Matthew 17:14-24 – Focus On Faith – Bible study

Matt 17:14-21 Focus On Faith ************ went to the hospital on Friday, May 12, with what was thought to be bad gallbladder. The doctors were to operate on Sunday, May 14, Mothers Day, to remove the gallbladder, but the surgery was stopped when they discovered cancer. Over the next few weeks, it was determined that chemotherapy was needed and plans were put into motion to start those treatments, but the doctor called ***** in last Friday to tell him that the last numbers on his liver reveal that the it is too far gone. For that reason, hospice has been called in and the doctors are saying that ***** might live for only a few more weeks. Such news is always shocking and even devastating. Some might wonder if God has failed ***** or us. Some might wonder what faith does. Some might doubt God at all. Let me state with clarity, ***** has not doubted God at all. His faith is strong and he is preparing himself for whatever Gods will is. But for a few moments this morning, let us consider these issues. I. \#18\ We are in a warfare. Matt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. A. This boy had a sickness and the Bible tells us the cause was the devil. 1. The disease the young man had was a disease of the mind which affected his behavior. 2. I am absolutely NOT saying that all mental disease is caused by the devil. 3. However, I will say that some mental disease is caused by the devil. This boys disease was and I am certain that the devil had not retired out of that field of affliction. B. Not only so, the Bible makes it clear that some physical maladies are caused by the devil. Matt 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. C. From the book of Job, we learn that financial loss, health problems, and even death itself can all come as a result of Satanic attacks. D. So what happens to our bodies and in our bodies can be affected by spiritual beings, demons and the devil. 1. To forget that is to forget a key truth of the Scriptures. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 2. In a day when people are becoming more heath consciences, we need to spend more time before Doctor Jesus and far less time being influenced by the devil. a. It may be that more prayer would require fewer bills. b. It may be health doesnt come only with exercise of the body but also by exercise of the spirit. c. It may be that leaving off unhealthy habits would not do our bodies as much good as leaving off unholy habit. d. The words holy and healthy may be closer related than we ever dreamed. E. Before you walk out thinking that I believe all sickness is demonic in nature, let me also say the devil is not our only enemy. Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. 1. We are living in a sin-cursed world and in sin-cursed bodies. 2. That means that some of what happens to us is just the natural progression of sin. a. We call it the "cycle of life." b. That is a pleasant way of putting it. c. It would be better called the inevitable destination of death. F. So the warfare we are in is against the devil, sin, and the curse of sin. And in this life, we all lose. 1. Even the great healers die. 2. Paul, Elisha, Peter – All raised people from the dead but they all died. 3. I point this out to you not to disillusion you but to help you prepare for the inevitable. a. We are all sinners and so, in this life, we will all lose. b. To deny that is not only foolish but worse, it is false doctrine. c. But until that times comes and even when it comes II. Faith Is the Victory. A. This is an absolutely true statement. 1. Notice Jesus rebuke. Matt 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 2. Jesus made it very clear to His disciples that the reason they could not fend off the devils attack on this lad was because they lacked faith. 3. That was a common rebuke. Mt 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Mt 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Mt 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. B. Why is faith so important? 1. Faith is the bridge from God to man. a. Jesus is the Bridge from man to God but faith is the bridge from God to man. b. God never guarantees us anything that does not come on the bridge of faith. (There is the Mercy Bridge as well but those things are not guaranteed.) c. Even Gods greatest gifts and promises must travel that bridge. (1) Salvation Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (2) Prayer Mr 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (3) The Word Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (4) EVERYTHING Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him. 2. By faith, Gods supernatural will is brought into this world. a. God desires to do great things in this world, but He will not do all of the things He desires if we will not walk in faith. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. b. Now, I must emphasize. We are speaking of Gods supernatural will being brought into this world, not ours. (1) Our claiming something in no way obligates God to do it. (2) That is a blasphemy that reduced God to mans servant. (3) However, that erroneous teaching of faith is no worse than faith-dead believers who wont believe God for anything. (4) As usual, we have two extremes in faith that are both equally wrong and insulting to God. c. Faith has a process. (1) Faith must always be built on Gods known will. James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (a) It is not Gods will to give us everything we imagine. (b) In fact, I believe it is NOT Gods will to give us most of the things we imagine because we are carnal wanting the things that will make us happy. (c) How do we learn Gods will? Matt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. i. Some believe this means we must beg God to give us what He doesnt want us to have, as if we are to change Gods mind. You and I will never change Gods mind about anything. ii. I believe this means we have to fast and pray to find out Gods will. (2) Then we must pray and fast, believing. (a) At this point, we must pray and keep on praying, knock and keep on knocking, seek and keep on seekingalways in faith. (b) Why does God want us to pray, fast, and trust for so long? i. I dont know. ii. Maybe so that we will know it is God that gives not doctors, banks, or chance. (3) We must wait on God to give it. (a) The last step in getting from God is patience. Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (b) The last step is just as hard as the first. III. Truths about Faith A. Faith can be shared. 1. Outsiders can interceded for someone else. James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 2. It takes a lot of faith on the part of others to intervene for someone else. 3. Shared faith still has the same requirements: praying, fasting, believing, and waiting. 4. And it demands a righteous and holy life on the part of those doing the interceding. James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. B. You cannot guess the will of God. 1. God does not honor guessing the will of God. 2. You must know it. 3. How? Pray and fast until you do. C. Faith cannot quit. 1. A faith that quits is not necessarily wrong but weak. 2. A faith that fizzles before the finish had a fatal flaw from the first. As I close let me say that what the doctor has said is based on his education, experience, and on statistics. I appreciate doctors and believe they give us the best they can give. However, if God wants to, God can heal. It makes no difference to God whether cancer is large or small, stage 1 or stage 4, treatable or terminal. The only thing required for God to heal is that it be His will to heal and the only way we are going to know what is will is in this matter is to fast and pray. Fast and pray first to know Gods will. Fast, pray, and believe to bring Gods will from heaven to earth. Fast, pray, believe, and wait until God brings His will to earth. I recommend we focus on faith.