Faith in the Valley: Trusting Jesus' Compassion and Power

Summary

Summary:

Today, we explored the profound narrative found in Mark 9, where Jesus encounters a desperate father seeking healing for his son. This story is a vivid reminder of the valleys we often find ourselves in, contrasting with the mountaintop experiences we long for. Jesus, having just descended from a literal mountaintop experience, meets this father in his valley of despair. The father, having sought help from Jesus' disciples, is left disappointed when they fail to heal his son. This failure becomes a backdrop for Jesus to demonstrate not only his power but also his deep compassion.

The father's plea, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us," resonates with many of us who have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. Jesus' response, "Everything is possible for one who believes," invites us to trust in his power even when our faith feels weak. The father's honest admission, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief," is a powerful testament to the struggle between faith and doubt that many of us experience.

This narrative also serves as a reminder of the importance of prayer and dependence on God. The disciples' inability to heal the boy highlights a lapse in their reliance on God, a cautionary tale for us to remain humble and dependent on Him in all circumstances. Jesus' instruction that "this kind can come out only by prayer" underscores the necessity of maintaining a prayerful life, acknowledging our need for divine intervention.

Ultimately, this story is a microcosm of Jesus' mission: to leave the glory of heaven and enter our broken world, offering hope and healing. It challenges us to bring our struggles to Jesus, trusting in his compassion and power to transform our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- The Valley and the Mountaintop: Life is often a series of valleys and mountaintops. While we cherish the mountaintop experiences, it is in the valleys where Jesus meets us, offering his presence and power to transform our circumstances. We must remember that Jesus left the mountaintop to enter our valleys, demonstrating his willingness to engage with our struggles. [48:18]

- Honest Faith: The father's cry, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief," is a model of honest faith. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt but the choice to trust Jesus amidst our uncertainties. Jesus honors even the smallest measure of faith, inviting us to bring our doubts to him. [01:08:19]

- Dependence on Prayer: The disciples' failure to heal the boy serves as a reminder of the necessity of prayer. Jesus emphasizes that some challenges can only be overcome through prayer, highlighting our need for continual dependence on God. Prayer is an acknowledgment of our reliance on his power and guidance. [01:20:16]

- Compassionate Savior: Jesus' interaction with the father and his son reveals his deep compassion. He engages with the father, asking, "How long has this been happening?" This question shows Jesus' desire to understand and connect with our pain, reminding us that he cares deeply about our struggles. [57:47]

- Eternal Perspective: While Jesus performs miracles in the present, they are a foretaste of the ultimate healing and restoration that will come. We are reminded to view our current struggles through the lens of eternity, where Jesus promises a future free from pain and suffering. [01:16:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [29:50] - Community Highlights
- [33:01] - Introduction to the Message
- [34:28] - Personal Story of Failure
- [39:32] - Series Context: Changed
- [40:14] - Mark 9: The Desperate Father
- [44:20] - The Argument and the Crowd
- [46:14] - The Father's Plea
- [49:54] - Relating to the Father's Disappointment
- [51:09] - Jesus' Response to Faithlessness
- [53:19] - Jesus' Compassionate Question
- [57:47] - The Compassion of Christ
- [01:08:19] - The Father's Honest Faith
- [01:20:16] - The Power of Prayer
- [01:26:11] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 9:14-29

