Educated by Failure (Part B)

Listen when Peter says this what tone is using two ways look at him. Was he doesn't resist him because some authority in and I say when I read that yeah I've tried resisting him.

He keeps coming and the Bible says and keep resisting the alternative to no longer resisting the devil is not resist him, steadfast. That's what he means. Keep on doing it in faith. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue teaching through Mark chapter 9. In his message called educated by failure.

Verse 20 now then they brought to him and then they brought him to him and when he saw him immediately.

The spirit convulsed him. He fell on the ground and wallowed foaming at the mouth while just as the boys father described the site of Jesus triggered an event that triggered an episode with this poor child and this also tells us as a little child in intimating long to deserve this happened because he was born into a cursed world and what can we could do that one occurs world let's all gather at the service and we now fingers or are we going to say Lord where my strengths and what can I do with that my nor my weaknesses are like to sidestep those as often as I can was so typical of the devil. Taking a cheap shot sucker punches go do this again with the mere spirit made a scene, for he was going be cast out, giving the spectators a sample of his power.

This is permitted by Christ on purpose is a purpose for him allowing this exhibition you think of when you set this guy down, he just did with the other ones.

One of them is to put a muzzle on only talk again, but this he lets this one show off a little bit.

This one was defiant, right in front of Jesus. This one is an especially defiant and daring and dangerous demon. This one has the ability to kill his wife throws the kid in the fire when you can, or the water when he can, causing parents have to keep an eye on him all the time so usually when evil spirits cried out in terror and when they confronted Christ, not this one. This one was more fierce. Verse 21, so we asked his father how long has this been happening to him and he said from childhood existed, it's always been this way born this way of the early stages that showed up at at the very lease the Lord is asking publicly for a history of this lad. What he's going through as he wants witnesses.

He wants people to understand the spiritual world is very serious and has no mercy and he's dragging it out into the light and exposing it to this day were learning from it wants it on record and it worked. As Mark published it and so did Matthew and Luke also. These are some of the details that would explain to his servants why they couldn't throw this obnoxious amp out of the child because this one was real bad guy. There are different levels of demons. I believe they are fallen angels, I believe that while I'm getting ahead of myself are good to those verses later and I will Lord willing, but they got these details about what they're messing with here, and this explains why the Lord allows the defiance once future generations know Paul said it this way to the Corinthians. He says that Satan should take advantage of us were not ignorant of his devices. Paul's writing about dealing with synergy's as you know, you gotta know when to hit him and you know and hold back because we know Satan is up to no good. He must destroy the individual we want to find a solution and of the individual that's trapped in some egregious outward sin.

If we can find a way to fix this. That's what we want to do. Tolerating the sins not going to work yet, slamming the person with no solution. Not going to work either.

Satan would get in there and do damage. Peter put it this way, be sober minded, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Listen. When Peter says this what tone is he using two ways look at penises. Resist him. Was he doesn't resist him either some authority in that and I say when I read that yeah I've tried resisting him.

He keeps coming and the Bible says we keep resisting the alternative to no longer resisting the devil is not worth it. Resist him, steadfast. That's what he means. Keep on doing it in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world you have other brothers facing the same devil and their resisting him and you are supposed be part of the same body.

The brotherhood, so from childhood that is not a moral malady. The kid did not commit a sin. Some some do all invite demons and others don't.

Verse 22 and often he is thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us to hear the father's plea when my child this especially violent demon. As mentioned taking opportunity to destroy him.

That's what he was after. That's the objective of the underworld is what we don't bargain with the underworld. You can do anything. Discouraged by the failure of Jesus disciples father still hopes. So again, we may suffer great setbacks and defeats, wrote this to great apostle Paul Jeremiah of the New Testament we are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair don't undervalue that will know what God is doing.

When I giving up. That's what it means were perplexed, but not in despair will not get lost faith.

He continues persecuted, not forsaken, are you kidding me. I thought if you being persecuted, Christ is not protecting usually evidently is programs forsaking less carnality. Christians have gone to the steak and burned alive knowing Christ did not forsaken them the whole idea behind Christ, standing up with Stevens being stoned and standing up to receive him I'm right here.

I see them stoning you but they don't see me bringing you into heaven, you see it struck down, but not destroyed church is still here world and the church will stay here the church as we know it won't be here, but believers will be here to the great tribulation.

The church will be outlawed legal gone but they will be converts during the great tribulation, such as the world is never known. Paul said this earlier in the second Corinthian letter. Some of his experience as a great leader, a miracle worker, for we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came upon us in Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength and pause there. You've heard that he won't give you any burden greater than you can bear is not actually expressed is a lot of truth in it. But Paul is saying we were we were burdened beyond measure. All above strength, yet had nowhere to go but up, and then he says, so that we despaired even of life hated life so bad it was for Paul yet how does he go out total believer. So now we getting these fundamental straight, but if you can do anything it comes to Christ. He says the father. Here in verse 22 at the bottom.

