DOING THE STUFF

DOING THE STUFF
Connecting to God’s promised power for our lives.

Mark 9:23-24

HOW DO I STRUGGLE WITH THIS?

As a high school boy I worked for my father. We had left the farm and were now in the gas station
business. One day my dad left me and another co-worker to clean up an older station that we were going to take over. Part of the tile floor needed to be replaced and so dad gave me the supplies to do the job. The only problem? I didn’t know how. It looked easy enough, but I couldn’t do it. I always seemed to drive my dad crazy and this was no exception. My dad said, “Didn’t I train you better than that?” I wanted to say, “No, you never taught me how to lay tile!” but, instead of complaining, I watched as he did a couple of tiles and then I was able to finish.

HOW DO WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THIS?

All of us have been there. We know what we want to do, but we don’t know how. We have to learn how.

Maybe you have been frustrated because your life doesn’t seem to match what you read in the
Bible or hear other people talk about it.

you are not alone!


ILLUSTRATION

John Wimber was the founder of the Vineyard movement. He was a jazz musician and arranger and the music director for the duo “The Righteous Brothers” (you’ve Lost That Loving
Feeling). He did not hear the Gospel until he was 29 years old. Here he talks about coming to Christ.

VIDEO

“Doing the Stuff” John Wimber

THEME OF MESSAGE

Last week I gave y’all some instructions about overcoming stress. One of them was to access God’s power by faith, just like Jesus did. The only problem is, I didn’t teach you how! Today I want to show you how you can tap into God’s power and ‘do the stuff’! I am not necessarily referring to signs and wonders and miracles, even though I would love to see more of those happening around me. I am taking about feeling the power of God working in my life everyday, helping me overcome me!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Say ABOUT THIS?

Jesus gives us some insight in this story. Mark 9:14–29 (NLT): Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed
Boy

14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.

16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.

17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and
becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

19 Jesus said to them, “you faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought the boy. but when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this
been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen,
you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The
boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Matthew adds this note…
Matthew 17:19-20 (NLT) Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “you don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

INSTRUCTION

What does this passage teach us about tapping into God’s power by faith? Let’s look…

1. Jesus had been with God. He had just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration.


2. Jesus immediately ministered to the child. He knew His calling and mission. He was not moved by the opinions and arguing of the crowd!

Luke 4:18 (NLT) The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

3. He didn’t panic when the problem got worse!


4.     Jesus invited others to participate.


5. He conducted an interview.


6. He used spiritual discernment to know who was causing the problem.


7. He took authority over the enemy.


WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT THIS?

I want to encourage you today that you do not have to settle for life as usual. you are not limited only to what you can do or earn or make happen! God is working in you and in you and for you and around you. Here are some things you can do to live above your privilege.


INSPIRATION

Jesus identifies the problem and solution three times in the passage.

Mark 9:19 (NLT) Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

Mark 9:23 (NLT) What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person
believes.”

Matthew 17:19-20 (NLT) Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast  out that demon?” “you don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

So faith is both the problem and the solution. We all cry like the father in the story: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 (NLT)
APPLICATION

1. Spend time with God.


2. Know God by reading the Word of God and praying.


3. Ask God what He wants to do.


HOW CAN WE ALL LIVE THIS OUT TOGETHER?

Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential to walking with God!

John calls Him The Helper four times in His Gospel. Gk: paracletos, one called alongside to help or strengthen, comforter

John 16:13 (NLT) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Luke 24:49 (NLT) And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. but stay in  the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.

Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.


ACTION POINTS

In order to see God’s power in your everyday life, these things must be true.


1. you must be born again.


2. you must be filled with the Spirit.


Now who is ready for these things?