Bible Study Lessons

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

 

Date:   Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Series: Spiritual Warfare

Reference Scripture:  Mark 9:23-24

Today’s Discussion:    “If You Believe, Great Things Will Happen”

Do we really know how to walk in victory?  Not if we don’t believe. Can we be victorious while we are engaged in spiritual warfare? (Read: II Chronicles 20:20)

·         Believe – [aw-man] – to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; to be true or certain

·         Prophets – [naw-bee] – inspired man

·         Prosper – [tsaw-lakh] – to push forward

The lesson aim is to encourage believers to reconnect to Christ through faith. More importantly, we have been commissioned by the LORD to remind the believers that “power comes from Faith”.  How do we obtain faith in God? (Read: Romans 10:17)

The text sheds light on the spoken words of the Lord Jesus regarding the believer’s struggle to increase their faith.  Most believers are engaged in some level of spiritual warfare.  If we hope to be victorious, we must increase our faith in God’s ability to solve our problems and calm the storms in our lives.  The lack of FAITH has become the main source of discouragement, disappointment, discourse in the church, and desperation of believers.  The church seems to be powerless against temptation.  To validate our premise we refer to Jesus’ indictment of the church to expose the source of their problems.

(Read: Matthew 6:30-34; Matthew 14:28-31; Mark 4:37-40)

Verses 19 and 20 reveal the truth of why the disciples were powerless against “this kind” of demonic spirit. Jesus responds, “because of your unbelief”.  Commentaries conclude that the disciples’ faith (power) may have been impacted due the absence of Christ or because of a lack of discipline to pray and fast to maintain their faith (power).

In verses 23-24 Christ pulls a reverse on this hurting father.  Rather than react to the father’s disbelief, Jesus challenges the father to activate the healing power of God through renewed faith.  Jesus unveils the solution to our problems.  Jesus crystallizes the promise of victory over the enemy.  The power to overcome lives in us and works through us and for us. 

What are the key factors in Jesus’ response?

Paul consummates his revelation of Abraham’s success in Rom 4:20 – “Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” (NLT) Faith is our access point to God’s awesome power.