From Doubt ….To Moving Mountains

Introduction

Well, I was asked before the sermon or before the worship began this morning if I had any specific scriptures that I would like to have been reading. I didn’t have any. And I hope by the end of our lesson this morning, though, you’ll see that what Brother Walter’s just read for us is actually the perfect passage for us to consider as we go through our lesson together today. It’s thrilling for my family and I to be with you. We’ve had a wonderful experience with your teenagers. You have a wonderful group of godly young men and women. They are very attentive and also just contributing in so many ways to the weekend. I thank you for allowing me to be here with you. I thank you for allowing me to work with your young people, and I thank you for that can be here to worship with you.

As John mentioned the announcements this morning, it’s a little bit of a full circle moment. I had lived in Alabama my entire life, up to the age of 26, and then you asked me to come and work with you here. And for the last 21 years, I’ve been in Florida. We are going to be going up to work with the congregation of Bestavia, which is just south of Birmingham. A good group there that we think we can do a good work with, and it also gets us back closer to our families who are getting a little older, and we can help out with them as time goes on as well. So we’re looking forward to that. But we’re also very grateful. We’ve never left anywhere that we wanted to leave.

We don’t want to leave our congregation and our family in Tampa. But we believe that this is the right call for us now to do the Lord’s work in Birmingham and to be with our families. So I thank you that we get the opportunity to be here with you, even if it’s just for today. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark. We’re going to look at two passages from the Gospels. We’re going to start in Mark chapter 9, and then we’re going to go back to Matthew 17. So we’re going to start in Mark chapter 9. We’re going to look at two different accounts of the same event, but we’re going to spend primarily our time in Mark chapter 9 this morning.

1. Transfigured: This Is My Beloved Son

In Mark chapter 8, Jesus had asked his disciples, who do men say that I am? And Peter gives what we call the great confession. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Gospels tell us that that event occurred in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi is in the northern part of Israel, the northern part of Palestine. And not too far from Caesarea Philippi was this mountain, Mount Hermon, the very northern boundary of Israel’s land. At this time it was primarily Gentile territory, but this is where Jesus is, and it is likely this mountain that Mark chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 17 record what we refer to as the transfiguration. Jesus goes up on this mountain. He takes just a few of his closest disciples.

And there you begin reading, and if you’ll read with me, starting in verse 2 of Mark chapter 9, that after six days, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them. And his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. Which screen’s not working? Is that what you wanted? Yeah. Oh. I don’t want to get a dog. Sorry. That’s Mount Herman. It’s not a desktop.

I hope that moment lives in Bumby Lord. Where was I? Alright, we’re just reading the script. Let’s go back and read the scripture again. Alright, so read it again with me. Verses 2, the end of verse 2 and verse 3. He was transfigured, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. You ever try to imagine in your mind what that looks like? I don’t think we’re supposed to be able to imagine it. We call it the transfiguration. He is transfigured before them. His clothing and his appearance are radiant. His clothes like nothing that a launder could do.

Imagine the first person that ever saw what a caterpillar did. I don’t know if it was Adam or not. I don’t know if an Adam ever saw a caterpillar go into a cocoon and emerge as a butterfly. But you know, the first person who ever witnessed that, but just like, hey, this is an interesting bug. And now what’s he doing? He’s making this cocoon and he keeps observing it, and you know, after a few days, and here comes this butterfly. And he, you know, that first person is just like, wow. Like that critter. That, that okay, some people think caterpillars are kind of cute. I don’t necessarily like them, but it’s it’s there. But it became that. That’s what happened with Jesus in front of his disciples.

Here’s a man, just a man, as far as his earthly appearance. And he became that. Absolutely transfigured, metamorphosized right in front of them. Well, the text goes on that he’s not alone. With him appear Elijah and Moses. You may already have a good idea of why that is. Moses is the lawgiver, the first great prophet of Israel. Elijah is the prophet who stands out the most, even though there are these writing prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. We know more about what Elijah does. And Elijah is the one who’s actually caught up into heaven in a chariot of fire. Elijah doesn’t even die. And so these two figures, Elijah and Moses, they appear with Jesus. Now Luke’s account of this doesn’t, and Mark’s doesn’t record this, but Luke’s account says they’re discussing his departure.

