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Freeing the Five Faith Builders Number Five: Persistence Matthew 17:14-21

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Freeing the Five Faith Builders Number Five: Persistence Matthew 17:14-21 Freeing The Five Faith Builders Number Five: Persistence Matthew 17:14-21 ONE THING Proper positioning leads to powerful petitioning. I want to be a man of GREAT FAITH! I want to MOVE MOUNTAINS I want to experience the SUPERNATURAL Proper POSITIONING leads to Powerful PETITIONING There are FIVE different times the Lord accuses His disciples of “LITTLE FAITH”. We are going to look at Faith Blockers and then Faith Builders 1. Provision Sermon on the Mount Matthew 6:30 (ESV) 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Faith Blocker Anxiety over the cares of this life Faith Builder Trust the Lord’s Provision 2. Promises Crossing the Sea and Jesus falls asleep Matthew 8:24–26 (ESV) 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Faith Blocker Doubting God’s Goodness Faith Builder 3. Presence Peter walking on the Water Before Jesus will calm the STORM that is causing your FEAR He will calm the FEAR that is storming your HEART. Before Jesus will calm the storm that is causing your fear He will calm the fear that is keeping your storm. Faith Blocker Focusing on our Problems Matthew 14:28–31 (ESV) 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” When we begin focusing on the problem… FEAR will begin to RISE and FAITH will begin to SINK! Is your storm bigger than your Jesus or is your Jesus bigger than your storm? Faith Builder Focus on the Lord’s Presence Don’t tell Jesus about the size of your storm; tell your storm about the size of your Jesus! 4. Precepts Jesus’ warning regarding the yeast of the Pharisees Matthew 16:5–12 (ESV) 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Faith Blocker Living from a Worldly Perspective Settling for immediate gratification – Lust of the flesh – Appetites Setting your sights on making a name for yourself – Lust of the eyes - Ambitions Self-imposed religion – Pride in possessions – Affections Faith Builder Seeing from the Lord’s Perspective “The Transfiguration” is from the Italian painter, Raphael. This was his last painting. 5. Persistence Demonized Boy the Disciples couldn’t heal Matthew 17:14–20 (ESV) 14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” 21[But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting] BACKGROUND When Jesus sent out the 12 disciples 2X2 He said to them… Matthew 10:7–8 (ESV) 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. When Jesus sent out the 72 other followers 2X2 He said to them… Luke 10:8–9 (ESV) 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Luke 10:17–19 (ESV) 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Faith Blocker Matthew 17:19–21 (ESV) 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 21[But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting] Spiritual Immaturity Faith Builder Pray for Spiritual Maturity Mark 9:29 (ESV) 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mountain VIEWING Faith See JESUS in GOD’S complete GLORY The Transfiguration! Matthew 17:5–6 (ESV) 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. Do you see Jesus as the God of the Universe or as a free pass to heaven? Jesus is God! Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV) 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Back to our story… Jesus asks the Father… Mark 9:22b–24 (ESV) 22… But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mountain DESCENDING Faith See PEOPLE in SATAN’S corrupting GRASP Peter wanted to stay up on the mountaintop! We all love mountaintop experiences, but our faith never grows unless it is tested. And it is never tested except in the valleys of a fallen world. Judges 3:1–2 (ESV) 1 Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. Think about this father… Matthew 17:14–15 (ESV) 14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. Mark 9:16–18a (ESV) 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.
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