1 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. The most powerful prayer in all of Scripture 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: is just six words loan. Those words are I do believe, 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,600 Speaker 1: help my unbelief. Friends, if you have ever been really 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: honest with yourself, you probably can really relate to that 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: prayer as well. All of us have faith mixed with doubt, 6 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: all of us have fears mixed with our certainty. And 7 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: in the midst of that we have Jesus who walks 8 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: with us and invites us into deeper and deeper dependence 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: on Him. Hey, everyone, welcome to How to Say the Bible. 10 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicole Yunis, and I'm so glad to 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: get to journey with you as we discovered together week 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: by week the very real and relevant power of God's 13 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: Word in our life. I'm so grateful for your reviews, 14 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: for sharing these episodes, for leaving your comments on YouTube. 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: It's just a delight to put your names at least 16 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: a little bit together in our community as we just 17 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: spend a little time every single week in a way 18 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: that I hope is bringing the Bible to life for you, 19 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: in a way that I hope is bringing you encouragement 20 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: in the midst of your everyday life. I know that 21 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: I cannot go more than a few days in a 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: row without feeling like God, I need a word from you. 23 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: I want to feel encouraged because life is hard, and 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: life is full of doubt and uncertainty and struggle, and 25 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,279 Speaker 1: we need the power and the encouragement of God's words 26 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: so that we can live out this life together, that 27 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: we can let our light shine as Jesus has called 28 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: us too. But if you're a person like me who 29 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: struggles with doubt, who wonders sometimes where God is in 30 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: the midst of all of it, then you are going 31 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: to find a friend today in March chapter nine, as 32 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: we continue forward in this mini series that we've been 33 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: talking about, this is kind of the wrap up in 34 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: this whole concept of confusion to clarity. If you remember 35 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: where we left off last week, we had Jesus asking 36 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: that very pointed question to his disciples. The question he 37 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: had asks all of us, but what about you? Who 38 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: do you say that I am? And Peter declares for 39 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: the first time that Jesus is the Messiah, that he 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: is the one he's been written about, he is the 41 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: one he's been prophesied about. He is the only savior, 42 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: the way, the Truth, the life. It is such a 43 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: high point and immediately we have problems right after that. 44 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: It is so incredibly human because right after this kind 45 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: of pinnacle experience with Jesus, immediately Peter is like talking 46 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: about Jesus is talking about his death. He's like, I'm 47 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: going to go to the cross. And this is not 48 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: what the disciples are expecting to hear. When we talk 49 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: about perception and the data points. The data points say 50 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: that this man who has all authority and all power, 51 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: that we've just declared the Messiah, why would he say 52 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: he's going to be murdered at the hands of human beings. 53 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: Why isn't he coming into his power. Why isn't he 54 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: declaring his kingdom. Why isn't he like setting us up 55 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: as is like main, guys, you know, that's how we 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: understand earthly power. And so it makes sense that it 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: was confusing that right now after Peter says you are 58 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: the Messiah, Jesus predicts his death. Peter rebukes Jesus. He's like, 59 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: don't say that, Jesus, That's not how it's going to happen, 60 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: and then he gets rebuked right back. Jesus actually says, 61 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: you might know these words where he says to Peter, 62 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: get behind me, Satan, you do not have in mind 63 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: the things of God, but the things of man. And 64 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: this is a reminder once again that we are not 65 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: going to master the kingdom of God. That we're called 66 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: to be servants in this kingdom, which means that God himself, 67 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 1: his ways are always higher than our ways, his thoughts 68 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: are always higher than our thoughts. We are not going 69 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: to be able to make sense of every spiritual reality 70 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: in this earthly world. And here the disciples are trying 71 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: to make sense of Jesus's power, and they're thinking about 72 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: the way it would go if it was earthly power, 73 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: and Jesus is saying, no, the way of God is 74 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: the way of the Cross. It is completely different than 75 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: how you've experienced human power. And he says all this, 76 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: and he's doing this right after he's said at the 77 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: end of chapter eight about this idea of anyone who's 78 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: