260522 Power Split

May 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Radiant on the Mountain

Peter stumbled over words as Jesus’ clothes blazed whiter than any bleach could achieve. Moses and Elijah stood talking with the transfigured Lord while the disciples trembled. God’s voice cut through their terror: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” The glory they witnessed wasn’t meant for monuments but for momentum – a glimpse of the power available to all who follow. [21:32]

“And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.”
(Mark 9:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What “tents” have you built to preserve spiritual highs rather than carrying Christ’s power downhill?

Day 2: When the Church Couldn’t Cast Out

Nine disciples argued with scribes at the mountain’s base while Jesus shone above. A father begged help for his demon-tormented son, but Christ’s representatives failed. Their track record of healings meant nothing when disconnected from the Source. The crowd’s disappointment hung thick until Jesus descended – the true meeting place between human need and divine power. [31:41]

“And someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.’”
(Mark 9:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you relied on past spiritual victories rather than fresh dependence?

Day 3: “I Believe; Help My Unbelief!”

The desperate father’s raw confession hung in the air as his son writhed. Jesus didn’t scold the man’s conflicted heart but honored his grip on hope. This collision of faith and doubt became the threshold for miracle – not perfect certainty, but honest pursuit. The disciples’ failure became the father’s breakthrough when he bypassed them to reach the Lord. [41:26]

“And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’”
(Mark 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What broken situation makes you simultaneously cry “I believe” and “Help my doubt”?

Day 4: This Kind Comes Only Through Prayer

The humiliated disciples whispered their failure to Jesus privately. His answer stung: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Not methods. Not track records. Prayer – the lifeline keeping human efforts tethered to divine power. The PVC pipe only works when connected to the pump. [42:31]

“And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ And he said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.’”
(Mark 9:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: What battle have you been fighting with discipline instead of dependence?

Day 5: PVC Pipes and Pentecost Power

The same radiant Christ who stood transfigured promised power to ordinary followers. Not for hoarding, but for flowing – through pipes unclogged by self-sufficiency. When the disciples stopped acting like reservoirs and became conduits, prisons shook and nations turned. The split-screen resolves when glory meets obedience in the valley. [45:37]

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: What area of service have you avoided because you felt like a pipe instead of a pump?

Sermon Summary

Mark 9 draws a split screen. On the mountain, Jesus lets the inside out. He shines, “intensely white,” brighter than any bleach. Moses and Elijah drop by, and the Father settles it with one sentence, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Peter scrambles to talk and to build tents, trying to pin the moment down. Jesus does not need a memorial tent. Soon there will be an empty tomb. Glory stands in plain sight, radiant and endorsed.

At that very moment, the bottom of the mountain tells another story. The crowd argues with the disciples. A father shows a battered son. Foam, fire, water, seizures, silence. The disciples cannot move the darkness. Christ reigns in glory, yet Christ’s people are ineffective. That tension stings. Jesus had already given authority to heal and to cast out demons. Power had been placed in their hands, not to can and keep, but to flow out and bless. Acts 1:8 still says it straight. Power comes, witness begins. The mission is not socializing or side quests. The mission is awakening hearts with the gospel of Jesus.

The father says, “I brought my son to you.” He could not reach Jesus on the mountain, so he came to Jesus’ people. That is how the world sees the church. The gathered disciples bear Jesus’ name, so the world expects Jesus’ help when it walks in scared and unsure. Jesus meets the father’s wavering, “If you can…,” with a holy jolt, “If you can?” Faith answers, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Jesus orders the spirit out and lifts the boy by the hand.

