Rev. David Holwick ZJ
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 8, 1989
Mark 9:19-24
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I. The gospel invitation.
A. Each church service ends with one. Why?
B. Jesus' message always climaxed with an appeal: (more than morality)
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is
near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
1) Judgment or salvation depends upon a decision.
a) The answer to his challenge is faith.
1> "Do not fear, only believe." Mark 5:36
2> Not intellectual leap into dark, but acceptance of
what Jesus stands for.
II. Old Testament background.
A. Basic meaning of root of faith is "firm, constant, reliable."
1) One form refers to carrying a child in the folds of a
garment or on the hips.
2) Other form, "gain or keep confidence, trust."
B. More than reliance on God in daily life.
1) Searching for God in a crisis.
a) Also, fighting down temptation.
2) God is trusted against appearances.
a) Best example - Abraham.
1> Believed God's promise of land and dynasty.
A> Even when he was old and childless.
2> Believed God would not take away his son forever.
A> Even if he had to take his life.
B> (Hebrews - he looked for God to resurrect him)
C. Same emphasis as NT: Faith is a trust which does not allow
itself to be discouraged.
III. Faith in the Gospel of Mark.
A. Usually faith is associated with a miracle or healing.
1) Greek and Roman miracle stories do not mention faith.
B. The people come to Jesus believing he can help them.
1) More than superstitious belief in possibility of a miracle.
2) It includes an attitude toward Jesus.
a) They have confidence in his goodness and compassion.
b) They continue seeking him even when they are turned away.
IV. What faith does in Gospel of Mark.
A. Faith allows God's power to work in our lives.
1) We must be open to him.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." 5:34
2) Doubt stops the power. 6:5-6
B. Faith casts out fear. 5:35
1) Jaime Vega backing up against traffic to get a parking space.
C. Faith has no limits.
1) Mountains can be moved. 11:23
V. Faith is not restricted to "religious" people.
A. Religious people often had little or no faith.
1) His enemies.
2) His own disciples.
B. The greatest faith came from unusual sources.
1) Roman centurion.
2) Syro-Phoenician woman. Mark 7:27
VI. False faith exists. Mark 13:21
A. Sky-diver.
In April 1988 a skydiving photographer jumped with his friends.
He had a camera attached to his helmet and he filmed them as
they fell through the air.
After a period of freefalling their parachutes begin to pop open
and they disappear from view.
Then the camera went berserk.
The cameraman forgot to put his own parachute on.
Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute he
never buckled on.
#339
B. False religious faith.
1) Putting confidence in someone other than Jesus.
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the
Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it." 13:21
2) Many go blindly for anything that "works".
VII. Weak faith.
A. Woody Allen.
"Faith would be easier if God would show Himself by depositing
a million dollars in a Swiss bank account in our name."
#845
B. Jesus accepts weak faith.
9:23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible
for him who believes."
9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe;
help me overcome my unbelief!"
1) We can feel for his predicament.
2) Few have rock-solid, never-wavering faith.
C. Even the smallest faith can do great things.
VIII. Faith on behalf of others.
A. Intercession works.
1) Father and son Mark 9:14
2) Friends Mark 2:3
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
"Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5
B. Maria Shriver and influence of mother & grandma.
About a year ago Maria Shriver was interviewed in a leading
magazine.
She works at NBC-TV as a journalist, and it doesn't hurt that
her mother is a sister of John F. Kennedy,
her father ran for vice-president,
her uncle is Senator Ted Kennedy,
and her husband is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Maria flies around world, and is very driven and successful.
The interviewer wrote:
Remarking that she's "the happiest I've ever been" professionally,
Maria added that she's taking time to examine the quality of
her inner life.
"My single long-term goal, if I have one, is to find some
inner peace," she says levelly.
"You look at people who have great faith in God, like my
grandmother, and they have that - inner peace.
They know they haven't hurt anyone on the way up, they haven't
lied or done anything that they fell horrid about.
So no matter what, they're very centered people." #610
1) Our faith can bring them into Jesus' presence.
2) But each must then make their own decision.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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