going to follow me is going to take up their 79 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: cross and follow me, that you actually have to lose 80 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: your life to save it. That's confusing for a lot 81 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: of us. We're like, what does it mean to lose 82 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: my life? But it's all about that perception that we've 83 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: been talking about all through these chapters. It's all about 84 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: actually being willing to see life differently than the way 85 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: you see it right now. It's being willing to allow 86 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: God to be the one who's the driver of your 87 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: life rather than yourself. That is what it means to 88 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: lose your life as you know it in order to 89 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: save your life, because Jesus is saying, I am the 90 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: one who has real, abundant life, and this whole earthly 91 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: journey is about a day by day experience of walking 92 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: closer with me. I've experiencing life the way that I've 93 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: defined it, not the way that you have. And so 94 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: Jesus is making this very clear in this passage. And 95 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: then we get to the transfiguration, which deserves its own time. 96 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: We don't have time for it today, but he's going 97 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: to show Peter, James and John himself in his glory. 98 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: We have this moment where we actually get the curtain 99 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: pulled back for just a moment between heaven and Earth, 100 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: where really these three disciples see that Jesus really is God. 101 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: And this is an extremely important moment of understanding Jesus's 102 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: glory because we're about to see the story turn towards 103 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: Jesus's passion. Jesus is suffering, Jesus's willingness to go to 104 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: the cross on behalf of the world is coming. And 105 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,239 Speaker 1: so it's very important that these guys see that Jesus 106 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: has all authority and all power, as we've been talking about, 107 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: which means the only reason that he would submit himself 108 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: unto death is voluntary. It's on purpose, it's for a purpose. 109 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: It's not because he didn't have the power to stand 110 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: up against these earthly authorities. It's because something is happening 111 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: in the spiritual realm that is so incredibly important that 112 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: this is the way that it's going to happen. But 113 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: that's very confusing to everyone. It's confusing to us even 114 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: today to think about, like, no, you don't give up 115 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: your power. That's not how it works. Like if you 116 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: have authority, you keep authority, If you have power, you 117 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: keep power. But Jesus says, absolutely not. It says in 118 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 1: Philippians too, for the joy set before him, he endured 119 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: the cross, scorning its shame, like he voluntarily sacrificed his 120 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: life to death in order that we might live. And 121 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: that is the way of the cross. Let's get back 122 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: to our chapter where in March chapter nine, the transfiguration 123 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: has happened. And then they come off of this mountain 124 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: and there's a large crowd that's gathered around the other disciples, 125 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: and they're all arguing with each other, and so Jesus says, 126 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: what are you arguing about? And a man in the 127 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,559 Speaker 1: crowd answers this, This is verse seventeen, teacher, I brought 128 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: you my son. Which is interestingly he says, I brought 129 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: you my son because Jesus hasn't been there. So his 130 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: disciples are truly envoice of Jesus that God calls us 131 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: to that work that he's saying, you are going to 132 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: be the representative of Jesus to people. And so this 133 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: man says, I brought you my son. And he's demon 134 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: possessed and he's been robbed of his speech, and whenever 135 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: it seizes him, it throws him on the ground. He 136 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. 137 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but 138 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: they could not. Jesus says, you, you unbelieving generation, How 139 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: long shall I stay with you? How long shall I 140 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: put up with you? Jesus might as well sigh again, 141 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: But he doesn't sigh and remove himself from people. He 142 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: doesn't sigh and distance himself. He doesn't say never mind, 143 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: I'm done with you guys. He sighs and says, will 144 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: you guys understand who I am? Bring me the boy? 145 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: And so the boy comes forward. They bring him there. 146 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: The spirit throws him to the ground, and Jesus now 147 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: turns to the boy's father again, not for Jesus's sake, 148 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: but for the father's sake. He says, how long has 149 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: he been like this? The father answers, from childhood it 150 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. 