# 112 Jesus heals a demon possessed boy
250 Events • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
God on the Mountain is still God in the Valley.
God on the Mountain is still God in the Valley.
Introduction: Jesus had been to Caesarea Philippi, He had ask the disciples about who do the people say he was. He ask them the all important question of Who do you say that I am? Peter answered in Matthews Gospel, Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus predicts His death and peter gets rebuked by Jesus. then later, Jesus goes up to a mountain to pray. There the transfiguration occurs. The three disciples see Jesus glorified and talking with Moses and Elijah. Then God speaks and affirms that Jesus is His Son and adds that they should listen to Him. They are on their way back down the Mountain which brings us to this event.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
This was more than questioning. It was more like an argument. It was the scribes vs. the disciples.
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
They were surprised that He had arrived. They were not expecting Jesus to show up.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Jesus’s focus went immediately to the scribes. He knew they were always attacking Him and His ministry. Now, they were attacking His disciples.
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
The child was also deaf, in verses 18,20 and 22.
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
The Spirit is very cruel to this man’s son. He wants help for his son.
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
The disciples had failed. Jesus had given them the authority to heal and cast out demons ( 3:15, 6:7). For some reason they could not cast this demon out.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
This may have been directed more at the disciples. Jesus knew His time an earth was coming to a close. The disciples would have to do these things after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
The disciples should have been more mature in their faith at this point in their training.
Their failure may have been from a lack of faith. Maybe they were over confident in their ability. maybe a little pride had kicked in. They wanted to cast out this demon in front of the crowd. or maybe their faith wavered because of the crowd. The Bible does not tell exactly why they could not cast out this demon. It may have been so that Jesus could be glorified.
Spiritual power has to be maintained and renewed. Jesus demonstrated this with all the time He spent in prayer.
Jesus compassionately ask them to bring the boy to Him.I can only imagine how hopeful this desperate father was.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
The demon knew who Jesus was and knew his time of influence was just about over. The demon was going to make this as rough as He could.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Jesus knew the answer to this question. I believe He ask this question so the disciples and the crowd would hear the answer.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
the question of if you can is surprising. The fathers faith had been shaken by the failure of the disciples. He may have even been about ready to give up. Things probably looked hopeless from his view of things.
Sometimes we pray once, do not get the answer we want and then just give up. 1 Thess 5:16-18.
James 5:14-18.
He is pleading for Jesus to do something to help his son.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
If thou can believe. The whole of the Christian religion is based on faith. It is not just saying I believe but acting on what you say you believe.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
11:39 The essence of faith consists in receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He hath sent, which receives Him as Saviour and Lord, and impels to loving obedience and good works (John 1:12; Jas. 2:14–26). The particular uses of faith give rise to its secondary definitions: (1) For salvation, faith is personal trust, apart from meritorious works, in the Lord Jesus Christ, as delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification (Rom. 4:5, 23–25). (2) As used in prayer, faith is the “confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14, 15). (3) As used in reference to unseen things of which Scripture speaks, faith “gives substance” to them, so that we act upon the conviction of their reality (Heb. 11:1–3), (4) As a working principle in life, the uses of faith are illustrated in Heb. 11:1–39.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
I believe, help thou my unbelief. A prayer we should all be saying at various times in our lives. When things are going really bad, it is easy to get scared and have doubts. Once those doubts and fears start. Satan will get a crow bar, cram it in the crack of doubt and go to prying.
he can not take your salvation, but we can let him him take our joy and peace.
When I am week
2 Cor 12:10.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
The cure was permanent.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Possible resurrection.
28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
Jesus was continually teaching the disciples. This was a time of private question and answers for the disciples.
Have you ever ask God why can I not do this? Why did I fail? Why am I not good at this?
Just remember, it is not about what you and I can do, it is about what God can do through us.
Preacher Bob McCurry, always says, God I can’t, but you can.
If any good is accomplished, it will be because God has done it.
29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Prayer and faith go hand in hand.
James 5:14-18.
Go through the Bible and study all the promises of God. He always keeps His promises.
Application.
The glory of Jesus was seen by 3 disciples on the mount of Transfiguration.
With the casting out of this demon, all who were present could witness the power and authority of Jesus.
The disciples had tried to cast out the demon in their own power and failed.
Jesus cast out the demon in God’s power and the child was healed.
Demonstration that Jesus had power over life and death.
There is always a need for greater faith. Trials, troubles and failures can all lead to greater faith. James 1:2-3.
We all struggle from time to time. We believe in Jesus but at times doubts and fear creep in. Satan uses doubts and fears to take our joy and peace. He can not take your salvation. But he can make you feel defeated and make you quit.
I am sure the disciples felt defeated when they failed to cast out the demon. But then Jesus came on the scene and won the victory. Our victory is in Jesus. Our power is in Jesus. Our hope is in Jesus.
We need to operate in His power. Unfortunately, when there is some success, pride creeps in and you start saying look what I have done. It is not what you have done, it is what God can do through you.
Phil 4:13.
The first step power over the enemy is to admit you are week. And then turn to Jesus.
Are you struggling with your faith?
Do you have doubts and fears?
Are you feeling defeated?
Just like this desperate father, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
The altar is open come to the Lord in prayer and He will give you strength.