Expecting a Miracle – August 7, 2024

Pastor Jim Bryant

James 4:2-3

“…You don’t have because you don’t ask, or you ask and you don’t receive because you ask for the wrong things.”

John 20:30-31 (NIV)

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Romans 13:8 (NIV)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 14:12 (NLT)

12 I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

Mark 9:16-24 (NIV)

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” (Jesus) 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!”

Doubting Faith

• We believe like those around us.

Mark 9:19 (NIV)

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.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (NIV)

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers… 15 What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”

• We believe God is unpredictable.

Mark 9:22-23 (NIV)

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.”

Psalm 10:1 (NIV)

1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

• We believe, sort of.

Mark 9:24 (NIV)

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

James 1:6-8 (NIV)

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Real Faith

• Your authority comes through Jesus Christ.

Mark 9:25 (NIV)

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…

Philippians 2:10 (NIV)

10 …at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

• Your confidence comes through relationship.

Acts 19:13-16 (NIV)

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

• Your power comes through the cross.

Mark 9:31 (NIV)

31 He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

Colossians 2:15 (NASB)

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

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