Observation Questions:
1. What was the father's initial request to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to it? [45:28]
2. How did the disciples' failure to heal the boy serve as a backdrop for Jesus' teaching on faith and prayer? [47:10]
3. What was the father's honest admission to Jesus, and how did it reflect his struggle with faith and doubt? [01:08:19]
4. How did Jesus demonstrate his compassion towards the father and his son in this narrative? [57:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the father's plea, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief," reveal about the nature of faith and doubt in a believer's life? [01:08:19]
2. How does Jesus' statement, "Everything is possible for one who believes," challenge the disciples and the father in their understanding of faith? [01:07:50]
3. In what ways does the story illustrate the importance of prayer and dependence on God, especially in challenging situations? [01:20:16]
4. How does Jesus' interaction with the father and his son reflect his mission to bring hope and healing into a broken world? [59:35]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "valley" experience. How did you seek Jesus' presence and power during that time? [48:18]
2. The father in the story was honest about his doubts. How can you cultivate a similar honesty in your faith journey, especially when facing challenges? [01:08:19]
3. Consider your current prayer life. Are there areas where you need to increase your dependence on God? How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine? [01:20:16]
4. Jesus showed deep compassion by asking the father about his son's condition. How can you show compassion to those around you who are struggling? [57:47]
5. How does the promise of ultimate healing and restoration in eternity influence your perspective on current struggles? [01:16:31]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust Jesus more. What steps can you take this week to actively place your trust in Him? [01:11:55]
7. How can you ensure that your faith remains active and not complacent, especially in areas where you have previously experienced success? [01:20:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Meeting Jesus in the Valleys
In life, we often find ourselves in valleys, moments of despair and struggle, contrasting with the mountaintop experiences we long for. The story in Mark 9 illustrates this vividly as Jesus descends from a literal mountaintop to meet a father in his valley of despair. This father, desperate for his son's healing, had sought help from Jesus' disciples but was left disappointed. It is in this moment of failure and desperation that Jesus demonstrates not only his power but also his deep compassion. This narrative reminds us that Jesus willingly leaves the mountaintop to enter our valleys, offering his presence and power to transform our circumstances. We are encouraged to remember that Jesus is always willing to engage with our struggles, meeting us where we are. [48:18]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a current valley in your life. How can you invite Jesus into this situation today, trusting in His presence and power to transform it?

Day 2: Embracing Honest Faith
The father's cry, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief," is a profound model of honest faith. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt but the choice to trust Jesus amidst our uncertainties. This father's plea resonates with many of us who have faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. Jesus' response, "Everything is possible for one who believes," invites us to trust in his power even when our faith feels weak. This narrative encourages us to bring our doubts to Jesus, knowing that he honors even the smallest measure of faith. We are reminded that honest faith is about acknowledging our doubts and choosing to trust Jesus despite them. [01:08:19]

Mark 11:24 (ESV): "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Reflection: Identify a doubt or fear you are currently facing. How can you bring this to Jesus today, asking Him to help you overcome your unbelief?

Day 3: The Power of Dependence on Prayer
The disciples' inability to heal the boy serves as a reminder of the necessity of prayer. Jesus emphasizes that some challenges can only be overcome through prayer, highlighting our need for continual dependence on God. This story underscores the importance of maintaining a prayerful life, acknowledging our need for divine intervention. Prayer is an acknowledgment of our reliance on God's power and guidance. We are encouraged to remain humble and dependent on Him in all circumstances, recognizing that our strength comes from Him alone. [01:20:16]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you commit to praying about this situation daily, seeking God's guidance and intervention?

Day 4: Experiencing Jesus' Compassion
Jesus' interaction with the father and his son reveals his deep compassion. He engages with the father, asking, "How long has this been happening?" This question shows Jesus' desire to understand and connect with our pain, reminding us that he cares deeply about our struggles. This narrative encourages us to bring our struggles to Jesus, trusting in his compassion and power to transform our lives. We are reminded that Jesus is not distant or indifferent to our pain but is deeply moved by it, offering hope and healing. [57:47]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on a struggle or pain you are currently experiencing. How can you invite Jesus into this situation, trusting in His compassion and desire to bring healing?

Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
While Jesus performs miracles in the present, they are a foretaste of the ultimate healing and restoration that will come. We are reminded to view our current struggles through the lens of eternity, where Jesus promises a future free from pain and suffering. This narrative challenges us to maintain an eternal perspective, recognizing that our present circumstances are temporary and that ultimate healing and restoration await us in eternity. We are encouraged to hold onto this hope, trusting in Jesus' promise of a future where all things will be made new. [01:16:31]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from your current struggles to the eternal hope and promise of restoration that Jesus offers? What practical steps can you take to maintain this perspective daily?

