PRAY

Phil (and Katrina) Moon (dad died wed… buried thur…. Firstbaby due anytime.

1 SAMUEL The Story of Samuel, Saul and David

WOMEN’S STUDY Praying through First Peter 2

Matthew 17:9-21 “The Valley of Need”

LAST STUDY we saw in Matthew 17 that Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; {2} and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

CRUCIAL INSIGHT: This “Transfiguration” was a fulfillment of a perplexing promise at the close of Matthew 16.

It was a miniature preview of the Second Coming of Jesus to establish His Kingdom. It was a miniature preview of the glory that will be revealed to the world when He comes to reign.

Jesus was “transfigured,” NOT by means of an EXTERNAL light focused on Him so that He reflected the glory of God.

Rather, this was the OUTSHINING of the ESSENTIAL GLORY that belongs to Jesus Christ.

AS EYEWITNESSES to the Transfiguration

These three men actually saw the only moment in His earthly ministry when

Jesus allowed the GLORY of His divinity to shine through the VEIL of His humanity!

CRUCIAL DOCTRINE - For all of eternity prior to His incarnation Jesus expressed the fullness of His glory in heaven before worshipping angels.

KEY INSIGHT: In His INFINITE LOVE for YOU

Jesus chose to HUMBLE Himself

And VEIL His glory in a human body

For ONE ultimate reason

In order that He might be forever joined with us in our humanity

And THUS be able SUFFER and DIE on the CROSS in our place…..

All to become our Kinsman Redeemer.

9Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying,

“Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from (out from among) the dead.” 10And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”11Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming ◙ first and will restore all things.

Jesus reassures the disciples that Elijah will indeed come first.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

But the first coming of Jesus did not bring the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

The Malachi 4:5 coming of Elijah is probably best identified with the appearance of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-13, and the Second Coming of Jesus.

12But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished.

Yet, there is also a sense in which Elijah has come already, in the work of John the Baptist, who ministered in Elijah's spirit and power

LUKE 9 MARK 9

Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’

12Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

As we continue there is a considerable contrast between what transpired in the opening verses of Matthew 17 and what is awaiting them at the base of Mt. Hermon.

We see Jesus and these three disciples going from the mountain of glory to the valley of need.

This contrast is going to teach us that the Christian life is NOT all mountain top experiences.

It is an abundant life.

It is a glorious life.

But it is NOT without it’s “valleys.”

Listen to how the Lord described the Promised Land to His people (which is a picture of the Christian life) –

(Deu 11:11 NKJV) but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys….

MOST PEOPLE go through life looking for the peaks…. They live from

Event to event….

Triumph to triumph…

Party to party…

Wanting to avoid life in the valleys and on the hillsides.

Peter didn’t want to leave the glory of that moment

4Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, ◙ let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

BUT – This is NOT the life that Jesus models for us.

Jesus would NOT camp out there!

KEY OBSERVATION: Jesus would NOT stay on the Mount of Transfiguration because there were battles to fight and needs to meet at the foot of the mountain.

THE LESSON > We should

treasure those mountain top experiences

be refreshed in them

but there are battles to fight and needs to meet in the valleys of the Christian life!

CROSS REFERENCE > LUKE 9 MARK 9

14And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is ◙ an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”17Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him;

and the child was cured from that very hour.19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your ◙ unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a 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◙ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

KEY OBSERVATION: Straight from the glory of the mountain top, he was met by human suffering.

Straight from hearing the voice of God, he hears the pleading voice of human need in the face of demonic activity.

NOTE WELL: Jesus NEVER saw human need as a nuisance, or an interruption.

KEY APPLICATION: The MORE we become like Jesus, the LESS we will see human needs as a nuisance or an infringement upon our personal times of blessing.

It is easy to feel “Christian” in the moment of prayer and meditation; it is easy to feel close to God when the world is shut out.

But that is not Christianity, nor is it true spirituality - that is escapism…. isolationism!

Real Christianity is all about getting up from our knees before God to meet men and the problems of the human situation.

Real Christianity is all about drawing strength from God in order to SERVE others.

We are to take our own needs to God

Not that we might have peace and quiet and undisturbed comfort

But that we may be able to effectively and powerfully meet the needs of others.

