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18. Helping Overcome Unbelief

18. Helping Overcome Unbelief. Mark 9:14-29 p. 932. 1. Faith. Much has been said: “sees the invisible, believes the incredible, receives the impossible,” We are saved by faith. We walk / live by faith (2 Cor 5:7) Our faith is also sometimes weak . 1. Faith .

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18. Helping Overcome Unbelief

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  1. 18. Helping Overcome Unbelief Mark 9:14-29 p. 932

  2. 1. Faith • Much has been said: • “sees the invisible, believes the incredible, receives the impossible,” • We are saved by faith. • We walk / live by faith (2 Cor 5:7) • Our faith is also sometimes weak ...

  3. 1. Faith ... • Faith & faithfulness aligns us with God and His purposes. • How can we build our faith?

  4. 2. Faith & Power • Jesus gave authority over demons to his disciples (6:7) • Now they fail • He calls them a “unbelieving generation” (v 19) The FATHER’S Faith: • Brings his son to Jesus. Only some disciples are there. • Their failure draws a crowd and causes a dispute • Probably: God’s power is not working through them – or Jesus.

  5. 2. Faith & Power ... • Jesus’ criticism (v 19) encompasses everyone: • Disciples lack of faith disempowered them • Teachers of the Law looking for excuses not to believe • Crowd there for the show not humbly seeking God. • Father says – “If you can” (v 22) • Jesus reacts: Problem is not God’s willingness or ability. • Problem is human faith ... Or the lack of it.

  6. 2. Faith & Power ... • Reason is simple and profound: Unbelief is the greatest obstacle to the work of God. • We struggle between confidence in God and uncertainty. • God helps our unbelief.

  7. 2. Faith & Power ... DISCIPLES’ Faith: • “This kind can only come out by prayer” (v 29) • We deal with all demons by prayer. • Prayer is not a technique for exorcism for prayerless, faithless people. • It is the lifestyle of faithful people, readily able to deal with demons because they are connected to the power of God.

  8. 2. Faith & Power ... • Prayer locates authority & power correctly – God. • Not human technique or worthiness. • Faith, like prayer, is a channel – not the source: God. • The disciples may have caused the father’s faith to fail. • Conduct of our lives reflects on God. May influence others. • Obvious example: Our children.

  9. Overcoming Unbelief • 2 Peter 1:5–9 (TNIV) • add to your faith goodness; • and to goodness, knowledge; • and to knowledge, self-control; • and to self-control, perseverance; • and to perseverance, godliness; • and to godliness, mutual affection [brotherly love]; • and to mutual affection, love[agape]. • Join us in the Lenten Experiment (Starts Wed 13th).

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