Snapshot22 Mark 9:14-29 "Possibilities of Prayer"
Community Group Questions
1. What is your problem or conflict?
2. Have you been ignoring the fact that Jesus can help you?
3. When have you obeyed the Lord out of necessity?
4. When have you obeyed out of love?
5. Describe your prayer life...when do your prayer? What keeps you disciplined?
Big Idea: "When problems and conflicts come we need to realize the possibilities of prayer"
Vrs 14-18 The disciples and the people came to a crossroads. There is a problem and a conflict, we want answers.
Problem-the mans son is demon possessed.
Conflict- The disciples were facing the scribes who were plotting against Jesus and challenging their power and Jesus'
Jesus asks "what are you arguing about?"
I can imagine the argument went like this... The disciples were not able to cast the demon out and the scribes were saying something along the lines of "see you have no power and either does Jesus"
Today...Don't people say things like that about God? If there is a God why do you have problems? If you trust God why is your life not perfect and you have conflicts with others. How come he does not answer, does not care or does not heal it? They say "you are powerless so is He"
What is your problem or conflict? Relational, financial, self image, loss, no direction in life. (pick one and have it in your mind during the sermon, prayer card)
Vrs 19a How long will we ignore Jesus? How long am I to be with and bear with you? Jesus was challenging the fact that they went to the wrong the place to receive healing.
William Lane says on the verse "the overtone of Jesus phrase "unbelieving generation" suggests that the disciples remain indistinguishable from the unregenerate men"
Is that us as well? When people see us do they see people who rely on the Lord and leave things in His hands and believe He actually cares and can do things about it? Or are we ignoring the Lord.
There is a sense of loneliness in the statement of Jesus. "How long". It is sad Jesus wants to have a relationship with us and He wants it to be one of comfort and it grieves Him when we chose to take matters into our own hands. Not only because He desires our fellowship but because He knows what is best for us and He can help.
Vrs 19b-20 Do we obey out of necessity? Many times people come to the right place for what some think is the wrong reason. The trap the Christians fall into is criticizing them for going to the right place for the wrong or selfish reason. example: People just come to church on Easter or Christmas. You just want us to help you because you are a financial issue. The list goes on...as Christians whether their motive is wrong or right they are here and we should help. Because that is how God treats us.
We should obey out of love but we have all obeyed out of necessity at times in life because we all need Jesus' help
Vrs 21 How long will we wait? "How long has this been happening?" The Question for us is...how long are we going to live our lives without bringing our problems and conflicts to the feet of the Lord?
Vrs 22 How should we ask? The words, "If You can do anything", indicate that the disciples’ inability to expel the demon (v. 18) had shaken the father’s faith in Jesus’ ability. BKC
Is your faith shaken because you have been dealing with the same problem or conflict and no one seems to care or want to help?
Sometimes our faith is shaken by the ugliness of problems (demon possessed boy). This can't work out. I will never be happy, things will never be the same. We start to doubt the power of God and we don't want to go to Him in prayer.
"Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A person is powerful on his knees." Corrie ten Boom
Vrs 23 "If I can! All things are possible for those who believe". Jesus then challenges the belief of the man.
When we bring problems and conflicts to the Lord the impossible becomes possible. It challenges our thinking of how things can change or how God changes us to deal with the issues. Remember God will only allow you to go through what you can handle. 1 Cor 10:13
Sometimes we have to come to this conclusion..."I believe that God can do it, He is just not doing it now or may chose not to"
We should ask in faith & humility.
Vrs 24 The man's confession GOSPEL We see something in this man that Jesus loves to see humility..."help my unbelief"
Vrs 25-27 The display Jesus' power. God shows Himself to those who believe.
Draw near to God and He will drawn near to you. James 4:8
When we cast our cares on the Lord He cares for us 1 Peter 5:7
His power is made perfect in our weakness. 2 Cor 12:9
This poor father had no control over what was happening to his son and in that helplessness and hopelessness he turned his son and himself over to Jesus' care.
What are you trying to control? What are trying to take care of yourself? What problem or conflict is plaguing your life? Why has God not delivered you yet from your situation, maybe you have not let it all go to Him.
"Come to me you who are weary and I will give you rest" Mt 11:28
Maybe He has a different plan you just have not prayed enough to accept the plan from Him.
Vrs 28-29 Realize the possibilities of prayer. The disciples failed because they had not acted in prayer and sincere faith.
William Lane says "The disciples had been tempted to believe that the gift they had received from Jesus (6:7) was in their control and could be exercised at their disposal. This was a subtle form of unbelief, for it encouraged them to trust in themselves rather then God".
We should not be arrogant and presume upon God and tell Him what He should be doing.
Only Jesus could solve this problem and clear up the conflict, the disciples failed to recognize this.
We try our best but I can tell you our best is never as good as what the Lord can do.
When it comes to problems and conflicts we have in life...as the preacher John Wesley says "prayer is where the action is"
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