They were discussing his exodus. But of course, we know what happens and why this is so important in the lives of the disciples. Peter, because it’s always Peter, and says, Well, let’s make three tabernacles. We’re gonna make three tabernacles. We’re gonna make one for Jesus, we’re gonna make one for Elijah, we’re gonna make one for Moses. What do we read in verse 6? He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them. And a voice came out of the cloud. This is my beloved son. Listen to him. What is happening in that moment is the confirmation of what Peter had just confessed back in chapter 8. Peter had confessed, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. But it’s clear when we get to chapter 9, Peter doesn’t fully understand what that means.

2. He Comes Down Off the Mountain to Unbelief

He’s terrified in this situation. He sees Jesus like he’s never seen him before. He knows somehow that that’s Moses and Elijah. Let’s make them tabernacles. And God says, no, that’s my son. And he’s the one you’re supposed to listen to. He’s the Christ. Only he is the Christ. And therefore, only he you should heed. Now, here’s what’s interesting in our text this morning. What happens after Jesus descends the mountain? Because you would think this would be just a great faith-building moment. Jesus, with some of his closest disciples, and the voice of the Father saying, That’s my son. But you know what’s interesting? When people come off of mountains in the Bible, it’s not always a good thing. Think of Moses and Elijah. And Moses is on Mount Sinai with God, receiving the law.

And Moses comes down off of the mountain, and Israel’s making a golden calf.

Elijah is on Mount Carnival doing battle with the prophets of Baal. God showing himself that he alone is God. And Elijah comes off of Mount Carmel, and guess what he has to do? He has to run for his life. Because Jezebel’s out to kill him. Well, here’s Jesus and some of his closest disciples. Jesus transfigured, God declaring, This is my son, and he comes down off the mountain. And what does he come down to? Unbelief. Chapter 9, and start reading with me in verse 14. When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, What are you arguing about with them?

Someone said from the crowd, teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out. And they were not able.

Now, who is Jesus talking to? There are certainly times in Jesus’ ministry where he was saying that to the crowd at large. Faithless generation, how long am I going to be with you? How many times are you going to ask for a sign? But I don’t think that’s Jesus’ target here. I think he’s talking about his disciples. Because this man has said, Look, I brought my son. I wanted to bring him to you, but of course Jesus was up on the mountain, so I brought him to your disciples, and they couldn’t do anything. Now there’s a problem. Go back with me in Mark’s account. And notice a couple of things that we read earlier in Mark’s account. Go back to Mark chapter 3. Mark chapter 3 and verses 14 and 15.

Mark chapter 3, verses 14 and 15. This is when Jesus first selects the 12. And I want you to note what Mark specifically says Jesus instructs them. He appointed 12, verse 14, whom he also named apostles, so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. Mark chapter 6. Mark chapter 6 and verse 7. And he called the 12 and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. The 12 that when Jesus selects, says, I’m going to send you out to preach, and I’m giving you power over the demons. The 12, when he calls them to him two by two, to send them out into Israel to go and preach, and he gives them authority over the unclean spirits, these same disciples, when this man brings his son, they say, we can’t do it.

And I don’t know if they’ve just never seen a case this severe. Or they thought, well, since Jesus is up on the mountain and we’re not with him, maybe we can’t. I don’t know what the case is. But what I do know is Jesus looked at them and says, Where’s your faith? Where is it? Why are you doubting me right now? Why are you doubting yourself right now? Don’t ask yourself a question. This is what we’ve been talking about with the teams this weekend. There are some times where we we have questions about God because things aren’t just not going right in our lives. We may be suffering in some way, or we may be struggling in some way spiritually, and we just wonder why is why is God letting me go through this?

And what we need to do in that case, we need to go back and read what God has done, what he’s promised, who he is, how he’s with us, and be reaffirmed in our faith. But there are other times where our problem is ourselves, and we’re doubting ourselves. I can’t do it. And where we are, is right where the apostles were. What is it about the Christian walk that you’re doubting right now?

Are you doubting that, you know, Jesus says, I’m supposed to be a light, you know, set up on the hill, I’m supposed to let the world see my good deeds, and therefore they’re going to glorify God in heaven. And I’m just kind of doubting that I can do that. Is it that I’m doubting that God who calls me to his own holiness? And I just, I don’t think I can ever be what God wants me to be. Or maybe we’re doubting that we could ever overcome Satan because he’s just too strong. And I think if Jesus were with us, he’d say, What’s your problem? Where is your faith right now? Because that’s what it all comes back to. Let’s skip just a little bit ahead in the passage.

3. This Kind: By Prayer and Fasting

Because what we see is this truly was a failure in their faith. So, Mark chapter 9 again. And as he said in verse 19, O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Now we’re going to come back to this. Jesus is going to cast the unclean spirit out of this boy. He is going to heal him. But I want you to skip down to what you read in verse 28 and 29. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, why could we not cast it out? And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything. And the English Standards Version simply says, but prayer, your translation may read, and I believe correctly so, by prayer and fasting.

Why do people fast in Scripture? Well, there was one day in the Old Testament where they were commanded to fast on the day of atonement, as sacrifices were being made and atonement was being made for the sins of the people. That was one day out of the year where you were supposed to fast. I know fasting is kind of the thing now. If you want to lose some weight, you might do intermittent fasting. That’s not why people in the Bible were fasting. They fasted when they were afflicted. They fasted when they couldn’t make sense out of life. The prophets would fast because they’re sent to work with a people that are God’s people, and they can’t get the people to listen. And they know calamity is going to come, and they fast.

And they pray. That’s why they fasted. They were centering themselves more and more on God, not focusing on fleshly desire, fleshly fulfillment. They were focusing themselves on God and they were praying. And that’s what Jesus is saying to his apostles. The only thing you lacked here was faith in God. And the only way you’re ever going to be able to do this is you start praying and fasting. You start devoting yourself and thinking about and focusing on God more and more and more. That is what is going to lead to you being able to do what I’ve called you. Now, go back to Matthew’s account. So we’re going to go back to Matthew here. Because in Matthew’s account, Jesus adds just a little bit to his words to these apostles.

4. Faith Like a Grain of Mustard Seed

So Matthew chapter 17. Matthew chapter 17, he says to them, after they have asked, why could we not cast it out? He says in verse 20 of Matthew 17, it was 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’ll be it’ll move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Now, that mustard seed, that probably rings a bell with you. Jesus in Matthew the 13th chapter. Sorry, I got behind. Here we go. Jesus, well, we got really behind. Here we go. It’s not Tony’s fault, that’s all my fault. Jesus in Matthew the 13th chapter gave what we know as the parable of the mustard seed.

The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants to become a tree, so the birds of the air can make nests in its branches. And here’s the interesting thing. I’ll go back to what I meant to point out, went the wrong way. All right. Here we go. Ignore what you saw. You did not see that? Do not look behind the curtain at the man? All right. Jesus rebuked their little faith. But he said, if you have faith like the grain of a mustard seed, what’s tinier than that?

Mustard seed is tiny. It’s the smallest of the seeds, Jesus says. But he rebuked them for having little faith. And of course, that’s his point in the parable. You see, you have little faith. But if you had faith like the grain of a mustard seed, it may start small, but you’re going to come to a challenge, and you’re not going to be certain if you can do it, but you’re going to think more on me, and you’re going to think on God, and you’re going to pray about it. And God’s going to be with you, and you’re going to overcome. And guess what’s going to happen to your faith? It’s going to grow. But you see, the person with a little faith, they just maintain their little faith.

Yeah, I believe Jesus is the Son of God. Yeah, I believe there’s a heaven. So why do you keep on, you know, leaving the will of God? I just didn’t think I could do it. I got faith, though. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus. Jesus said, that’s little faith. The guy with the mustard seed faith is going to have times in his life where he gets knocked down. It could be financial. It could be health. It could even be spiritual just war that he’s going through. And he’s going to have tough times. And he’s going to focus more on his God. And he’s going to focus more on prayer. And his faith is going to grow. And the guy with little faith just kept saying, Well, I believe Jesus is the Son of God.

5. A Mountain Moved in the Apostles’ Lives

But he never grew. That’s what happens over and over and over again in the lives of real disciples. They have faith like the grain of a mustard seed. Doesn’t mean life is easy. Doesn’t mean it’s devoid of challenges. No, it has all those things. But those who have faith like the grain of a mustard seed. Keep growing, growing. And as Jesus says, you’re going to say to this mountain, go over here and it’s going to move. Let me show you exactly how that happened in the lives of the apostles. The apostles went from on this occasion, seeing this man’s son, saying, We can’t do anything about this. By the time we get to Acts 4, what you read is people were bringing their sick into Jerusalem just so that Peter’s shadow could fall on them.

