Father's Fighting Faith
Notes
Transcript
Mark 9:17–24 (NASB95)
And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Stand up for your children
When the crowd gets in the way
When they’re being assaulted
Seek help from Jesus for your children
Fully knowing your child and what threatens them
Revealing your own doubts and fears
Requesting help for any imperfections with your faith
Today is a day that we recognize and celebrate our father’s, father figures, and fatherhood in general. GOD considers it an honor to be a father, which is why he instructs children to obey and honor their fathers. Fathers hold the seed that plant life for every human being. Father’s also have many duties toward their children, which are recognized as a great weight on their shoulders. It is from this responsibility that all fathers should be humbled, yet encouraged, and recognized for their opportunity and efforts to be like the first and foremost father, and that is our Father in heaven. While I will not spend today looking at the vast duties of a father, I believe this passage shows us an aspect of fatherhood which I’m praying all fathers and children can relate to. That is that fathers, have something deep within them, that drives them to fight for their children. This morning’s title is “The Fighting Faith of a Father”.
Stand up for your children
Jesus came down from the mountain where his appearance was changed, and Peter, James, and John were privileged to witness it. When he gets back to the other 9 disciples, he finds a crowd of people around them and they’ve broken out into a religious fight. When folks see Jesus, they run up to him like he’s all good with what’s happening. But Jesus doesn’t let it fly, and says “What is all this fussing and fighting about?” Mark records that “One from the crowd spoke up to respond”.
Application: Father’s stand up, and speak up for their children. That is usually a first sign of his fight.
When the crowd gets in the way
When did this man speak up? It was when the crowd was in the way. The crowd in this context is a distraction to what’s important. The crowd has formed and is fussing and fighting about something that really doesn’t involve them. The crowd is a deterrent and overshadowing the true need for this man and his child’s life.
Application: And father’s, when we stand up for our children, it will often times be against the crowd. It will be against the street crowd, who wants to own and control our children’s lives. It will be against some religious crowds, who might be feeding our children false information. It will be against all kinda crowds, who intentionally or unintentionally aim to deter and rob a father’s duties!!
When they’re being assaulted
But not just with the crowd. The main reason this man spoke up is because of what was happening to his child. He is the one that can speak for his child. The issue was that his son was suffering from an ongoing assault. When he explains the assault, we can hear the physical behavior and marks: can’t speak, slammed to the ground, foams at mouth, grinds teeth, and stiffens.
Application: We already know, if there are any marks on our children, it moves a father’s adrenaline in a way that he could tear through a wall. Because you messin with a part of me. Protect mode soars. Fighting sensors are through the roof!!!
But what makes this assault a worse case for a father, not only is his son defenseless, he as his father can’t within his own might and will do anything about this assault. Why? Because it is a evil spirit. An attacker that he can’t see.
Application: This is a frustration that is frustrating. Because if we as fathers can see the attacker, aww it’s no doubt that all daddy’s in here are about to go to jail. But when the attacker is invisible. Lord help us Jesus!! He has exhausted all of his strength, and all human strength. There’s nowhere to turn, but one he has heard all this good news about.
Seek help from Jesus for your children
In so many words, he says “Jesus, that’s what everybody is arguing about”. And Jesus I’m now seeking help from you. Jesus’ response is a bit offputting, but Jesus is himself frustrated with the lack of faith of that generation. I believe Jesus is primarily directing this statement to the crowd (which supports the need to divorce from the crowd). Jesus demands the boy be brought to him. As soon as the spirit, not the boy, but the spirit saw Jesus and he starts acting up in front of Jesus. Confirming all that the father mentioned.
Application: When it’s a spiritual assault, sometimes evil acts up more when you bring your child to worship, or when you’re praying.
Fully knowing your child and what threatens them
Now if you read Matthew and Luke’s record of this, it is as if the following conversation never happened. Jesus asks “How long” “happening”. Jesus knows his strategy with this father. The father says from childhood, indicating what he has observed and been fighting against for some time. But then he opens up further and concludes what this spirits intent is, and that is to destroy him
Application: Father’s, when we seek the help of Jesus for our children, it demands an intimate knowledge of our kids. From the time they’re born til whenever. We need to know if, when, where, how and how long they’re being assaulted. And as father’s, because we are fighters, we can know the full threat!!!
Illustration: You remember when you fell off your bike, or out of a tree. Went in the house crying, and daddy said, that’s just a scratch. But if he says deep cuts, bruises, and breaks, he recognizes there’s a larger threat here!!!
Daddy wants to know friends, where they hang, when did they just drop you off, left you hanging, pushed you in the water, cut off yo hair!!!
Revealing your own doubts and fears
But watch this. Jesus also opens this door so this father could reveal himself further to Jesus. Because in desperation, frustration, fearful for his sons safety, he adds, Jesus hurry up and help us through your compassion, if you can.
Application: This is man’s first encounter with Jesus himself. He done went to his disciples, secondary help, and they’re help failed. That has created some doubt, and this father wants action and results, because his child is at stake. As fathers, we’ve gotta open up with this other man name Jesus when we seek his help. Father I’m afraid that this… I don’t see your power right now and it’s troubling me, because this dire for my son!!!
Requesting help for any imperfections with your faith
See in him opening up and revealing his doubts, in provoked something in Jesus: “What you mean IF you are able!!” Jesus wants him to be sure that the power that makes anything possible is made available to the father who fully trusts in the Lord!!! The father, thinking his request might be rejected, cries out “I do believe; help my unbelief”. Which is to say I have faith indeed, but Lord my faith is imperfect, so I need your help with the areas and level of belief that would meet the level of belief you just mentioned.
Application: This is true faith fighting in us as fathers. Willing to tell GOD, I believe you, but I’m struggling, I’m fighting, and need your help where I’m not perfect in trusting you on behalf of my kids. Because fathers want to see the best, not held down, all things possible, for their kids!!!
Conclusion: Thank GOD for our fathers who have had a fight faith on our behalf. Who have stood up, against all odds, especially when we were hurt. Who have sought Jesus in their fatherhood, realizing he is their/our source of power, protection, and peace for our children. And when we seek him, open up ourselves, reveal all doubts and fears, and request help for any imperfections in our faith. GOD gives us grace as fathers!! And he will give us strength and faith to continue this fight of faith for our kids!!! Amen.