Mathew 17:14-27
Preached Sunday Morning February 8, 2009
Introduction:
Have you ever had a car that badly needed a tune up? I remember several old vehicles I had with big eight cylinder engines. When all was well, the engine would roar into action, catapulting the vehicle into action. Sometimes dirt and grime would foul the spark plugs so that all eight cylinders would not work. The engine would chug, chug, and labor. The gas would not last, and the old one ton ford van would barely get out of its own way.
Some kind men at Scranton Revival Baptist Church helped me to change my plugs and wires. All of a sudden, all eight cylinders worked again, and I was running on full power.
Our Christian life has some similarities to those old eight cylinder engines. If there is a lack in one or more areas of our life, the momentum of our success is greatly reduced. This morning we will see three areas of power available to the born again Christian. Perhaps you need a tune up in one or more of these areas so that you can be restored to full power Christianity.
I. The Power of Deliverance
A. People will look to believers for that power.
Matthew 17:14-16
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
1. They recognize satanic bondage
2. They see that you are no longer bound
3. They seek your input
B. You must be running on full power in order to help.
C. Jesus has all the power that you need
Matthew 17:17-18
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
1. Power over demons
2. Power available to Jesus’ servants.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
D. Repair the connection to this power of deliverance
Matthew 17:19-21
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
1. Unbelief blocks power
2. Repentance restores power
3. Prayer and fasting boosts power.
II. The Power of Sustaining Grace
Matthew 17:22-23
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
A. Found in total submission to God’s will.
James 4:7-10
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
B. Found in total dependence upon Jesus
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
C. Found in total trust in God’s Plan
Matthew 26:39
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
III. The Power of a Proper Perspective
Matthew 17:24-27
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
A. The tribute was a temple tax
B. Jesus was temple royalty and did not need to pay that tax.
C. Jesus paid that tax in order to reach the most people possible
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
D. We must have a souls first perspective in all that we do.
1 Corinthians 9:18-22
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.