Mark 9:23-29 “Lord Help My Unbelief”

Mark 9:23-29 “Lord Help My Unbelief”

We all come to times and situations where our faith struggles. Last week we looked at how long we can believe, have faith. This week we look at how deeply or strongly we believe. Jesus is given another mission impossible assignment. Jesus is given a rock by a person in the crowd. A little screen pops out and a voice says “your mission if you choose to accept it, is to heal the demon possessed boy.” Then smoke pour out of rock as Jesus drops it to the ground. Then the music plays. But Jesus is the God of the impossible.

1.       The question
a. the boy’s father has tried the disciples and gotten no help.

b. “If you can help” shows his doubts.
c. could be because the disciples failed.
d. could just be his doubt that anyone could help.
e. but he comes to Jesus doubts and all.

2. Jesus’ frustration
a. “if I can help”
b. all things are possible for one who believes
c. Jesus is referring to Himself (look at his discussion with disciples vs 28)
d. The father ask for help to overcome is unbelief
e. then the healing takes place.

3. What is your impossible mission
a. heal a wound in your soul?
b. heal an addiction
c. a sin that will not go away
d. an emotional thing, a physical thing?
e. seeing our church grow
f. do you start your prayers with “Jesus if you can do anything about this”

If so it is time to ask God to help your unbelief. Bring your prayer and your doubts. Admit your doubts to God and ask Him to overcome your unbelief. 

Luke 18:6-8 “Will He Find Faith”

Luke 18:6-8  “Will He Find Faith”

Luke tells us that the point is for us to pray and not lose heart.

Pray and believe in the face of impossible odds?

Pray believe in the face of time?

Pray and believe in the face of ridicule?

What are your prayers?
Release from addiction, a sin, a physical affliction, broken heart
what are your prayers for our church?
That it would grow, become closer, more friendly, and reach more people?

Jesus calls us to be persistent in prayer and have faith.
Do we believe Him?
Do we trust Him?

Prov 3:5&6 trust in the lord
Phil 4:6&7 be anxious
phil 4:13 I can do all things
phil 4:19&20 My God will supply

When Jesus comes will He find Faith on the earth?
Will He find our church a church of faith?
Will He find you faith on the earth?

Jesus calls us to be persistent in prayer,
persistent in belief, persistent in trust, persistent in faith

John 11:1-44 “Come Out”

John 11:1-44 “Come Out”

We go through many things in life, some of them not fun at all. We have so many questions. Why why why. Wars are going on or getting ready to start. Christians are dying for their faith. Strangely this passage tells our story and how Jesus fits into it.

1.       Lazarus dies

a.       Jesus could have left right away but he stays 2 days longer. Vs. 6

b.      The disciples don’t want to go there. Vs. 8

c.       Lazarus is dead vs 14

d.      Martha runs to Jesus vs. 20

e.      Mary remains seated.

f.        Mary and Martha say If you had only been here vs 21&32

g.       Jesus weeps. Vs 35

2.       You could have stopped my pain

a.       He could have stopped their pain from happening

b.      He could have stopped His own pain

c.       He could have avoided the disciples fears

d.      Instead He weeps with us, mourning with us.

3.       New life will come

a.       Our death is not final

b.      Wrapped in grave cloths

1.       Fears

2.       Compromises

3.       Family

4.       Debts

5.       Jobs

6.       Doubts

7.       Past sins

8.       Present sins

9.       Physical disabilities

10.   Mental hang-ups

11.   Addictions

12.   Bad attitudes

c.       So is the church

d.      Jesus calls us to life

e.      To take off the grave cloths and live again

f.        2 cor 5:17 a new creation

g.       Matt 9:17 new wineskins

h.      Rev 2:17 a new name

The time for mourning is past it is time to cut off the grave cloths and live!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “not alone”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  “not alone”

We have just a couple of things left to learn about the Bonsai Christian Life and the Bonsai church. One of the characteristics of a Bonsai church is that it is alone. A lone tree shown in a pot all by itself. This is the exact opposite of what the church is supposed to be. We are called to be in fellowship with each other.

1.      Not Alone
a. Ecc 4:9-12 Better results in ministry, helping each other up, encouragement and power.

b. Ecc invests in friends because you will need them.

c. Gal 6:1 Carry each other’s burdens

d. Romans 12:1-8 given gifts to serve the body

e. Eph 4:1-13 So that we may grow

f. Hebrews 10:23-25 meeting together for encouragement

2. Growing apart
            a. Build exclusive friendships (clique)
            b. lack of forgiveness and grace
            c, shame
            d. old age
            e. conflicting priorities in life
            f. work schedules

3. Growing together
            a. purposefully schedule time with others
            b. invest in a circle of friends
            c. purposefully invite people out or over for dinner
            d. Visit and pray for people who are sick or homebound
            e. Make a deliberate practice of inviting new people

It is the natural habit of churches to grow apart, if we are going to overcome the Bonsai Christian Life and the Bonsai church, we must invest in others. We must build new ways to be together. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Cutting the Tap John 14:25&26

Cutting the Tap John 14:25&26

I have been using the Bonsai tree to talk about how our life in Christ and our church is kept small. One of the most critical parts of the Bonsai process is cutting the tap root. The tap root is the long main root that brings most of the water to the tree. It also serves as the anchor to keep the tree upright. Once the tap root is cut the little Bonsai tree will need to be watered often, sometimes every day. The tree also has to be wired into the pot or tray to keep it upright. Cutting the Tap root removes the trees main source of life and stability.