Why? Because everybody was getting healed. There wasn’t anybody that was sick that they couldn’t heal. Why? Because they finally understood what it meant for Jesus to be the Christ. It took some time. They’re not going to finally have that realization until after Jesus’ resurrection, but they finally came to the true realization of what it means that Jesus is the Son of God and that He has overcome death, and now we can go out and we can heal everybody. Peter will go from denying the Lord to when he is confronted by the very counsel that he is in terror of in Acts the fourth chapter. And they tell him, quit preaching Jesus. We must obey God rather than men. A mountain moved in Peter’s life because he finally fully believed in who Jesus is.

John would be one of the disciples who, along with his brother, went to Jesus asking for positions of greatness. When you come into your kingdom, put one of us on your right hand, put one of us on your left hand.

And John is the disciple that when you read his letter of 1 John, you lose count of how many times he tells us to love one another. Because a mountain was moved in John’s life. Paul went from being a Hebrew of the Hebrews. You know what that’s code for? He was a racist.

Everybody else, scum. Paul went from being a Hebrew of the Hebrews to the apostle to the Gentiles. Because he became convinced that Jesus is the Son of God. A mountain was moved in Peter’s, I’m sorry, in Paul’s life. The apostles went from cowering in fear after the death of Jesus to being credited with turning the world upside down on its head. Yesterday I asked this question to the teens. What did Jesus do for you? And there were several good answers, but the one thing that we all agree that when we think about Jesus, what comes first in our mind is, well, he died on the cross for my sins. And as well as should. But what we focused on in that session was that there’s more Jesus has done for us.

In particular, read the book of Hebrews and recognize Jesus is currently your high priest. And that means he is actively engaged in making intercession before God on your behalf and on my behalf.

How are we going to become the people that God wants us to be? We’ve got to have greater faith in who God is and who Jesus is. If I’m struggling with sin and I don’t think I can overcome Satan, have I forgotten Jesus, who’s the very Son of God and currently reigns at the right hand of God? He is stronger, he is greater than Satan. The answer to my problem is to put greater faith in Jesus and knowing if I will commit myself to the very Son of God, ruler of the world, I am going to be victorious. If I am struggling with holiness in my life, and I wonder, can I ever be who God wants me to be? I need to put greater faith in Jesus as my high priest because it is his work as my high priest that allows me to be holy.

Am I going to have struggles? Absolutely. But I go and I confess, and guess what? Jesus still intercedes for me. The problem we have is a problem of faith. We do not believe enough in what Jesus can and will do on our behalf.

Why don’t you try having a faith like a mustard seed?

6. I Believe; Help My Unbelief

One that keeps on growing, keeps on growing, and keeps on growing. Let’s turn it, return back to our story in Mark chapter 9. So Jesus goes to the Father. They bring the boy to him, I brothers should say, and immediately the text reads. The boy is thrown to the ground, convulsing. Jesus asked the Father in verse 21, how long has this been happening to him? And he said, from childhood, and he had often cast him into fire and into water to destroy him. And they asked this question of Jesus in verse 22. If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. And Jesus said, if you can, all things are possible for one who believes. And brothers and sisters, I don’t know that there’s a passage in Scripture that is not more applicable to every single one of us than the response of the Father in this moment.

Immediately the Father of the child cried out and said, I believe. Help my unbelief.

God, I’m struggling though with sin. Help my unbelief. Help me to put more faith in your son. God, I’m struggling to do what you have asked of me and commanded me to do. Lord, help my unbelief. Help me to put more faith in your Son as my Savior and as my high priest. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Conclusion

And it may be that’s the statement that you need to make this morning. You’ve had little faith. Maybe you’ve come to the recognition that Jesus is the Son of God, but you know that’s not where it stops. Help my unbelief. We offer an invitation that if you were to be baptized, your sins would be forgiven. That is an act that requires great faith. Because we are telling you, we will immerse you in water. And that by immersing you in water, Jesus is going to cleanse you of your sins. That may not make sense. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

And you may think in your life, but I have done so many things that are wrong. How could God possibly still forgive me? Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. You may be here this morning and recognizing I have failed to do what God wants me to do. And I don’t know if I can change at this point. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. And if you want a body of saints praying with you, praying that with you, we’re ready. If we can help you, won’t you come as we stand and as we sing?