No Freedom Without FaithNo Freedom Without Faith

Luke 9:37-43Luke 9:37-43

Jesus came to establish a Kingdom.The kingdom Is and is Not Yet

• The world as it was – Genesis 1-2• The world as it is – Genesis 3 • The world as it will be – Genesis 3:15

How do we live free in the mean time?

Luke 9:37-4037 On the next day, when they had come down from

the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at 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 shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

Luke 9:4141 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted

generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

Who is Jesus rebuking?

Faces of Faithlessness• Irreligious – Not represented in this account

– Problem: system (govt., religion, biology)– Solution: fix the systems…

• Moralist – Jewish Scribes – Problem: bad people.– Solution: fix the bad people (or get rid of them).

• Churchanity – Disciples– Problem: sin.– Solution: just “add” Jesus…

Mark 9:2020 And they brought the boy to him. And when

the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:21-2321 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this

been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Luke 9:42-43a42 While he was coming, the demon threw him

to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

Matthew 17:19-2019 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and

said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “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 will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 9:28-2928 And when he had entered the house, his

disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”