Author: coachdkeith

Jesus will always heal us, it’s just a matter of faith…

Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]”

What a gem of a verse. I don’t mean to say that anyvorher verse is not amazing or welcome. However, there is a treasure in here that I had no idea about. What a perfect instance for this show up in.

The quote is from the father of the possessed boy as he is asked by Jesus if he believes. The response from the father is, “I do believe; help me with my unbelief.” When Jesus heard this, His heart must ahve been so full. It is an incredibly hoped filled statement, and whether or not it comes at a desperate point in his life or not makes no difference. He was full of Faith. That is all Jesus wants from us.

It is through our imperfect faith. Through our lack of tradition and lack of ritual, Jesus finds our hearts on display. Our true selves. He does not want us to pretend. If we hurt to understand Him, then He will show us. It is not necessary for us to pretend to know Him. It is simply necessary to want to know Him. That is enough. And our God is a God of Enough. He will then provide the surplus on our lives.

So tonight, Jesus I ask you, “I believe in You Jesus, help me with my unbelief!” #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Peter, James, and John are first hand witnesses to this amazing event…

Mark 9:5-13
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

The most obvious miracle in these verses is the Transconfiguration itself. Jesus glowing, and Elijah and Moses appearing before the apostles. An amazing miracle indeed. Jesus is still teaching though. We must receive the lesson.

Peter asks if he should but up three tents for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. He also says that it is good that they are there. Peter is eager to please. The issue here perhaps, is that Peter seems to be running ahead before instruction is given.

Many times I have tried to do what I think should be done without praying and placing the plans before the Lord. I will probably do it again soon. My intentions are good, but all that I plan to do must be placed at the feet of God for approval. To act on my own feelings will only bring either utter failure, or only a very small measure of temporary success.

Today we must not run a had or fall behind of where Jesus wants us to be. We must not assume we know what God wants us to do before asking Him. In prayer, we must place all of our well intentioned plans before the Lord for His approval. If our plans are acted upon with the approval of God, we can never fail.

One of the most powerful, if not the most powerful lines in these verses is, “This is my son, whom I have sent. LISTEN to Him!” It ends with an exclamation point. This is our instruction. We must listen to Him in all we do. In order to listen, you must first be able to hear. To hear Him, you must pray to Him.

Amen.
DK

Truth…

Mark 9:1-4
1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

What a scene. Jesus is transfigured and transformed into something amazing. Proof of who He was was right before them. Not only did He change, but Elijah and Moses appear before them. It was a sign.

This sign was meant to be seen. Not for proof, but rather for confirmation in front of man. I love the rsponses to come from Peter, James, and John. You will see their hearts, as Jesus did. This was truly a miracle. #JesusSaves

Amen.
DK

Jesus is speaking to all of us…

Mark 8:34-38
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

It is our turn. Our turn to do His will in our lives, and cast aside our own. It is is time to listen to Him and head His words of instruction. For the day will come, when we will stand in front of the Father and Creator of this Universe and answer to Him for what our lives have stood for.

Do not let another day pass by without calling out to Him. There is no formal way of doing it. There is no right or wrong way to call for Him. Try this…go find a room by yourself, close the door, lift up your arms to the sky and simply ask God to come into your life. That’s it. He will come into any area that you ask Him to. From there, it is now His responsibility to ensure your success and significance as a Christian.

Amen
DK

This was the only way. Jesus knew it…

Mark 8:31-33
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Just the other day I had this amazing confirmation of getting to know Jesus better. I was waiting to coach in the tournament in Houston and suddenly the veil seemed to be lifted off of my eyes and I felt like I knew Jesus more than ever before. It’s hard to explain, but I know that it is coming from the fact that I seek him daily, and every night. He is my Shepard.

When I read the above verses, and I read of Peter rebuking Jesus, I can really understand Peter’s reaction. Ad we know Peter is of this wolrs, as are we. What I like most though is the response from Jesus. He rebukes Peter. Rebuke means a sharp disapproval of a particular act or something said.

The understanding that He has given is one of a true teacher. The beat teacher. A teacher who had to learn the Law that He passed down as a man, not as God. He learned the Law perfectly so that He could clarify it for us.  That is what He came to do. So, Peter is looking through the eyes of this world, while Jesus looks through the eyes of eternity and of salvation. I love to be rebuked. The direction that it sends you and the valuable lessons learned from Him are amazing. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK