. When Jesus gets down to the bottom of the mountain.
ii. “He found disputing scribes (challenging the disciples to cast out the demon), a distracted father (he wasn’t worried about the theology of the matter, he had a son that was broken and hurting, he just needed help, he was not here to be a pawn), a demon-possessed boy (controlled by a demon, out of control) , and defeated disciples (had done all they knew to do, all they had seen Jesus do, but to no avail)... (Morgan, parentheses is mine)
What did He do?
He silenced the scribes (you just cannot argue with some people), He comforted the father (“bring the boy to me”, He healed the boy, He instructed the disciples.” (Morgan)
Conversation between Jesus and the Man
So let us now zoom in on this conversation between Jesus and this man.
(Mar 9:17) Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
Although Jesus was not there when the presentation was first made, in this man’s eyes Jesus’ disciples represented Jesus.
(Mar 9:18) And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
How terrible this must have been to watch his son being controlled by this demon. How hard it must have been to muster up enough hope to bring his son to the disciple but to see that hope be shattered when the discipled could do nothing.
(Mar 9:19) He answered him and said, "O faithless (unbelieving, without trust) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."
This is the 1st step. “Bring him to Me”. Father bring your boy to Me. You have to start by bringing your problem to Jesus. Honestly the prayers of church helps, the prayers of the saints avails much, but you have to have enough faith to bring your problem to Jesus.
(Mar 9:20) Then they brought him to Him. And when he (the boy) saw Him (Jesus), immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
The spirit acted out.
(Mar 9:21) So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. (22) And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.
What a description. The Bible says that Satan comes to
John 10:10 “ to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (Jesus answer) I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Listen you can only serve Satan and the ways of this world for so long until it starts to destroy you and your family. I am not talking about addiction or things you see. I talking about not trusting in God. Don’t let the enemy distract you.
Shift the if
But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
If – maybe, hopefully
You – Jesus
Can – ability, Jesus do you have the ability to do this?
Do – action, Jesus will you do this?
Anything – whatever is in your capacity
There was a lot of doubt here. Doubt in Jesus ability. Doubt in Jesus willingness. Doubt in Jesus limitation.
Notice how Jesus “shifts the if”
(Mar 9:23) Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
The man had a “misplaced if”. Jesus moved the “if” from His ability to the faith of a man.
“All things are possible to him who believes.”
This was the theme in Jesus’ miracles. Just believe. Have faith. Trust.
Matthew 21:21 ESV And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
Mark 11:24 ESV Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Repeated in Matthew 21:22
Jesus to the woman who washed His feet Luke 7:50 ESV And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Mar 9:24) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
“Help my unbelief”
d. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief: The poor father in this account was challenged by Jesus’ exhortation for faith. He did believe in Jesus’ power to deliver his boy - after all, why else would he have come to Jesus? But he also recognized his doubts. So, he tearfully plead with Jesus: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!
i. In this case, the man’s unbelief was not a rebellion against or a rejection of God’s promise. He did not deny God’s promise; he desired it. However, it just seemed too good to be true. Thus he said, “help my unbelief!”
ii. Help my unbelief is something a man can only say by faith. “While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.” (Spurgeon)
In the other gospels Jesus gives him a glimpse of faith.
(Matthew 17:20) So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Why? A mustard seed is still alive. It just needs #1 to be planted #2 to be watered #3 to grow
What we have faith in?
From: 3 Ways Faith Moves Mountains - Matthew 17:20 Meaning | Bible Study Tools
1. Our own abilities?
No. We are told, “Lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), and 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 reminds us, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
2. In a favorable outcome?
Though “believe it and you can achieve it” may sound like a good slogan, it is ultimately foolishness. God controls the outcome, not us. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
The Lord has the power to move mountains. Our faith is in Him to do so. Nothing will be impossible for us (Matthew 17:20) because “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
This leads us to some wonderful news. We don’t have to summon up enough faith to perform miracles. It isn’t about believing hard enough, trying hard enough. We only need faith the size of a mustard seed. It is our God who performs mighty deeds.
Conclusion
This morning, the Lord brought me by here to tell you to “Shift the If”. It is time for you to put your faith in God.
#1 With your life (salvation)
#2 For you miracle
#3 For your healing
(Mar 9:25) When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
(Mar 9:26) Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."
(Mar 9:27) But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