Quotes

1) "I've had plenty of failures in my life. I've messed up a number of times, messed up this week. And, you know, just different ways that we can blow it. And we're like, man, I wish I would have done that better. I wish I would have said that better. But I've had some ministry moments that were embarrassing, that were kind of failures that I wished I would have done better. I hate disappointing people. I hate letting people down. But it happens sometimes because I'm human." [33:36] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And the reason I bring this up is because we're in this series called changed and we've been talking about what it looks like to see life change happen. And we've been really getting in on these conversations that Jesus would have with individuals. Yes. Jesus taught crowds. Jesus also discipled in circles. Okay. But Jesus had so many personal one-on-one conversations with people over and over. And you learn a lot about a person when you, when you see how they treat individuals. Right?" [39:32] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "And maybe you're struggling with something that like this dad, you need help with. You need Jesus to fix this. Do you know what I mean? Like I need Jesus. I need you to do something here. I can't do, I've tried everything here and it's like every where we turn, it's the same result over and over. This father, he's disappointed. There is no question. He's in a waiting period. He's hoping for something to happen, but it hasn't happened yet." [49:34] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "The best thing this guy did was, was come to Jesus with his problem. Okay. He, he, this problem that was happening, that was the best thing he did. Okay. Was searching on, looking for Jesus. Now it didn't turn out exactly the way he thought at that moment, the timing wasn't lined up with his, Jesus wasn't like right there at that specific moment. So he thought the disciples could do something. They miserably fail. They're disappointed. He's disappointed." [51:09] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "How long have you been dealing with depression? How long have you been battling with this anxiety that just you seem to not be able to overcome? How long has this addiction had its grip on you? Or on someone you love? How long have you been grieving? How long is this illness that you're facing? How long have you been dealing with this? How long has the situation at your business? How long is the relationship problem that's gone south?" [01:00:22] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Faith is not the absence of doubt. It's not the absence. You're going to have, you're human. We're human. And Jesus is allowing humanity here. Now, again, he's going to speak into it here. So if you're struggling some, this is what I want to tell you. Don't throw everything out because you're struggling with some doubts right now. Jesus will meet you in the doubt. He won't scold you in the doubt. He'll meet you in the doubt." [01:10:16] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Faith is actually, at some point there is a line. Faith is choosing, even when you don't know all of the answers up front, to step over the line of faith in trusting Jesus in the middle of your doubt. And this is what Jesus is going to, in essence, call this, that faith is a choice. Faith is not a feeling. Faith is a choice that we press into. We lean into. The dad is a good model for us. Here's what he says. I'm declaring my need for you, Jesus." [01:10:57] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "You understand, it's the object of our faith who changes lives, not us. And this is what Jesus is going to show us here. When Jesus saw that crowd of onlookers, verse 25, 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. Again, then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him." [01:13:50] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "Do you believe in miracles still today, Pastor Bart? Yes. I believe that God does that. I've seen that in our own family. I've seen it with some of you. Yes, I do believe that God still heals today. Yes. Do I understand why sometimes he doesn't? And why sometimes he doesn't? I'd be lying to you if I said I understood all of that. There are times where in God's sovereignty, I can't tell you why he always does and why he doesn't." [01:14:58] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "Prayer is this. It's declaring our total dependence upon God. And I think at this point, the disciples were like, I think we got this. I think we got it. Do you know what? Churches can get to a place where we're like, we think we got this, Lord. We figured this out. Pastors can get to where, we got this, Lord. We figured this out. I've been doing this for a long time. I have a lot of experience. The moment we get to a place where we don't think we need the Lord, we are setting ourselves up for a failure." [01:23:55] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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