Sermon Notes...I'm Doing the Best I Can

Scriptural Text... Mark 9:14-29 (v. 24) The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (New Living Translation)

Introduction: Society's appreciation for mothers is great and it should be. However, there seems to be a public under-appreciation for fathers. This isn't a battle of the sexes, but this is a message that recognizes men and not males; that teaches males how to be men.

Transition: Mark chapter nine is the location of a really familiar story. Normally, we only deal with this text from the viewpoint of the disciples, the demoniac boy or Jesus. Since it's Father's Day, let's examine these verses through the lens of the boy's father...

Exposition: The text is tailored to teach three principles, to help every father to do the best they can...

1) When you're frustrated, get help not a high...verses 14-22 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. ¹⁵ When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. ¹⁶ “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. ¹⁷ One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. ¹⁸ And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” ¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” ²⁰ So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. ²² The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
-Your life vices won't eliminate the issues you face.
-Do you know who to go to, when you're dealing with something that's to big for you?

2) Don't allow your testosterone to hinder your faith...verses 22-24 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” ²³ “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” ²⁴ The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
-Faith (the positive and strong belief that things will change) coupled with action, makes the impossible possible.
-The exposure of your shortcomings doesn't make you less of a man; only when you don't want help does.

3) After you've positioned your children for greatness, fade into the background...verses 25-29
When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” ²⁶ Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. ²⁸ Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” ²⁹ Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
-There comes a time when you have to be confident and comfortable with your parental work.
-You can advise (being a voice without a vote) when necessary but not dictate (control).