Have compassion on us and help us. Mom is likely there is certainly including the child father is at the end of himself because of his child's condition. Verse 23 Jesus said to him, now this.

This must've hit the witnesses pretty strong, as it again is preserved.

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. I'm going to get to the punchline right away. All things are possible to those who believe what happens when I want to believe but don't nest would dealing with here. So this very interesting to me as a human being who knows there is a God who knows his name. Who knows his nature as much as he is revealed as much as I can handle. I know the character of God. I look at Jesus Christ. You see the sun.

You see the father. This father of the child he wanted to believe, but he did not have belief enough, not by the standards of Christ was calling him to believe at the moment. And yet Jesus worked with a little bit of faith. ABD did that with the bread and the fish I maybe can multiply bread and fish. He can certainly do something with just a smidgen of faith.

It doesn't turn the father away is not enough. I told you if you could believe the impossible Lee didn't believe the impossible enough but he wanted to. Great struggle of trusting God in the midst of terrifying circumstance when you don't know what's going to happen. What are they going to skin me alive. How far is this going to be allowed to go. I personally believe that Christians who are persecuted, God meets them. He doesn't just let them suffer as sufferers go I believing he works with them through whatever it is they're facing. Not to put a ribbon on it and call it something other than what it is still persecution.

Verse 24 immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Again, the word for child here is small child. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. This, without hesitation, without pretense of faking it. Well you on that act like I believe because that's what he's looking for is flat out how don't I don't have it. I got a little bit I believe. But I don't understand.

I believe what I don't believe like you want me to believe that's what Peter was saying little. What I love you but I do love you as much as I thought I loved you, and yet the Lord did not chase pewter windows and chase this man went to chase me away help Ken not beat our weakness so we have to learn God's not stop by if hell could be no weakness in the treasures. I'm sorry. The sign says you have the faith this call and you don't have it so you can get blessed today is not what he says to him, second Corinthians polar in this my strength is made perfect in weakness. Nepal strength Christ strength. How many times have I have said that and felt that there has been no movement of God, no victory, no contribution from heaven yet here I am still a believer, so the contribution was given and the proof is the faith. The proof is in the faith, still trusting still serving still looking to do my best. Verse 25 when Jesus saw that the people came running together. He rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, deaf and dumb spirit, I command you come out of him and enter him no more. This progress is Jesus saw the people coming running together and that's when he went into action is telling us this is not entertainment. I'm not trying to give people something to watch for the sake of watching it.

He tells a spear spirit is demonic spirit to come out of him and don't come back. It's critical is it not, we still this is again come back and he has a whole parable on that one.

We can come back to this lad. Verse 26 then the spirit cried out convulsed them greatly, and came out of him and he became as one dead, so that many said he is dead.

Parting cheap shot that serves no purpose but to terrorize the witnesses and harm the lad if I cannot have you to torment that no one else can have you to care for you that Satan, and we find this in people you find this in human beings that have this attitude. If I can't have you to make me miserable and nobody can have you to take care of you goddesses will see about that you would pretty much sheltered from even darker evils that work and if you familiar with far-reaching ministries there facing evils that we don't get to see on a regular basis. They face them on a regular basis and they take dealing with those things to another righteous level that needs to be given because they understand the activity of demons on human beings. Verse 27 but Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose the Jesus factor makes a difference if he doesn't take you by the hand and raise you up in this life you'll do it right after this life. If you belong to him at Jesus not touched them them what would've happened.

What he probably would've been dead so there the. The demon takes his little shot, leaving because he was a particularly fierce one.

Verse 28 and when he had come out into the house. His disciples asked him privately, why could we not cast it out were disturbed they were humiliated that this data let this go, nor should they have it witnessed something wrong. They were on good they didn't do that.

The inability to prevail over the evil bothered them first.

The first reason is what Jesus says this kind when we get to verse 29 is a mention particularly fierce demon, but I want to repeat some of what we've already covered because it think it's that important.

Sometimes we believers encounter defeat ministry in spiritual warfare, whether it is in the battle of our inner life to be pure or maybe it efforts to reach others with the gospel or to help others.

We encounter defeat what would happen if we fit encounter these defeats and quit and we would be a defeat for someone else to have encountered the ideas to keep moving forward inner-city ministries Uniface Alana defeats a lot of things you can't fix there that far gone. I think that the same sins operate in more middle-class areas, but they are more polished. You can cover them, cover them up. Veteran dealing with them, even in many cases in what's in inner cities where the tragedy has been allowed to just run for so long it's it's so deeply in bed it into the individuals in this families is very hard to get out yet. People in those families get saved.

