Preached by Chris Broom, 8/16/2009

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Jose and his wife Marisol Get Baptized!

- Right before this section in Mark 9:14, the transfiguration took place.
- Glimpse of glory. Moses and Elijah faded, yet Jesus was left. Finished the work.
- What happens when you come down from the mountain? Like the LA retreat, come back to worldly issues.

Mark 9:14-32 Arguing. Disciples can’t heal.
- Jesus disturbed by lack of faith. He has pity.
- Jesus asks questions.
- Do you ask questions when trying to help?
- Jesus heals where others thought it’s not possible.
- What do you believe is not possible in your life?
- Everything possible for him who believes.
- Learn to help and pity each other.
- Goal: to help others overcome. Ask questions. Wait for answers. Patience
- What evil spirit are you possessed by? What causes you to foam, thrown off balance, into danger, rigid on the ground?
- Evil spirit tries to kill.

In Genesis 4, God tells Cain that sin desires to have you. Must master it.

What sin is throwing us down?
1) Unbelief
Romans 14:23 “…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Hebrews 11:6
- Impossible to please God without faith.
- Doubt and belief are polar opposites. Pray, “I do believe. Help me overcome unbelief.”
- From India’s 1.2 billion people and in Chicago only a few days, Raja unexpectedly reconnects with childhood friend. That’s of God. Believe.

2) Fear
Mark 9:30-32. People don’t understand but afraid to ask Jesus. Jesus created atmosphere you could talk in.
- Evil spirit robbed boy of speech.
- Fear robbed them of speech.

F ault
E xpectations
A ppearing
R eal

What is it that your fear is doing to you?

Revelation 21
Cowardly and unbelieving get the lake of fire. In same list as murder.

3) Selfish ambition
Mark 9:33 Selfish ambition vs. godly ambition.
Who’s the greatest?

4) Worldly Competition
Mark 9:38 Others are driving out evil spirit but told to stop. That’s worldly competition.
- Don’t be confused by Matthew 12:30 Anyone not for us = against us. It’s about oppositional people.
Here, people are doing good works.

The only good competition: Who can give, serve, love the most with the right heart.

Reminded of Scrooge, busy with business, not loving people and meeting needs.

5) Greed
- Building your own kingdom, not God’s.
- Love God more than own comfort.
- Consider your money and time. Be frugal. Can you downsize?
- To reach the world, give up cable, and other worldly unnecessary comforts. Have 2 Corinthians 8 giving.
- Do you spend more on dates than on weekly contribution to God?
- Pray about this: Can I increase my contribution by 50%? It’s not about what you can’t do. It’s about what you can do.

3 Types of Givers. Those who…
- Give nothing or next to nothing.
- Give something but not acceptable to God (Cain compared to Able).
- Give sacrificially, but is it our best?

Mark 9:42 Millstone
Have a radical view of sin
All disciples are salted with fire. All are tested: suffer and purify.

Proverbs 27:21
- Man tested by praise received. Do we give honor to God or self?

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds…

- Have salt in you. Be at peace.
- A defining feature of a disciple: devoted to Jesus and others devoted to him. That’s discipleship.

Matthew 10:32-34
- Jesus came to divide. Not peace but a sword. Brought together by Jesus and the gospel.
- Divided by lack of commitment.
- We want to help all overcome these sins.

Two statements of Jesus: We need to own it:
A) Come out and never enter him again. Do you believe that’s possible with your sin?
- Rebuke yourself.

B) This kind only comes out by prayer.

Categories: Mark Series, Sermons
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