Man Praying on a Cliff With Mark 9 Verse 23by MuzFamily
9:23Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Jesus spoke to a distressed father seeking help for his afflicted son, answering his doubt with a call to believe. He turned back the father's question of ability, showing there is no lack of power on His part and placing the condition on the father himself, so that the help sought depends on believing faith. All things are possible to the one who believes because all things are possible with God, and faith lays hold of His power so that what is impossible for man becomes possible through Him. Such faith is not sight, feeling, or present reality but confidence in what is hoped for and assurance about what is unseen, relying on Christ's mercy and promise to receive all who come rather than on personal worth or merit. It must be exercised personally in daily experience with God, surrendering self, claiming His promises, and trusting His faithfulness to overcome every evil trait, resist every temptation, and purify the life.
Setting of the Saying
The saying was addressed to a distressed father who sought help for his afflicted son, answering the father's doubt with a call to believe. Hope was stirred in him when he was encouraged to believe, and he trusted the merciful Saviour while admitting that his faith needed help. Such weak, struggling reliance was not in vain, for faith made possible the help he sought.
The son was afflicted by a dumb, tormenting evil spirit that caused convulsions, wallowing and foaming, with suffering no mortal could relieve. Jesus freed the suffering child from Satan's power as the mighty Redeemer, commanding the spirit to leave and torment him no more. He lifted him by the hand and restored him to his father in perfect soundness of mind and body, completely delivered and freed forever from the demon's power. In this setting the saying connects the possibility of healing with faith, showing that faith in Jesus makes divine help possible even when need appears beyond human power and that Christ has power to heal and deliver soul and body.
The disciples had failed to cast out the spirit despite having previously received authority over unclean spirits. Their failure brought humiliation and gave the scribes opportunity to challenge them and Jesus.
The healing followed only a few short hours after the transfiguration, showing in brief space the extremes of glory and grief beheld by the favored disciples. On the mount Jesus had stood glorified and transfigured by the glory of God, talking with messengers of heaven and proclaimed the Son of God by the Father's voice issuing from radiant glory, then He descended to meet a revolting spectacle of a lunatic child with distorted countenance gnashing his teeth in spasms of agony. The healing illustrates redemption, as the Son of God descends from glory to save the lost. The child's severe conflicts do not mean everyone must experience the same trials in order to come to Jesus, who is instead to be trusted by looking away from personal weakness to His power for victory.
Meaning of Believing
The “if” lies not with Christ but with the one who comes to Him, for there is no lack of power on His part and the help sought depends on the seeker’s faith, so that believing faith is the condition that opens the way for Him to deliver. The words were spoken in open battle between the Prince of life and the prince of the powers of darkness over a captive long held by Satan, while angels of light and hosts of evil angels pressed near unseen to behold the conflict. For a moment Jesus permitted the evil spirit to display his power, so that beholders might comprehend the deliverance about to be wrought.
When Jesus called the doubting father to believe, discouragement gave way to hope and trust was kindled toward the merciful Saviour. The father trusted while openly admitting that his faith needed help, recognizing his weak faith and appealing for aid against his remaining unbelief. Such weak, struggling trust was not in vain, for it was met with the freeing and complete restoration of his son.
Faith is not sight, feeling, present reality, or something already seen. It is confidence in what is hoped for, the substance of hoped-for things, and assurance and evidence about what is unseen. It means relying on Christ, His mercy and His promise to receive all who come, rather than on personal worth, merit, or self-reliance. Even helpless, unworthy sinners who know their helplessness can therefore come, trust, and be sure they will not perish or be cast out.
Believing means believing the naked promises of God and walking out by faith let appearances be what they may. It relies with firm confidence even when pain continues, weakness increases, feeling is gone, and death seems near. Faith revives as the promises are arrayed before the mind in thirst for salvation and assurance of love, upheld by the prayers of others and continued in silent prayer. It reaches out to grasp the promises of heaven, ventures all on the slightest token of favor without waiting for full evidence, and refuses to let go until heaven answers.
Believing means trusting God’s word and taking hold of His divine nature by faith. It looks to Christ as the only one who can save completely, because He has all power in heaven and earth. His glory is bound up with the believer’s success, and He shares human need as a sympathetic Saviour through His intercession and atoning sacrifice, through which pardon, justification, and sanctification may be sought.
