This morning we read of a story in which Jesus comes to his disciples who have experienced failure. They tried to cast out a demon, but he would not obey them. The task was apparently too much for the disciples to handle.  Or was it?  This morning we learn that nothing is too difficult for God; but victory only comes when we approach our problem God’s way.
 
Digging Deeper
1.  Compare Mark’s account of the healing of the boy in Mark with Matthew 17:14-20 and Luke 9:37-43. Note that Mark’s account is more detailed.  What is different in the three accounts?  What do the other accounts add? How do they help us understand this event? 

2.   What authority was given to the disciples (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:13-15; Mark 6:7-13; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 9:1-6 and 10:17-20? Had they exercised that authority previously? Why do you think they failed this time?  Why didn’t they pray?  What happened to their faith?

3.  What does question 2 reveal about our own hearts and spiritual walk?  What authority do we have?  Why don’t we exercise it?  What keeps us from experiencing the kind of spiritual breakthrough that the man’s father and his boy experienced?  What would need to change for us to experience God’s power in those ways? How could that begin to change?  Are you willing to pay that price?

Scripture
(Mark 9:14-33 NIV)  When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

(Matthew 17:1-2 NIV)  After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

(Mark 1:30-31 NIV)  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
 
(Mark 5:39-42 NIV)  He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

(Jeremiah 32:17-23 NIV)  "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. 20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster upon them.
 

Played: 36 | Download | Duration: 00:41:23