• A Great Attitude– The father came “kneeling down” (Mt. 17:14)– He spoke with respect:

• “Teacher” (Mark 9:17), “Lord” (Matt. 17:15)• “I beg You, look on my son” (Luke 9:38); “Have mercy” (Matt. 17:15)

– He passionately presented his case:• “He is my only child” (Luke 9:38)• “He is an epileptic and suffers severely” (Matt. 17:15)• “He has a mute spirit” (Mark 9:17), and was also deaf (Mark 9:25)• “Seizes him, and he suddenly cries out…convulses him” (Luke 9:39)• “It throws him down…foams…gnashes…and becomes rigid” (Mk. 9:18)• “Thrown both into the fire and into the water” (Mark 9:22)• “And it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him” (Lk. 9:39)

– Lessons for us?

• A Great Disappointment– The father told Jesus about His disciples:

• “I brought [my son] to Your disciples” (Matt. 17:16)• “I begged Your disciples to cast it out” (Luke 9:40)• “But they could not” (Mk. 9:18); “they could not cure him” (Mt. 17:16)

– Jesus had given His disciples power to cast out demons (Mk. 6:13)• They were unable on this occasion due to their lack of faith

– Jesus “answered him and said, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?’” (Mk. 9:19)• The lack of faith on that occasion embraced everyone present (the

disciples, Scribes and multitude)• One can hear the disappointment in Jesus’ voice.

– Lessons for us?

• A Great Opportunity– Jesus commanded that the boy be brought to Him (Mk. 9:19)– The Great Physician questioned the father

• “How long has this been happening to him?” (Mark 9:21)• “From childhood” (Mark 9:21)• An opportunity for God’s works to be manifest (cf. John 9:3)

– The father begged, “If you can do anything….”• Jesus took his words and echoed them back to him:

– “If you can do…” “If you can believe”– “Do anything…” “All things are possible”

– The father cried out with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” • He confessed his faith, admitted wasn’t enough & asked for more.• Faith is a constantly growing process.

– Lessons for us?

• A Great Display– As the boy was approaching and the demon saw Jesus:

• “The demon threw him down and convulsed him” (Luke 9:42)• “He fell on the ground & wallowed, foaming at the mouth” (Mk. 9:20)

– Jesus “rebuked the demon” (Matt. 17:18)• “I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” (Mk 9:25)

– “And it came out of him” (Matt. 17:18)• “The spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out” (Mk 9:26)• “The child was cured from that very hour” (Matt. 17:18)• “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God” (Luke 9:43)

– When Jesus “healed the child” (Lk. 9:42) and the demon came out:• “Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose” (Mk 9:27)• “And Jesus gave him back to his father” (Luke 9:42)

– Lessons for us?

• A Great Faith– There is great power in prayer and fasting.

• Lack of faith can be traced to lack of prayer. • “In everything by prayer and supplication…” (Phil. 4:6)• Prayer and unworldliness can do much good for the Lord!

– There is great power in faith.• “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say…” (Matt. 17:20)

– Move mountains?• Faith in God enables men to remove hills of difficulty blocking path

– Anything God has called us to do, we can accomplish (Mt. 17:20)– Lessons for us?