If you can believe… All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23)
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
A. How do we hear the Word in the way that produces faith (belief)?
1. We know that faith (belief) will unleash the power of God that makes possible the miracle that we – or another person – needs.
2. Exploring the “hearing of faith.”
A narrative on Mark 9:2-35 (NKJV)
Mark 9:2-7
2 Now after six days Jesus
took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by
themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” --
6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
• This verse is similar to Matthew 3:17 – “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Mark 9:14-18
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around
them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
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.”
• The disciples were unable to cast this demon out, however, Luke 9:1 says, “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.”
Mark 9:19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”
• Jesus uses the words “faithless” and “lacking faith.” The disciples had faith, but not on the level necessary to cast this type of demon out.
Mark 9:22-24, 27-29
22 “…if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
• Matthew’s version of the same story gives us additional insight. Matthew 17:20 says, “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.’”
• In verse 21, Jesus adds, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
• As New Testament believers, we have a resource the disciples did not have at this point – praying in the Holy Spirit:
Jude 1:20 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
B. What does fasting and praying do?
1. Isn’t this how Jesus started His ministry – with 40 days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness? (See Matthew 4:1-11.)
2. Jesus put His flesh under submission to His spirit. He answered the devil’s temptation by the Word and will of God.
3. Jesus functioned as the anointed Son of Man, not as the Son of God.
• Philippians 2:7-8 says, “but [Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
4. Jesus always acted in faith on the revealed will of the Father.
• In John 5:19, 20, 30 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel…. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
5. Did Jesus’ disciples need to learn humility and to put the flesh under in order to increase their faith?
Mark 9:33-35
33 Then He
came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you
disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
C. There are 2 steps we do to receive our miracle – then God does the final step:
1. We hear the Word and will of God, by both illumination of the Word and revelation of God’s will.
2. We act on His Word and will. Start with the prayer to receive (Mark 11:24), then do all that the Holy Spirit prompts you to do.
3. Let God do the miraculous – a manifestation of His power that makes all things possible.