The cloud for the crowd – Glory and prayer

 

Has anyone got any problems this morning?

• People problems. – arguing
• Spiritual problems – unanswered prayer, spiritual attack, demonic
• Health problems – sickness
• Faith problems – not seeing the breakthrough

 

Today's passage has them all and Jesus who is the answer to them all.

 

Bookended

• Glory experience – an encounter with God's presence in the cloud
• Prayer – this type of demon only comes out by prayer.

 

Mark 9:14-29

 

Cloud for the crowd

3 disciples – Peter, James and John along with Jesus had just had a glory encounter with God up a mountain.

Cloud of glory, appearances, brightness.

Wanted to stay there – who doesn't want to linger in an incredible ministry time.

We need those power encounters with Gid,

Passage shows us the cloud is for the crowd. They came down to a crowd and a broken world.

 

Prayer

Other 9 disciples experience the frustration of a healing and deliverance not happening/ And when it is all done and dusted, Jesus tells them “This kind only comes out by prayer”. BUT Jesus in v25 just commands it out “You mute and deaf spirit I command you come out of him and never enter him again”

That's not a long prayer – instant command!

SO, what does Jesus mean? The prayer is about our spiritual tanks topped up with intimate relationship with God the father, Get your praise on! Silence enjoying Him, Intercession. A prayer life that sustains what God wants you to do!

 

Do you want to be used by God more powerfully?

Glory encounters Acts 2 “times of refreshing”

Prayer life that sustains.

 

So now let's look at the problems and how Jesus sorts them

People problems – arguments and conflicts

Like a school fight -crowd gathers.

9 disciples and the religious leaders are arguing over the fact the boy is not set free. A crowd gathers to watch the show.

You can imagine – you can't heal the boy, you are fakes, Jesus is a fake.

 

Back to the arguments in the passage.

The 9 are getting it in the neck from the triumphant religious leaders. Then…

Jesus and the three come down – maybe they are still glowing like Moses, or just carrying the presence of God.

The crowd see them and are filled with awe.

They run to greet them – an enthusiastic welcome! Phew Jesus is here!

He's the friend of sinners

 

Leads us to the second problem. The issue they were arguing over

 

Spiritual problems – demons!

The boy's father comes to Jesus with a great attitude

• Teacher – respect
• Lord – parallel passage Matt 17:15 – acknowledging who is the boss
• Knelt – respect and honour

 

Describes the problem v17-18

Devil comes to steal, kill and destroy John 10:10

Demons cause Physical harm, sin, mental confusion and desperation

 

In this case some of the symptoms look like epilepsy. Passage is not teaching us that epilepsy is always demonic. It's often medical. But here there's some definite demonic features in line with John 10:10 – tries to kill him throwing him into fire and water.

 

Faith Problems

9 had not had the glory encounter bringing anointing, and likely not a consistent prayer life. At times they had done the stuff, but now they couldn't.

Jesus “How long must I be with you?” – when will you get it? The disciples were so up and down, like us.

Jesus “O faithless generation” – are you on the screens too much? A wider family member was shocked to discover they had spent 5hrs on their phone that day!

People problems, spiritual problems, faith problems – Jesus is the answer

V19 Bring him to me!

Parents you need to hear that! Bring your kids to Jesus in prayer – 6yrs of nightmare for us!

• Need healing – bring them to Jesus
• Need purpose – bring them to Jesus
• Addiction – bring them to Jesus
• Need deliverance – bring them to Jesus
• Need rescue – bring them to Jesus

V20 so they did bring him to Jesus – the demon freaks out!

Jesus asks some questions.

My son brought someone to me the other evening – asked me to pray and prophecy. Have you got a prophecy Dad – I've got some questions first

How long has this been happening?

It's since childhood, frequently and its killing him

Father pleads – if you can help me…

I don't what Jesus was thinking at that moment

If you can?

I've walked on water, calmed storms, raised the dead, healed the sick, seen the cripples walked, the deaf hear, the mute speak, the blind see. Of course I can!

So he answers in v23 “Anything is possible for him who believes!”

God can do anything anytime, but he sovereignly chooses to leave it up to us at times to respond with faith before he acts.

Wants us to believe – to trust in Jesus and lean on him.

Father responds “ I believe, help my unbelief”

So honest – yes I believe, but it's not easy, this is pretty big!

Jesus speaks to the demon, commanding it to come out and never to come back. Casts it out and shuts the entry door.

If you need deliverance – you need to stop doing what allowed it to attack – close the door on sin or whatever.

The demon screams and causes another fit on the way out and the boy falls down looking dead, even though he has never been more alive at that moment.

Jesus takes him by the hand – you are so welcome and helps him up.

The crowd are amazed!

Afterwards the disciples ask why couldn't we do this? It's a strong demon needs anointing

Prayer – reliance on God

Anointing – glory encounters to fill with anointing

Application

How's your prayer life?

Come Holy Spirit