Nonetheless, miracles if just miracles breeder craving for more miracles.

If you are not careful you moving by faith is not now than normal to Christianity to perform visible signs. Not to say that all happen especially in foreign countries where the Bible is not available where your freedom is shut down. Would you do have a higher reports from trustworthy sources of miraculous activities, but in other areas where the word is allowed to be preached.

That is supposed to be what carries the church and moves it forward and is used to save souls something spectacular is a wrong basis for faith. God is and what I do do jumbo balls up in the you know you could do what I had to do to get you to believe, but I just show you the facts of this not good enough. I wouldn't say that to the Lord. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Paul concluded that's where it had come. Would God use the miracles they are part of the process, but it would they want a permanent part so it is I think delusional to think that we can do miracles as the apostles as many as we read in the book of acts is you help raising the deadening edge and edit it if you say I don't agree with you Pastor, show me very simple. But that's not the whole story. I know some of you cringe this because you not listening.

Maybe all you virginal miracles run out the dreaded run of the building. So Robert Anderson you know these British and you get to certain front of him in his book the silence of God said this plain fact is that with all who believe the Bible.

The great difficulty respecting miracles is not their occurrence, but their absence does have a problem believing miracles. I will probably see them why can't come I don't see the miracles anymore because he goes on to answer that, but I've already answered it better than him. Incidentally, not accepted.

28 and it happened that the father of pugilist lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went into him and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him.

So when this was done the rest of the house on the island who had diseases also came and were healed so feelings were taking place by who the apostle Paul mass healings, then we get to the end of Paul's ministry he's in jail now well when he writes this.

This is his next-to-last appearance in jail likely he writes Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Truax Finis, I have left in Miletus sick could heal. Is there sick. That's why left him this inability to continuously dole out the miracles as part of the process of God. Incidentally, Truax Finis and Paul could not healed he was present when that led you to kiss Phil out the window at one of Paul's long sermons you think I go along. Paul preaches to people drops to think of God, drew Finis was there and yet Paul could not heal him to little fiber say what I can't believe this, a little one, I will bellyache you can fix it. He dropped that you raise him up was going on with this.

He does not do that.

There is no evidence that any of the apostles performed any miracles during the latter years of the ministry. You get to the letters. It is about the it is about faith and they did not say to Jesus Christ. The signs and wonders that we were doing our seem to be fading. So when I go to follow you anymore preacher anymore.

I would've been right out a hell. Miracles faded as the church became strong in truth. In fact people were believing because of the message in the presence of the Holy Spirit, which is why he was given at Pentecost for us to be witnesses – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. I believe in the gifts, and miracles, but I believe in faith more cannot eliminate supernatural supernatural from Christianity and still have Christianity belongs here in Hebrews 10 verse 38 now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him is pretty serious. That's a pretty serious endorsement of faith. The just live by trusting God and if you draw back from trusting him. You have my displeasure so it does not say not that the just shall live by signs and wonders, but trust even without signs and wondered hell hates our faith more than anything.

He hates that we are simply going to trust God. He hated it in Job, and he hates it, and every other believer.

Verse 29 almost done, so he said to them this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.

Don't lose the significance of this kind. Much of the information about demons and fallen Angels is shrouded in mystery for us.

We were not told many details there are other demons out there that are even worse than this one followers locked away. Thank God we read about that in Revelation chapter 9 the key to the bottomless pit was turn and let these demons out like locusts and then significant verse number 911. Revelation 911 and they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is about on and in the Greek he has a name Apollyon destruction. This guy is so bad that right now he's locked up.

He can't get out, and he's not going to behave until God releases him on the world to do what God wants him to do a global spiritual emergency is coming, so in crisis.

This kind.

It is stated this way in contrast to worse ones. He says can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting whose bearing prayer, bearing me couldn't get past that one who is doing the praying in the fasting doing the talking while obviously Christ fasted and prayed she himself strong enough because who else is got this kind of power in Christ that we don't hear about the apostles, always doing it that way. How much prayer and fasting is not said this kind of faith is uncommon is Christ saying to them, know that sometimes there are those demons that are that strong that it will take me to do it well. I believe that when we see it happening in the book of acts not mentioned about the Bible not saying with these demons come from the Bible does say this in Matthew 25 Matthew 25 verse 41 I should read that to you.

He will say also to those on the left hand depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. See, I think that encompasses the demons because they nothing to be still walking around going somewhere and I think that the date demons and the fallen angels are the same failure in ruins. Some, but it educates others. What are we going to do with it.

When you fail as a believer you get educated the weather to mercy and grace with you just cannot clean up the inner man say you know what, I'm not that I'm going to learn to not be so critical of others because I know myself and I for failure will either ruin your faith for educated moon. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Rocky on cross reference radio