KEY OBSERVATION: In the course of one day, a disciple can move from the glory of heaven to the attacks of hell.

KEY INSIGHT: I think this is quite significant, and I think that it is almost a rule.

It seems to me that Satan is waiting at the bottom of every spiritual high that you may have.

It seems to be the rule that after having a very beautiful spiritual experience that we are always tested and tried by the enemy.

He tries to immediately come and rob you of that which God has given.

It seems like Satan is just waiting there to smack you, and to take away all of the glory and all of the blessing that you've just received….

SOMETIMES before you even get to your car IN THE PARKING LOT

QUOTE: J. Hudson Taylor – When God opens the windows of heaven to bless you, Satan opens the gates of hell and you are caught between the two. 14a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is ◙ an epileptic and suffers severely for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your ◙ unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 

Mark adds this very important bit of info

(Mark 9:14-18 NKJV) And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. {15} Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. {16} And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

THE SCENE >

Fresh from the GLORY of His Transfiguration Jesus and His three friends find the OTHER NINE involved in a double trouble!

1.) They were unable to deliver a boy from demonic control….

2.) The scribes had noticed their failure and were using it as a reason for argument.

And while –

the disciples were defending themselves

and the scribes were accusing them

the demon was all but killing the helpless boy.

THE SCENE >

THE SEVERITY >

MATTHEW TELLS US that the man’s son was a LUNATIC  

If your translation says epilepsy that’s wrong.  

The Greek is literally moon-struck

Our English word Lunatic = latin for moon struck 

The word used to describe bizarre behavior believed to be the result of being exposed to the light of a full moon…. (luna =moon --- tic = struck)

INSIGHT: This word in this context says that the child was lunatic, was insane

The reason being he was demon possessed.  

To translate the word as epilepsy is not good because NOT every epileptic is demon possessed.

Luke adds -

(Luke 9:38-39 NKJV ) "Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. {39} "And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.

Mark adds -

(Mark 9:18: 21 NKJV) "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid…. 21So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.”

KEY OBSERVATION: This demon continues to throw this kid into the fire and water  

NOTE: Self destructive behavior --- suicide --- are demonic in origin.

>> EVERYONE here is RIPPED OFF and DEFEATED

RIPPED OFF

John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The father had been robbed

Because of this demonic activity his fatherhood had been reduced to caretaker and hopeless observer

He was robbed of the hopes, dreams, and aspirations for his boy.

The son was robbed of his boyhood –

no friends, his playmates were probably warned to stay away from him!

Parents – RUN to Jesus for your children ---- PLEAD with Jesus for your children.

THE SCENE >THE SEVERITY >

JESUS RESCUING >

EVERYONE has been robbed…… defeated

But Jesus LEFT the GLORY of His Transfiguration so that He could RESCUE those who had been robbed and defeated.

> FIRST He rescues His disciples…. confronts the Scribes! (Mrk.9:15,16)

I’m glad that this is my Jesus –

That when I’m inadequate and others come against me that Jesus will step in the gap for me

That he’ll maintain my right and my cause – I don’t have to defend myself.

Jesus --- my great rescuer!

> NEXT He rebukes the whole crowd (Mt.17:17)

17Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

NOTE WELL: faithless and perverse generation

KEY INSIGHT: This is, by the way, the path to national decline – First faithless --- then perverse.  

That’s always the order.

NOTE: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Hence the strategy of Satan ---

Challenge the Bible….

Get it out of the hands, hearts and minds of man….

And they will become faithless… and then they will by default become perverse!

> NEXT He deals with the faith of the boys father (Mark 9:22-23)

Since the disciples had failed, the desperate father was not even sure that Jesus could succeed; hence his statement….. “If you can do anything”

23And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24Immediately the father of the child cried out ◙ and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve uttered those words to Jesus!

NOTE WELL: THAT is the kind of faith Jesus is looking for by the way.

Jesus is looking for the kind of faith that says –

“Yes Lord I believe –

but I realize that my faith is far from perfect – it needs to grow.

I don’t want my son’s deliverance and healing to hinge solely upon what little faith I possess

I’m looking to YOU –

your mercy and power…. To who you are.”