As we will see today, the Holy Spirit is meant to be our main source of stability and life in Christ. Gen 1 tells us the Holy Spirit was involved in creation. Throughout the Old Testament the Holy Spirit brings prophecies and revelations to the people of God. Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit to live within us. Yet The Holy Spirit is the neglected part of God.

Imagine you and two of your friends go to a party; everyone talks to your two friends but hardly acknowledges your presence let alone shows any interest in you. We sing hymns to and pray to our Father in Heaven. We pray to and worship Jesus. We talk about the Father our creator and Jesus our savior. The Holy Spirit? Not so much. So how can we avoid cutting off our main source of stability and life.

1.       What the Holy Spirit is intended to do.

a.       John 14:24 teach you all things.

b.      John 16:12 He will guide you into all truth.

c.       1 Cor 2:14 Only those with the Holy Spirit can understand God.

d.      Romans 8:26-27 the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

e.      Romans 12:3-8 The Holy Spirit empowers us with gifts to be used in the church.

f.        1 Cor 12:1-11 says they are to be used for the common good

2.       Cutting the tap

a.       Eph 4:30 teaches us that we can grieve the Holy Spirit.

b.      You grieve the Holy Spirit neglecting Him, or not listening to Him.

c.       1 Thes 5:19 warns us to not quench the Holy Spirit

3.       Restoring the tap root

a.       Once cut the tap root is gone forever on a tree but not so with us.

b.      Romans 8:5-7 Focus our minds on the things of the Spirit.

c.       Using our gifts, allowing the Spirit to intercede for us, look to the Spirit to teach us.

d.      Pray to the Spirit for understanding and power. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

e.      Focus your mind on attaining the fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:16-26

f.        Driving with the rearview mirror. Focused on you mistakes and sin.

Focus on the things of the Holy Spirit, Live in the Holy Spirit, don’t quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your source of life in Christ and your source of stability. Don’t cut your Tap Root of life.

Mark 1:35 “Trimming The Roots 2” “Nourishing Prayer”

Mark 1:35 “Trimming The Roots 2” “Nourishing Prayer”

As I mentioned before trimming the roots limits the nourishment of the tree. Prayer is meant to be nourishment for the tree. By having a limited view of prayer our personal life and our church becomes limited, under-nourished.

1.       Prayer as usual
a. Phil 4:6&7 be anxious…

b. James 5:16 prayer for healing

c. John 15:16 Ask whatever you will

d. 1 Chron 4:9&10 the prayer of Jabez

e. Matthew 7:7-11 Give good gifts

f. James 1:17 every good and Perfect

g. up prayers

2. Prayer as nourishment
                a. Mark 1:35 Jesus went to a solitary or desolate place to pray
                b. Why would Jesus need to pray?
                c. Why go where He goes?
                d. Mark 9:29 “This kind can only come out”

3. Prayer as listening and receiving
                a. practicing the presence
                b. Prayer as receiving
                c. Prayer as nourishment
                d. Psalm 37:7 Be still
                e. devote as much time as you speak, to listening
                f. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you

If we will go to the solitary place the lonely place and make listening prayer part of our life, we will find that prayer about the list will be more effective.

Psalm 1:1-3 “trimming the roots 1” The Bonsai Church

Psalm 1:1-3 “trimming the roots 1” The Bonsai Church

One part of the Bonsai process is to trim the roots, which starves the tree of vital nutrients needed for growth. The tree becomes completely dependent on the caregiver for the things needed for growth. This can be said of many a stunted Christian and Church, they are totally dependent on the two or three sentences of the Bible read and expounded on by the pastor each week. But if we are going to be like the tree of Psalm 1, planted by the river and yielding fruit, we need our roots.

For many people talking about reading the Bible brings pictures of a forbidding book (hold up a giant Bible). It-th is-th written-th in-th a-th langue-th we-th can-th read-th. On top of that it has names we can’t even pronounce. Yet Gods’ word is so vital to our growth personally and as a church. Yet most Christians have a love hate relationship with their Bible. They read it as a new year’s resolution, they read it because they are told to, it’s a duty, a requirement, they have a Bible reading plan in their Bible and want to show their friends it’s checked off. They study their Bible because they want to be part of the group. Some other Christians do not read their Bible because they just don’t like what it says.

1.       What the Bible says about it’s self

a.       Psalm 119:6-16

b.      Psalm 119: 105

c.       2 Tim 3:16 &17

d.      Josh 1:8

e.      James 1:22-25

f.        Matthew 4:4

g.       Hebrews 4:12

2.       Sink your roots deep in the Words of God.

a.       To avoid the Bonsai life and church

b.      Sink your roots deep into all the Bible

c.       Learn to drink it in like a sponge

d.      Wrap it around you like a blanket on a cold winters evening

e.      Use it as a healing balm on your battered soul and heart

f.        Drink it in like a cup of hot coffee on a cool morning

If you will do these things the Bible will help make you become the tree of Psalm 1, growing and fruitful. Not just surviving but thriving.