Why is the Direction of Belief Important?
Notes
Transcript
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Jesus sees a crowd around the disciples and walks towards them
Someone in the crowd sees and recognises Jesus, comes to Jesus, and greets Him
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Jesus knew what was happening. He is God.
What is going on? What are talking about?
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 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 issue is presented:
The boy cannot talk
Taketh him - to seize hold of someone or something so as to make it one’s own
Teareth him - dash the poor boy to the ground - distorting his body and forcing convulsions upon him
Foameth - foamed at the mouth like a mad dog
Gnasheth - trizo - tri-zo - shrill cry accompanied by the grinding of the teeth
Pineth - agricultural term used when describing grass that withers away - the boy was withering to death before his parent’s eyes, unable to speak or express his suffering
The parents surely tried to get help from doctors and others. Nothing worked.
They heard about Jesus, and the news came to them that He and the disciples were nearby. Father took his boy, but couldn’t find Jesus so he took his son to the disciples.
The disciples had experience in teaching, preaching, saw people healed of diseases in their ministries, and cast out demons.
Yet, they couldn’t help. They didn’t understand why.
The father’s belief in every answer he sought out had done nothing but dashed his hopes and belief.
BELIEF MISDIRECTED
White car pulling out in front of another car - the driver believed that the one car would stop
Belief in man will fail you - Even Jesus’ disciples failed
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.
Jesus pointed out the problem wasn’t with what Jesus taught or the power He gave, but the belief
I don’t have much longer to be with you. When are you going to get this
BELIEF DIRECTED
Jesus said - You need look no further. I am the answer.
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.
This demon was defiant and daring
Usually the demons cried out in terror, but this one was determined to fight at every point
Tare him - convulsed him
Wallowing on the ground and foaming at the mouth
And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
This has been going for years now
The compassion the Lord’s heart must have felt for this poor little boy.
Jesus knew all about this, and wanted to also comfort the disciples on the long, stubborn, and difficult case this situation was.
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 demon, evil spirit, had tried on multiple occasions to kill this boy by throwing him into fire and in water
Notice now what the father says. He is unhappy, faith shaken to the core, “Can you do anything to help? Have compassion on us!”
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Jesus threw the man’s “if” back to him. There’s no “if” with God. The Creator of every galaxy, every sun, every moon, every planet, and every living thing could do anything! This stubborn and evil demon was no match for Jesus.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Lord, I believe - I choose to trust You - I came looking for You. I recognise my beliefs and hopes were placed wrongly elsewhere. You are the Answer I’ve been looking for.
Help - Run to the cry of those in danger
Please don’t break my belief and hope in You.
Don’t let me down.
How evil this spirit is! It’s hard enough seeing a grown man suffering with this, but now a poor helpless child is tormented by this evil spirit.
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 news was gathering speed as people recognised Jesus was about to heal this little boy.
People began to run not wanting to miss the miracle. Jesus, in contrast to the so-called “healers” today that want a crowd gathered to witness their display, instantly cast out the dumb and deaf spirit.
Jesus, said, “I” - this is emphatic - no other authority was needed. Jesus is the One that the foul (corrupt, unclean) spirit had no hope to usurp.
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.
The evil spirit tried once more to hurt the heart of the Lord, the father, and the boy. It savagely shook the boy so violently that everyone thought he was now dead.
BELIEF ASSURED
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.
Enter no more - This would not happen again. Jesus put His protecting hand upon this little boy.
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
When many thought death had no finished what Jesus started; the boy’s hand felt the Saviour’s hand. The boy stood up, and was made whole.
When Jesus saves; He saves to the uttermost. Nothing is left undone. It is finished with Jesus!
The assurance this family had in their belief placed in Jesus emboldened and empowered their heart in the Lord.
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Belief not only assures the heart of the unsaved, but it strengthens the heart of the saved.
The disciples had experience. They wanted to know what happened.
Jesus assured them that this situation necessitated a stronger approach; prayer and fasting.
God will allow situations like this into our lives to expose how we’ve grown with the Lord and how much closer we draw nearer to God.
This disciples were instructed; keep growing in the Lord. You don’t have all the answers, but you know the One Who does.