That’s the kind of faith that Jesus is looking for.

> NEXT He rebukes the demon (Matt. 17:18)

Mark 9:25 ESV And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

Luke 9:42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him (last kicks and screams). Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

AWESOME: The Redeemer returns the stolen goods to their rightful owner!

Jesus can present to us our children, our loved ones.

KEY OBSERVATION: Jesus secures the present and the future in the life of this father and son.

After this day the father never had to worry about taking his boy by water or sitting by a bonfire.

CRUCIAL INSIGHT: When Jesus saves us, He

takes care of our past,

provides for us in the present

and secures our future.

JESUS secures the whole thing.

BECAUSE Jesus has taken care of our past, we have a FUTURE with the Lord.

Yes – we ARE going to stumble and fall along the way --- but that doesn’t change our future because that was taken care of by Jesus.

Let me tell you something guys –

We might be shocked at our failures “I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT!”

But heaven isn’t!

Jesus NEVER looks at one that He has saved and asks Himself - “How could I have picked such a loser” – as if it was a bad NFL draft pick -- NEVER.

He NEVER says that BECAUSE when He paid for our sins He knew exactly what He was getting.

He didn’t pay for our sins past, and then say – From here on out you’re on your own.

He paid for the past, present and future.

> FINALLY He answers the disciples question as to why they became powerless (Matt 17:19-21)

19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your ◙ unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a 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◙ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

1.) When we fail we should own our failure and ask our Lord for His gracious intervention.

We should sit at the feet of Jesus and humbly receive Rebuke or Instruction --- as He sees fit.

2.) They were really comfortable doing this ---- I think this wasn’t the first time.

3.) This kind = this genos - a race or a tribe.

It’s interesting the scripture indicate that there are different categories of angels and demons - principalities, powers and rulers of darkness.

KEY OBSERVATION: Jesus says that this particular kind of demon is not going to leave easily.

4.) "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

It doesn’t mean that when you encounter the demon that you start praying and fasting then.

Jesus is speaking of a lifestyle of prayer and fasting.

THIS STATEMENT tells us that while Jesus was away, they began to grow self-indulgent.

In light of what we will shortly learn about these guys (Matt 18:1) --- they were probably pouting over the fact that Jesus had left them behind and took those three)

They neglected prayer;

Their faith weakened.

Then, when this great spiritual confrontation came, they were unprepared.

Like Samson, who woke up to battle the philistines only to realize that his power was gone!

We need to stay Spiritually Healthy!

5.) Faith as a mustard seed (v.21)

or assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

> God will honor even a little faith BECAUSE

it is not the size of the faith that matters….

It is the size of the God in whom we trust.

> I don’t think He’s challenging us to move mountains.

I think He’s saying there that there are things in front of us that seem like mountains.

 

There are things and circumstances that seem impossible situations.

If you plant a mustard seed in the ground it might as well be under a mountain.

 

But it will move all the dirt when it senses the light to push out.

 > Bible NEVER teaches us to have faith in faith  

When Moses and the children of Israel were in front of the Red Sea they didn’t have faith in faith. Moses had faith in God.

 The secret is to have faith in the mover of the mountain….. not in faith itself.

> By describing faith as a mustard seed

Jesus is also telling us that faith is something that is living, something that can grow.

We want to be giving ourselves to those things that will keep our faith alive and growing….PRAYER and THE WORD!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

We can’t help but be moved by the faith of the boy's father.

In spite of the failure of the disciples, the father never doubted the power of Jesus.

“These guys are pathetic, and I’m not much better, but just let me get at Jesus himself, and my son will be saved.”

There are many who feel that

professing Christians have failed them,

or that the Church at large has failed them, and is powerless to deal with the very real needs of today’s world.

Yet this man

would not allow the failures and faithlessness of the disciples to stand between himself and Jesus.

Are YOU letting the failure or faithlessness of your

Husband/Wife

Church

Brother/Sister in the Lord

Stand between you and Jesus?

Having said, that I think it’s important that we realize the bottom line.

People NEED to get to Jesus!

They NEED to trust Jesus!

We are challenged to let those in need see Jesus so that they will run to Him.