2. 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?

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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?