Pastor Jack Peters
September 25, 2022 at 10:30 AM
MARK 9:14-27
It's All About Jesus
Mark 9:14-27 - PAGE 1
TROUBLE ABOUNDING
The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to get photos of a great forest fire. Smoke at the scene hampered him and he asked his home office to hire a plane. Arrangements were made and he was told to go at once to a nearby airport, where the plane would be waiting. When he arrived at the airport, a plane was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, “Let’s go! Let’s go!” The pilot swung the plane into the wind and they soon were in the air. “Fly over the north side of the fire,” yelled the photographer, “and make three or four low level passes.” “Why?” asked the pilot. “Because I’m going to take pictures,” cried the photographer. “I’m a photographer and photographers take pictures!”
After a pause the pilot said, “You mean you’re not the instructor?” http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=1603
This is just one of many jokes which I have heard or told about trouble. But if you’ve even been in trouble, and you have, you know that trouble is usually no laughing matter.
Trouble often follows high points in our lives. I’ve learned that when there are high points in my experiences, the very lows are sure to follow!
Last week we saw Jesus and three of his apostles, Peter, James, and John on a mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them, and they saw Jesus in his glorified state as God and heard the voice of the Father.
As they come down the mountain to meet the other nine disciples, they walk right into trouble!
DISCIPLES IN TROUBLE – Vss. 14-15 – We’ve failed too.
He showed up just in time! We don’t need to wait for Him to show up! He’s here!
Psalm 46:1, Psalm 55:22
BOY IN TROUBLE – Vss. 16-18
Vs. 16 –When Jesus is brought into a problem, He’ll take over if you let Him!
GENERATION IN TROUBLE – Vs. 19
Mark 3:14-15, Mark 6:12-13, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:1-7 – We can’t share what we don’t have!
J.D. Jones – “What a person can give out depends upon what he has within. The power he exerts depends upon the power he possesses.” J.D. Jones, Commentary on Mark, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kregel Publications, 1992) pp. 305-306)
FATHER IN TROUBLE – Vss. 20-24
Vs. 23 - 1 John 5:14-15, John 14:12-13
LORD OVER TROUBLE – Vss. 25-27
ANTIDOTE FOR TROUBLE – Vss. 29-30, Matthew 17:20-21
Vs. 29 – The problem was so great that the only solution was believing prayer! Matthew 7:7-8, Mark 11:22-24, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 2:8, James 5:16-18, 1 Peter 4:7
Colossians 4:2 (CSB) - Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.
WHEN TROUBLES ABOUND, THE ANSWER