Power Given Through Faith
All things are possible to the one who believes because all things are possible with God, and faith lays hold of His power so that what is impossible for a person becomes possible through God when that person believes. Living faith commits the keeping of the soul to God, for His promises do not fail and faith is the only limit placed upon them, and this assurance applies to putting away sin and correcting defects of character. Such faith is not sight, feeling, or something already seen, but the substance of hoped-for things and evidence of unseen things, resting on what is hoped for and giving assurance about what is unseen. To abide in it is to set aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, claim and apply His promises in every circumstance, and trust His faithfulness to work out His purposes through sanctification of character unto the fruits of the Spirit in life and character. Each person must exercise this faith personally and gain a daily experience with God rather than depend on others to believe, and such faith is necessary to represent Him to the world.
Faith connects the believer with heaven and brings strength to face evil and temptation and to cope with, resist, and overcome the powers of darkness. In Christ God has provided power and means to overcome every evil trait, subdue every sinful trait, and resist every temptation however strong. This victory comes through faith in His might and sufficient grace rather than through unaided resolutions or human strength, for living faith relies on God's unfailing promises and on Christ's power, not on human strength, to put away sin and resist temptation. Humble, trusting faith is linked to the manifestation of God's power and moves that power, and those who have such faith may expect God's power and spiritual gifts to be manifested.
Faith makes it possible to reach the heights of God's purpose and is an essential element of prevailing prayer, laying hold of God's promises and persevering without waiting for full evidence that prayer has been heard. Believing opens the way to the heights God desires His people to gain, reaching out to grasp the promises of heaven, venturing all on the slightest token of favor without waiting for full evidence, and refusing to let go until heaven answers, as seen when Elijah persevered in prayer until rain came. Faith in God joined with trust in prayer penetrates even the darkest trouble and discouragement to bring help, light, hope, strength and happiness. Believers who place full and whole trust in Him can prevail over opposition and enemies, overcome the world, and see God do great things for them, while lack of faith and trust brings fear, distress, anxious suspicion, and discouragement, and Christ is an unfailing source of help and strength to those who trust Him to act when they pray.
Faith in Christ's power to heal soul and body is shown in physical, mental, and spiritual restoration, which bears witness to His miracle-working power. Faith also makes it possible to continue God's work despite obstacles, giving confidence like Paul's, whose experience of Christ gave him confidence that no difficulty made his work impossible as he relied on Christ for strength and direction. Faith and prayer are to accomplish the deliverance of people enslaved by Satan, among whom Christ's servants have work to do, for faith in Christ can accomplish what is needed to free them and makes divine help possible. This possibility belongs to those connected with the light of the Sun of Righteousness and cooperating with God, who works through divine and human agencies to save, lift up the oppressed, lead His people into greater light, and guide each person toward heaven.
Living by Faith Daily
All things are possible to the one who believes, and that faith in Christ must be exercised personally rather than depending on another to believe on one's behalf. It is built through a daily experience with God, and it is necessary for representing Him to the world.
To abide in faith is to set aside feeling and selfish desires, to walk humbly with God, and to claim and apply His promises in every circumstance. It is to trust His faithfulness completely to work out His purposes in the heart and life through sanctification of character. Faith is not sight, feeling, present reality, or something already seen, but confidence in what is hoped for and assurance and evidence about what is unseen. As faith works through love it purifies the soul, and a life of such faith bears the fruits of the Spirit in life and character.
Faith is applied by surrendering self and its worries and trusting God to lead, guide, and sanctify through the truth. It refuses to dwell on unbelief and difficulties or to speak unbelief, since dwelling on difficulties fosters unbelief. To live by every word from God and to look to Jesus are expressions of this trust, calling for pressing on in reliance on Christ, through which living by God's word brings rich grace.
Living faith commits the keeping of the soul to God, trusting that His promises do not fail and that faith is the only limit placed on them. This assurance applies to putting away sin, correcting defects of character, and resisting temptation. Such victory does not come by unaided resolutions or human strength, but through faith in His might and sufficient grace, relying on Christ's power to overcome the powers of darkness.
Firm faith personally takes hold of God's promises and joins faith with prayer and effort, bringing assurance of seeing God's salvation. Believing means trusting God's word, taking hold of His divine nature, and bringing sincere requests to Him in prayer, which is a privilege through which God answers prayer. God freely gives good gifts to those who ask, pledges to hear and answer, cannot exhaust His resources, and will not disappoint anyone who comes to Him sincerely.
Because God is at work in believers, they can firmly choose to do His will and trust Him completely. What is impossible for a person becomes possible through God when that person believes and follows His counsel, with human inability revealing God's sufficiency. Those whom God uses begin the work He appoints, trust His help, and let His mind and love shape their lives and service.
Faith in Jesus makes salvation possible for the one who believes that Jesus is willing to save. It looks away from personal weakness to His power, trusts Christ, relies on Him for victory, and continues to speak words of faith and hope. Such speaking answers despair and helps it pass away unto victory. The severe conflicts of the afflicted child do not mean that everyone must experience the same trials in order to come to Jesus.