151 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: If you can do anything, if you can do an anything, 152 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: take pity on us and help us if you can, 153 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: said Jesus, everything is possible for him who believes. Immediately, 154 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: the boy's father exclaimed these words, I do believe. Help 155 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: me overcome my unbelief. I do believe, Help me overcome 156 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: my unbelief. When Jesus saw that a crowd was running 157 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. You death 158 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: and mute spirit. He said, I command you come out 159 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: of him and never enter him again. The spirit shrieked, 160 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: convulsed him violently, and came out. The boy looked so 161 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: much like a corpse that everyone around him said he's dead. 162 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: But Jesus took him by the hand, lifted him to 163 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: his feet, and he stood up. And after Jesus had 164 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, why couldn't we 165 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: drive it out? And Jesus replied, this kind can only 166 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: come out by prayer. Okay, that's a lot that's going 167 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: on in this story, but what we want to know 168 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: are some of the things that we've been learning over 169 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: the period of time as we've been looking at this gospel. 170 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: Jesus has all authority. He's made that very clear. Jesus, 171 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: this has made it very clear that he doesn't need 172 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: any specific rituals or ways in order to do the 173 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: work that he's been given to do. That he can 174 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: command the spirits, he can command the natural world, he 175 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: can create food, he can bring hearing to the death, 176 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: he can bring sight to the blind, he can bring 177 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: the dead to life. He can do all these things. 178 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: So when he pass, someone participate with him, it's for 179 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: their sake. And so he turns to this man's father 180 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: and he says, tell me more about the situation. Is 181 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: so compassionate, so empathetic. Jesus is human, and he engages 182 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,559 Speaker 1: with humanity. And so he engages with this father who 183 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: must feel so powerless against this thing that has taken 184 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: over his child, who must feel so helpless and desperate. 185 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: He is in a desperate place, and in fact he's 186 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: so desperate he's actually found a way to find Jesus's disciples. 187 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: And he must have thought that this is his moment 188 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: that his son will be healed. And his son wasn't 189 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: healed even with Jesus's disciples. Imagine the doubt, Imagine the despair, 190 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: the feeling of like just helplessness when you want so 191 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: much for your child and you cannot provide it. And 192 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: so in this moment, Jesus engages with the dad. He says, 193 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: tell me more about how long he's been like this? 194 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: And this dad, in his desperation, is seeing life the 195 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: way that he can understand it, and he's like, if 196 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: you can do anything, who knows he might have thought, 197 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: if you could even give him a reprieve, if you 198 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: could even give him one good day, if you could 199 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: do anything anything to help us, and Jesus is like, 200 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: if I can do anything, I can do everything. And 201 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: he looks at this man and says, everything is possible. 202 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: Everything is possible. He might not be on our timeline, 203 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: it might not be the way we expect, but it 204 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: does not mean that Jesus does not have the power 205 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,959 Speaker 1: to move in our lives. And so Jesus does what 206 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: his disciples could not do, and he draws out this spirit. 207 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: And before he does so, he has this man offer 208 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: this desperate prayer, this desperate prayer that says, I do 209 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: want to believe. I absolutely want to believe in more. 210 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: Will you help me in my unbelief? And I love 211 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: that because it is such an honest and desperate prayer, 212 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: and it is a prayer that available for all of 213 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: us when you are real about your circumstances, when you 214 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: are real about the condition of your faith, when you 215 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 1: understand your own doubt, and you're just saying, like, Lord, 216 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: I want more of you, I want more faith, I 217 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 1: want to believe in more. But I have this part 218 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: of me that doesn't. And I'm asking you to help 219 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,599 Speaker 1: me with that part too. You see what that is 220 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: is that is whole hearted. You're bringing your whole heart, 221 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: the good stuff and the bad stuff, the good side, 222 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: the shadow side. You're bringing your superpowers and your kryptonite. 223 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: You're bringing it all, and you're saying, Jesus, I bring 224 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: you everything of me. I do want to believe more 225 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: than I do, but then I find myself not believing, 226 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: and Jesus engages right in that space. And what happens 227 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: here is that the man's unbelief does not stop Jesus 228 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: from acting. It does not limit Jesus's power. He is 229 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: able to drive out that spirit. He's able to do 230 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: the thing. And I think what we're meant to learn 231 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: from this is that what Jesus appreciates is that wholeheartedness. 