All things are possible in Christ

Sermon on 4 May 2025 by Sis Hui Ling

Mark 9:23

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

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Mark 10:27

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

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Story #1

Mark 9:14-29 ( NLT )

When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. “What is all this arguing about?”Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”

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NKJV version :

Mark 9:28-29

And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

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Story #2

Acts 19:11-16

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

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Who are you ? How are you viewed ?

. When we have the identity of children of God, spirits see the Holy Spirit (and the authority of GOD) in us. Just like a normal person but wearing the policeman uniform.

. Spirits have their own authorities, but they also recognise who Jesus is.

. Prince of this world ≠ God

. Prince of this world = Satan

Lesson 1 :

. Even people not of GOD can do miracles and wonderful things!

BUT

Psalm 37:7

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

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Lesson 2 :

Acts 19:11

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.

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. It is GOD who enables

Lesson 3 :

Mark 9:23

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Mark 9:28

Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”

Why only through prayer and fasting?

. Prayer and fasting are inward disciplines Jesus practices ( Mark 1:35 )

Why?

. Utter reliance on God and not on your own strength/wisdom.

. It is about utter faith and reliance in God

March VTM

Philippians 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

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All things are possible in Christ who Strengthens:

#1 You don’t have to fret nor worry about evil

( Psalm 37:7 )

#2 It is God who enables! ( Acts 19:11 )

#3 It is about utter faith and reliance in God ( Mark 9:23,29 )

HW - learning to depend on Christ ( faith ) through prayers

~ celebration of discipline by David Foster

. Sun : pattern of prayer & fasting ( matthew 6:5-18 )

. Mon : prayer of worship ( psalm 103 )

. Tue : prayer of repentance ( psalm 51 )

. Wed : prayer of thanksgiving ( psalm 150 )

. Thur : prayer of guidance ( matthew 26:36-46 )

. Fri : prayer of faith ( james 5:13-18 )

. Sat : prayer of command ( mark 9:14-29 )