In private, the disciples ask the question every church must ask. “Why could we not?” Jesus’ answer is simple and surgical. “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer,” and fasting. Translation. Be ready. Stay plugged in. Ego and old wins will not move new mountains. Spiritual work requires spiritual power. Co laborers with Christ are not engines. They are vessels. Think PVC pipe, clean and connected, so the water can run. The left screen shines with the glory and power of Christ. The right screen should move with that same power as it touches kids, families, neighbors, nations. God’s army has orders to push back the dark, yet that only happens when the church walks close, prays deep, fasts humbly, and lets the power flow. No more split screens.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ shines and the Father speaks The mountain scene shows Jesus as he has always been, glory out loud and visible. The Father’s voice does not invite debate, it commands attention, “Listen to him.” Authority settles in that sentence, and discipleship starts by obeying the One who is radiant and endorsed. [22:41]
2. The world brings pain to Jesus’ people “I brought my son to you” names the church as the place where people expect Jesus to be at work. That expectation is not a burden to dodge, it is a calling to receive. Hospitality, invitation, and readiness turn a doorway into a meeting place between a bruised world and a living Savior. [39:07]
3. Power fails when prayer runs dry The disciples had history, but they lacked hunger. Jesus ties effectiveness to prayer and fasting because power is borrowed, not built. Readiness means living plugged in so that yesterday’s grace does not try to carry today’s fight. [42:19]
4. Co laborers must be vessels, not engines Partnership with Jesus puts him out front and supplies the strength behind the work. Pride tries to steer and stalls the mission, but humility keeps the line clear so grace can reach its target. Clean, connected, and available beats impressive every time. [36:42]
5. Plugged-in people push back the dark God’s army is not loudest, it is lit. Darkness yields where dependence deepens. The battle is ugly, but borrowed light is stronger than practiced technique. Stay near, and the power will flow. [47:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:36] - Farewell humor and thanks
[18:20] - God’s intention for every church
[19:06] - The gospel as the only mission
[21:15] - The Transfiguration on the mountain
[24:40] - A Hollywood split screen
[24:54] - Christ reigns in glory and power
[30:36] - Down the mountain, a failed deliverance
[33:32] - Power to bless, not to keep
[36:02] - Co laborers with Christ
[38:10] - “I brought my son to you”
[42:19] - Why we couldn’t: prayer and fasting
[45:26] - Be a clean PVC vessel
[47:34] - God’s army pushes back the dark
[49:16] - Closing prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 9:2-29 (ESV)
(Read the full passage to capture the Transfiguration, the disciples’ failure to heal the boy, and Jesus’ response about prayer and fasting.)

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Observation Questions

In Mark 9:2-8, what specific details describe Jesus’ appearance during the Transfiguration, and how does the Father’s voice respond to Peter’s reaction?
The father of the demon-possessed boy says, “I brought my son to you” (Mark 9:17). Who was he actually addressing, and what does this reveal about how people view the church? [38:10]
What reason does Jesus give in Mark 9:29 for the disciples’ inability to cast out the demon, and how does this connect to Acts 1:8?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus contrast the glory of the Transfiguration with the disciples’ failure at the mountain’s base? What does this “split screen” reveal about the relationship between Christ’s power and human weakness? [24:40]
The father cries, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). How does this tension between faith and doubt relate to the disciples’ later question, “Why could we not?” (Mark 9:28)?
Jesus compares His followers to “vessels” (like PVC pipes) rather than “engines.” What does this metaphor teach about our role in spiritual work? [45:26]

Application Questions

When have you relied on past spiritual “wins” or your own strength instead of staying “plugged in” to God’s power through prayer? What practical step could you take this week to prioritize dependence on Him? [42:19]
The world often brings its pain to the church, expecting Jesus’ help. How can your small group cultivate a posture of readiness to meet others’ needs without feeling burdened or unprepared? [39:07]
Jesus calls His people to be “clean and connected” vessels. What habits, attitudes, or distractions might be clogging your spiritual “pipe,” and how can you address them? [45:57]
The disciples’ failure stemmed from self-reliance. In what area of your life (e.g., relationships, work, ministry) do you need to shift from acting like an “engine” to becoming a “vessel” for God’s power?
The father brought his son to Jesus’ people, not Jesus Himself. How can your group intentionally reflect Christ’s presence to those who are hesitant or fearful to approach Him directly?
Fasting is mentioned as a way to deepen spiritual readiness. Is there a specific situation or struggle where fasting could help you rely more on God’s power than your own? How might you start? [42:19]
The sermon warns against “split screens” where Christ’s glory isn’t mirrored in His people’s effectiveness. What is one way your group can actively “push back the dark” in your community this month? [47:51]

Sermon Clips

64s

#GospelFirst

“More churches close than open every year. More churches split, fight, walk away from their mission to pursue other things. They get into socializing. They get into social ministry. They get into a lot of things short of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I don't wanna bust your bubble this morning, but that's the only reason hope is here, is to share the gospel. We say, awakening hearts every day. That's the gospel. Awakening people to the power and the changing agent that Jesus is.”

50s

#VesselForGod

“I'm not in charge. I'm a vessel. I'm like a hollowed out piece of PVC pipe. I think of that because I saw a whole bunch of it on the highway yesterday. Some guy dropped his load of PVC pipe. That is stuff can flow through that. That's what we're to be. We're to be that vessel. We're to be clean. We're to be available. We're gonna we should be plugged in to that power that's on the left screen so the right screen can work. We have to flow.”