232 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: He challenges this man's faith, and then he accepts and 233 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: receives this man's honesty, and in the midst of that, 234 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: healing does occur, and his disciples are amazed again, and 235 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: they ask Jesus, why couldn't we do what you did? 236 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: And what Jesus says is this kind only comes out 237 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: by prayer. And I think what we're meant to understand 238 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: from that is that this communion with our heavenly Father 239 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: is our place of spiritual power. That we are not 240 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: going to be able to operate outside of an integrated, 241 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: desperate life with our heavenly Father, where we are in 242 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: prayer with him. Jesus speaks to the power of an 243 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: interior life that actually allows us to release God's power 244 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: into the world. He calls us to be very, very 245 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: serious about the condition of our own heart and our 246 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: own own experiences and practices with the Father. Many of us, 247 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: if we've been following Jesus for a long time, we 248 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: start living, We start experiencing our faith by doing, and 249 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, our faith is a 250 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: place of being, of being with our heavenly Father, of 251 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,319 Speaker 1: coming away for solitude, of being in silence, of being 252 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: in prayer. That that is our place of spiritual power, 253 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: so that when we are called to the work, we're 254 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: doing it out of that place of abundance, rather than 255 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: out of obligation or striving or action that's ever separated 256 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: from communion and presence with our heavenly Father. Jesus right 257 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: after this, predicts his death again, and once again his 258 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: disciples are missing the point. They start to talk about 259 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: who's going to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, 260 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: and what Jesus says to them at the end of 261 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: this chapter is anyone who wants to be first must 262 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: be very last and be the servant of all. And 263 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: he's beginning to teach them about what it's going to 264 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: look like to follow the way of the Cross. That 265 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: the way of Jesus is not power but humility. The 266 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: way of Jesus is not confidence but vulnerability. That there 267 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: is this way that Jesus is inviting us to live 268 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: in this world, to be so careful with our hearts, 269 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: to understand that nothing is more important than what's happening 270 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: inside of us, To be in practices with our heavenly 271 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: Father so that we might experience communion with him. And 272 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: at the very end of the chapter, Jesus brings this 273 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: all back around to action, which I want to make 274 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: sure I touch on because it can feel like from 275 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: other chapters when the Pharisees were talking about hand washing 276 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: and rituals and the things that Jesus wasn't doing, and 277 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: Jesus says, none of that matters. What matters is what 278 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: comes out of your heart. He's going to bring it 279 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: back to action now again here and what he says 280 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: is you need to know what causes you to stumble. 281 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: You need to know what causes you to experience unbelief. 282 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: You need to know what causes you to experience doubt, 283 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: what causes you to experience despair, Where you find yourself 284 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: kind of swirling in anxiety or concern or self absorption. 285 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: You need to know these places, and you have got 286 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: to remove those places from your life. So he is 287 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: serious about action. He is serious about our behaviors. But 288 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: Jesus is serious about our behaviors insomuch as they connect 289 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: to our heart, as they connect to our ability. To 290 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: have the courage to live out a life where we're 291 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: experiencing more and more of Jesus's abundance. To have the 292 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: courage to speak truth to power, To have the courage 293 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: to live in reality about our own experiences as well 294 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: as others. To have the courage to be dependent on Christ, 295 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: to be able to say, I do believe, but help 296 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: my unbelief. This is what Jesus is inviting us to. 297 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,239 Speaker 1: It is a full, beautiful life, but it is a rigorous, 298 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: rigorous life of discipleship with Him. All right, everyone, I'll 299 00:15:58,080 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: see you next week. From Mark Chapter. 300 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: Ten, How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice is 301 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 2: a production of Live Audio and Salem Media. If you 302 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: like what you heard today, please take a second to 303 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 2: rate and review the podcast in your favorite podcast app 304 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 2: so that more listeners like you can find the show. 305 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 2: For more faith filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us at liveaudio 306 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 2: dot com.