Jesus spoke to a distressed father seeking help for his afflicted son, answering his doubt with a call to believe. He turned back the father's question of ability, showing there is no lack of power on His part and placing the condition on the father himself, so that the help sought depends on believing faith. All things are possible to the one who believes because all things are possible with God, and faith lays hold of His power so that what is impossible for man becomes possible through Him. Such faith is not sight, feeling, or present reality but confidence in what is hoped for and assurance about what is unseen, relying on Christ's mercy and promise to receive all who come rather than on personal worth or merit. It must be exercised personally in daily experience with God, surrendering self, claiming His promises, and trusting His faithfulness to overcome every evil trait, resist every temptation, and purify the life.
Setting of the Saying
The saying was addressed to a distressed father who sought help for his afflicted son, answering the father's doubt with a call to believe. Hope was stirred in him when he was encouraged to believe, and he trusted the merciful Saviour while admitting that his faith needed help. Such weak, struggling reliance was not in vain, for faith made possible the help he sought.
The son was afflicted by a dumb, tormenting evil spirit that caused convulsions, wallowing and foaming, with suffering no mortal could relieve. Jesus freed the suffering child from Satan's power as the mighty Redeemer, commanding the spirit to leave and torment him no more. He lifted him by the hand and restored him to his father in perfect soundness of mind and body, completely delivered and freed forever from the demon's power. In this setting the saying connects the possibility of healing with faith, showing that faith in Jesus makes divine help possible even when need appears beyond human power and that Christ has power to heal and deliver soul and body.
The disciples had failed to cast out the spirit despite having previously received authority over unclean spirits. Their failure brought humiliation and gave the scribes opportunity to challenge them and Jesus.
The healing followed only a few short hours after the transfiguration, showing in brief space the extremes of glory and grief beheld by the favored disciples. On the mount Jesus had stood glorified and transfigured by the glory of God, talking with messengers of heaven and proclaimed the Son of God by the Father's voice issuing from radiant glory, then He descended to meet a revolting spectacle of a lunatic child with distorted countenance gnashing his teeth in spasms of agony. The healing illustrates redemption, as the Son of God descends from glory to save the lost. The child's severe conflicts do not mean everyone must experience the same trials in order to come to Jesus, who is instead to be trusted by looking away from personal weakness to His power for victory.
Meaning of Believing
The “if” lies not with Christ but with the one who comes to Him, for there is no lack of power on His part and the help sought depends on the seeker’s faith, so that believing faith is the condition that opens the way for Him to deliver. The words were spoken in open battle between the Prince of life and the prince of the powers of darkness over a captive long held by Satan, while angels of light and hosts of evil angels pressed near unseen to behold the conflict. For a moment Jesus permitted the evil spirit to display his power, so that beholders might comprehend the deliverance about to be wrought.
When Jesus called the doubting father to believe, discouragement gave way to hope and trust was kindled toward the merciful Saviour. The father trusted while openly admitting that his faith needed help, recognizing his weak faith and appealing for aid against his remaining unbelief. Such weak, struggling trust was not in vain, for it was met with the freeing and complete restoration of his son.
Faith is not sight, feeling, present reality, or something already seen. It is confidence in what is hoped for, the substance of hoped-for things, and assurance and evidence about what is unseen. It means relying on Christ, His mercy and His promise to receive all who come, rather than on personal worth, merit, or self-reliance. Even helpless, unworthy sinners who know their helplessness can therefore come, trust, and be sure they will not perish or be cast out.
Believing means believing the naked promises of God and walking out by faith let appearances be what they may. It relies with firm confidence even when pain continues, weakness increases, feeling is gone, and death seems near. Faith revives as the promises are arrayed before the mind in thirst for salvation and assurance of love, upheld by the prayers of others and continued in silent prayer. It reaches out to grasp the promises of heaven, ventures all on the slightest token of favor without waiting for full evidence, and refuses to let go until heaven answers.
Believing means trusting God’s word and taking hold of His divine nature by faith. It looks to Christ as the only one who can save completely, because He has all power in heaven and earth. His glory is bound up with the believer’s success, and He shares human need as a sympathetic Saviour through His intercession and atoning sacrifice, through which pardon, justification, and sanctification may be sought.
Power Given Through Faith
All things are possible to the one who believes because all things are possible with God, and faith lays hold of His power so that what is impossible for a person becomes possible through God when that person believes. Living faith commits the keeping of the soul to God, for His promises do not fail and faith is the only limit placed upon them, and this assurance applies to putting away sin and correcting defects of character. Such faith is not sight, feeling, or something already seen, but the substance of hoped-for things and evidence of unseen things, resting on what is hoped for and giving assurance about what is unseen. To abide in it is to set aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, claim and apply His promises in every circumstance, and trust His faithfulness to work out His purposes through sanctification of character unto the fruits of the Spirit in life and character. Each person must exercise this faith personally and gain a daily experience with God rather than depend on others to believe, and such faith is necessary to represent Him to the world.
Faith connects the believer with heaven and brings strength to face evil and temptation and to cope with, resist, and overcome the powers of darkness. In Christ God has provided power and means to overcome every evil trait, subdue every sinful trait, and resist every temptation however strong. This victory comes through faith in His might and sufficient grace rather than through unaided resolutions or human strength, for living faith relies on God's unfailing promises and on Christ's power, not on human strength, to put away sin and resist temptation. Humble, trusting faith is linked to the manifestation of God's power and moves that power, and those who have such faith may expect God's power and spiritual gifts to be manifested.
Faith makes it possible to reach the heights of God's purpose and is an essential element of prevailing prayer, laying hold of God's promises and persevering without waiting for full evidence that prayer has been heard. Believing opens the way to the heights God desires His people to gain, reaching out to grasp the promises of heaven, venturing all on the slightest token of favor without waiting for full evidence, and refusing to let go until heaven answers, as seen when Elijah persevered in prayer until rain came. Faith in God joined with trust in prayer penetrates even the darkest trouble and discouragement to bring help, light, hope, strength and happiness. Believers who place full and whole trust in Him can prevail over opposition and enemies, overcome the world, and see God do great things for them, while lack of faith and trust brings fear, distress, anxious suspicion, and discouragement, and Christ is an unfailing source of help and strength to those who trust Him to act when they pray.
Faith in Christ's power to heal soul and body is shown in physical, mental, and spiritual restoration, which bears witness to His miracle-working power. Faith also makes it possible to continue God's work despite obstacles, giving confidence like Paul's, whose experience of Christ gave him confidence that no difficulty made his work impossible as he relied on Christ for strength and direction. Faith and prayer are to accomplish the deliverance of people enslaved by Satan, among whom Christ's servants have work to do, for faith in Christ can accomplish what is needed to free them and makes divine help possible. This possibility belongs to those connected with the light of the Sun of Righteousness and cooperating with God, who works through divine and human agencies to save, lift up the oppressed, lead His people into greater light, and guide each person toward heaven.
Living by Faith Daily
All things are possible to the one who believes, and that faith in Christ must be exercised personally rather than depending on another to believe on one's behalf. It is built through a daily experience with God, and it is necessary for representing Him to the world.
To abide in faith is to set aside feeling and selfish desires, to walk humbly with God, and to claim and apply His promises in every circumstance. It is to trust His faithfulness completely to work out His purposes in the heart and life through sanctification of character. Faith is not sight, feeling, present reality, or something already seen, but confidence in what is hoped for and assurance and evidence about what is unseen. As faith works through love it purifies the soul, and a life of such faith bears the fruits of the Spirit in life and character.
Faith is applied by surrendering self and its worries and trusting God to lead, guide, and sanctify through the truth. It refuses to dwell on unbelief and difficulties or to speak unbelief, since dwelling on difficulties fosters unbelief. To live by every word from God and to look to Jesus are expressions of this trust, calling for pressing on in reliance on Christ, through which living by God's word brings rich grace.
Living faith commits the keeping of the soul to God, trusting that His promises do not fail and that faith is the only limit placed on them. This assurance applies to putting away sin, correcting defects of character, and resisting temptation. Such victory does not come by unaided resolutions or human strength, but through faith in His might and sufficient grace, relying on Christ's power to overcome the powers of darkness.
Firm faith personally takes hold of God's promises and joins faith with prayer and effort, bringing assurance of seeing God's salvation. Believing means trusting God's word, taking hold of His divine nature, and bringing sincere requests to Him in prayer, which is a privilege through which God answers prayer. God freely gives good gifts to those who ask, pledges to hear and answer, cannot exhaust His resources, and will not disappoint anyone who comes to Him sincerely.
Because God is at work in believers, they can firmly choose to do His will and trust Him completely. What is impossible for a person becomes possible through God when that person believes and follows His counsel, with human inability revealing God's sufficiency. Those whom God uses begin the work He appoints, trust His help, and let His mind and love shape their lives and service.
Faith in Jesus makes salvation possible for the one who believes that Jesus is willing to save. It looks away from personal weakness to His power, trusts Christ, relies on Him for victory, and continues to speak words of faith and hope. Such speaking answers despair and helps it pass away unto victory. The severe conflicts of the afflicted child do not mean that everyone must experience the same trials in order to come to Jesus.