53s

#FlowTheBlessing

“We don't get to bottle up everything God gives us. As the old country preacher used to say, most folks like to get all they can and can all they get. They just wanna keep it. No, we don't. That's not how it works. We are to flow the blessing. We're to let God's power bless other people. We have the wisdom, the power, the calling to change lives. Now, I don't mean change them through our power but I mean that we bring them to a point where Christ can change them.”

59s

#RepresentChrist

“But the man said, I brought my son to you. You see, the world views the church, views the believers who travel in gatherings and congregations. The church that God has ordained and blessed, they see the church as Jesus. I brought my son to you. Not to the physical Jesus, but he meant I came to your group. I came to your gathering, your disciples. I brought my son to you. The world sees us as displaying the name of Christ. They expect something.”

46s

#OperateInHisPower

“They began to feel like they could do it, they could handle it, we'll take care of it. We've done this thing before. But let me tell you, spiritual warfare, spiritually doing what God has laid upon you to do is limited to what God has laid upon you to do. If he hasn't blessed you with the power, don't touch it. Don't go off on your own tangent. Don't work your own agenda. Don't get yourself all worked up and ready to do and run off and leave God in the dust because it's not gonna work.”

70s

#EmpoweredToPushBack

“We're God's army. We're God's army. We have a task. We have a world to fight. We have darkness pressing, and we're been empowered to push back the dark. That ought to light you up this morning. We've been empowered to push back the dark, but you can't do it if you're not plugged into God's power. You will struggle, you will fail, you will begin to doubt, maybe perhaps even your salvation. When you continue to feel like God's not with you.”

48s

#RememberWhoWeServe

“I think the boys were starting to have a little ego problem myself. I think they were starting to be impressed with their power because they had cast out demons. They had healed. And I think they began to forget. And if you only catch one part of this message today, then let me wake you up to get this one. The whole point of the message is don't forget who we serve. I think these guys got caught not being ready.”

55s

#SpirituallyReady

“The summary of prayer and fasting, what Jesus is telling these disciples who failed so miserably that day, what they're what he's stating is you got to be ready. You've got to be spiritually ready. I've given you the power but you have to let the power flow. You have to let it out. You have to do this in my power, not in yours. You see, I could spend another hour just on what I think was happening to the disciples based on scripture elsewhere in Mark.”

40s

#UniteInPrayer

“Well, let me tell you something gang, God didn't move. He didn't leave you. You need to come back to him. If hope would become everything God wants it to be, it's gonna take Cope's people to plug into the power of God. No more split screens. Let's let the power flow. Let's pray together.”

61s

#InviteSomeoneToday

“I hope you will come to appreciate how much it takes for someone to walk into a church for the very first time, especially if they haven't been invited. That's why we need to invite. That's why we need to end conversations with who hey, if you don't have a church home, I'd love to invite you to mine. That's important because it's hard for people to take that step. So why does the church struggle to change the world? Well, let's see.”

46s

#GloryAndWeakness

“So at the moment, Jesus is in all his glory and showing his power and being endorsed by his heavenly father and backed up by the law and the prophets, while that's happening, right down at the base of the mountain, the church can't cast a demon out of a kid. How does that work? How is God glorified at the very instant his church is weak? How does that happen?”

55s

#HopeNeverFails

“Hope should never fail at anything. Never. Why? Because it's not our power. It's his power. The power that Peter, James and John got to see when he's white like a glow and he's talking to the old testament dudes and he's hearing his father say, let me remind you who this is. They get all of that experience and down less than a mile away probably, They walked into a big argument.”

47s

#WitnessingJesus

“What a story. These three disciples got to see a lot of special things with Jesus. They were his inner circle, so to speak, and he was always taking Peter, James, and John to special moments in his ministry. They saw healings. They saw deaf hear. They saw this transfiguration of Christ. And so I want us to look at this, but I want us to look at it as a Hollywood split screen. You know what I mean by that?”

56s

#BridgeTheGap

“You see, at the same time he's glorified, Christ's church is ineffective. Ineffective. Meaning, sometimes we get it right. We can. Other times, we miss it by a mile. And there's gotta be a reason for the HIPAA 11. And I want you to discover it because you see, Christ gives us power to bless others. If you go back when he sent the disciples out”

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260522 Power Split

Devotional

Day 1: Radiant on the Mountain

Day 2: When the Church Couldn’t Cast Out

Day 3: “I Believe; Help My Unbelief!”

Day 4: This Kind Comes Only Through Prayer

Day 5: PVC Pipes and Pentecost Power

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

260522 Power Split

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