POWERLESS
MATTHEW 17:14-21
INTRODUCTION: In Matthew 10:1 we read that Christ gave the disciples power over and the authority to act against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. They were sent into Galilee to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. In addition to this Christ appointed and empowered 70 elders as point men or representatives of Christ to go into Judea and Perea. In Luke 10:17 we read the excited report of the seventy when they said, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." Because the disciples had cast out many demons during their tour in Judea, they confidently expected to deliver a demon-possessed boy brought to them by his father. It appeared that the boy was afflicted with epilepsy, which was aggravated by demon possession causing suicidal tendencies. The disciples attempted in vain to cast out the demon. They found themselves now powerless in this situation. Along with the father, they brought the child to Christ who promptly heals the child. They then asked Jesus in verse 19, "Why could not we cast him out?" Christ in commissioning us as His Ambassadors has given us power, that is kingdom authority, to be effective and efficient in His service and to live vibrant and victorious lives. Many, like the disciples, find themselves powerless, defeated and asking the same "Why?" Why is there such as lack of power in our lives? Why do we see so many not getting victory of sin in their lives? Why do we see so many weak, anemic, desperate, defeated, and dejected Christians? Why?
Before attempting to answer the "Why’s" of powerlessness, we must understand some of the effects or results of our powerless.
· Lack of power affects the life and testimony of believers.
- Lack of power results in a mediocre Christian life and an ineffective, embarrassing testimony
· Lack of power affects the work of the church
- Lack of power results in ministries going undermanned, needs going overlooked, programs being under funded, and workers being overtaxed.
· Lack of power affects the evangelization of the lost.
- Lack of power cause the world to question the validity of our faith and to question God and His ability and power.
Returning to the disciples’ question, "Why?" – why are we so powerless? I believe our powerlessness is the result of at least one of three things and more often than not is the result of the combination of all three.
I. "LITE" FAITH
A. We live in a time in which people have succumbed to advertising hype. "Liteness" is fashionable in our society. Lite is not necessarily always what it appears to be nor is it always good or beneficial. An example is a food product can be labeled "light in sodium" if the food has at least 50 percent less sodium than a reference food. It does not mean that it is low in sodium; it just has half the sodium of the referenced food. Lite does not always mean lite. When you compare Milky Way’s Lite© candy bar ounce to ounce with the regular bar, the lite bar actually contains a higher amount of sodium and carbohydrates, almost identical saturated fat, and less than 18% fewer calories. The public has also been misled with products like the "light" vegetable oil that is just light in color and the "lite" cheesecake that is just light in texture. Lite is also not good especially when it is applied to faith. The Bible declares, in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
B. Matthew 17:19-20 "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’ 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’."
C. Christ told the disciples it was their unbelief that drained their power.
D. In the parallel passage to our text, we read in Mark 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
E. Unbelief doubts Christ. It questions the power of Christ. It doubts the power of Christ within oneself. It questions the power of Christ within oneself to accomplish the will of God.
F. Beware of worshipping Jesus as the Son of God, and professing your faith in Him as the Savior of the world, while you blaspheme Him by the complete evidence in your daily life that He is powerless to do anything in and through you. - Oswald Chambers, Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 11.
G. Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
H. A lack of faith is indicative of a lack of walk with the Lord.
II. LACKADAISICAL LIVES
A. Before one can exercise authority or power one must submit to authority and power. Before one can lead they must learn how to follow. Before God’s power can flow through our lives we must submit to His authority and keep the channels open and clean for that power to flow through.
B. Matthew 14:25-30 "And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a spirit’; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [30 ] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."
C. Note that Peter had the power to walk on water while his gaze and walk were centered on Christ. When he took his eyes off Christ and looked at the world around him he lost his power.
D. Samson had power in his life until he violated his separation to God.
E. Like the eagle that sat down on the frozen ground to feed upon its prey, and when it would have arisen, found its great wings so frozen to the ice that it could never rise again but perished beside its costly pleasure; like the ship that sailed so close to the current that it was not possible to stem the awful tide that drove it over the abyss--so lackadaisical Christian men and women trifle with the world until they have neither heart nor strength to rise to their heavenly calling. – copied
F. Colossians 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
G. Philippians 3:7-10 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
III. LITTLE CONNECTIVITY
A. We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results. – R. A. Torrey
B. Matthew 17:21 "Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.”
C. How’s your power source? Are you plugged in? In his book Spiritual Stamina, Stuart Briscoe tells the story of a man who bought a new computer. Bringing his new prize home, he carefully opened the box, gingerly took the machine out, studied its manual, and connected the wires. Eagerly he flipped on the power switch--but nothing happened. Puzzled, the man switched the computer off and rechecked all the connections. He rounded up a screwdriver and fastened the wires more securely. He read again the relevant portion of the manual. Satisfied that he’d followed directions, he flipped the computer on--and again nothing happened. As his anger rose the man’s little girl walked into the room. Hi, Daddy!" her cheery voice rang out. "What a pretty computer! Can I plug it in?" –Moody
D. Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
E. Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails. - Watchman Nee, Christian Reader, Vol. 34.
F. 1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."
G. Little Prayer = Little Power, Some Prayer = Some Power; Much Prayer= Much Power.
H. In Point Man, Steve Farrar tells the story of George McCluskey. When McCluskey married and started a family, he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer, because he wanted his kids to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Every day between 11 a.m. and noon, he prayed for the next three generations. As the years went by, his two daughters committed their lives to Christ and married men who went into full-time ministry. The two couples produced four girls and one boy. Each of the girls married a minister, and the boy became a pastor. The first two children born to this generation were both boys. Upon graduation from high school, the two cousins chose the same college and became roommates. During their sophomore year, one boy decided to go into the ministry. The other didn’t. He undoubtedly felt some pressure to continue the family legacy, but he chose instead to pursue his interest in psychology. He earned his doctorate and eventually wrote books for parents that became bestsellers. He started a radio program heard on more than a thousand stations each day. The man’s name was James Dobson. Through his prayers, George McCluskey affected far more than one family. - Loyal J. Martin, Newton, Kansas. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 4.
Conclusion: Three things will drain your power and make you ineffective – lite faith, lackadaisical lives, and little connectivity. In Isaiah 40:28-31 we read, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." God wants us to utilize His power, His power in us. We can have and use that power when we walk a separated life by faith in communion with Him.
