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?