Everything is possible for one who believes.

Mark 9:2-29

Key verse: 9:29

Good afternoon, everyone! I really thank God for giving us Isaiah 43:18-21 With great hope 2026 last Lord’s Day! “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing” I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

God would do greater than the former things such the dividing Red Sea for deliverance of His own people, Israel. To make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert should follow God’s miracle and revival. I pray that we may experience it 2026!

To experience it, one of great factor is faith in God. without faith, we cannot please Him nor he doesn’t work in doubtful atmosphere.  He even rebuke unbelieving his disciples. “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?”

Jesus’ diagnosis of this fundamental matter is not political, educational, or financial, but a matter of our unbelief toward Him. Unbelief breaks our spiritual lifeline and brings God’s wrath. It blocks the line of God’s almighty power, peace, joy, and His blessing. How can we overcome our unbelief? How can we stand in the assurance of faith in Christ? How can we live a powerful life? Jesus tells us, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Prayer is the expression of our faith toward Him. We might think, “I have heard this passage many times and know it,” and you might ignore it.

As we prepare for 2026, I pray that Jesus may cleanse our unbelief and doubtful thoughts by His blood, renew our hearts, and fill us with His living word and Spirit so that our inner beings may be ready to follow His step and receive His grace through it 2026!

## Part One – O Unbelieving Generation! (14-19)

I will briefly explain the previous event to understand today’s passage in Mark 9:1-13. Jesus brought only His three top disciples, Peter, James, and John, among the twelve disciples, to the mountaintop. His body was transfigured as deity, and they saw Him conversing with Elijah and Moses there. A voice from heaven, overshadowed by a cloud, spoke to them, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; listen to Him!” Peter was terrified and didn’t know what to say due to holy fear in that situation. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about these phenomena until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

When Jesus and the three disciples came down and what happened to left, the nine disciples? Look at verse 14:

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.

They were arguing with the teachers of the law because of their powerlessness. Verses 17-18 describe what happened. Look at verses 17-18: ¹⁷ And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. ¹⁸ And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

The man’s son was possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit had tried to kill his son since childhood. We can imagine how much the father had suffered with the fear of his son’s death by the evil spirit. Satan’s main purpose is to kill our souls and destroy God’s holy character. The father probably went to many famous doctors to cure his son. He did as much as he could for his son, but nothing happened; moreover, it became worse. He was so despaired because he couldn’t do anything in that situation. He was completely hopeless. But he heard astonishing news that Jesus had healed many sick people, opened even blind men's eyes, cured lepers, and drove demons away. When he heard about Jesus’ healing, his hope rose through the wonderful news. He was overwhelmed because of this great news.

So he brought his son to Jesus, but only His nine disciples were there at that time. Even though he asked Jesus’ disciples to heal his son, they failed. His faith turned to doubt. The sense of his fatal failure overpowered him. Jesus’ disciples had driven out many demons on their mission journey when they fully depended on Jesus in Mark 6:7-13. However, they became powerless. They probably depended on their previous experiences instead of Jesus Himself. When they were powerless, the teachers of the law tried to crush them in front of the multitude. So they were arguing with the teachers of the law. They became humiliated and despised due to their powerlessness. At that moment, Jesus appeared.

When Jesus saw this situation, how was Jesus’ heart? Let’s read verse 19:

“O unbelieving generation, how long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

Jesus was so sad about the unbelief of His disciples, the religious leaders, and the people. People think that a lack of education, information, technology, and skills are the most serious matters. Many people worry about hard economy and the tension of wars. All of us are struggling with certain matters.

But the fundamental matter in Jesus’ eyes is our unbelief. Because of Adam’s unbelief toward God, sin came into this world. Eve’s unbelief led her to break God’s covenant. So physical and spiritual death came to us, and our relationship with God was broken. Unbelief brought God’s wrath upon us. Unbelief is a serious sin. Jesus mentions it in John 16:9: “Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.” We can see how serious the sin of unbelief is through history in Numbers chapters 13 and 14.

God’s intention for the Israelites was to guide them into the promised land of Canaan, which was filled with milk and honey. When the Israelites requested to explore Canaan, God let Moses send twelve leaders of the tribes to explore it for forty days. The twelve leaders saw an abundant, fruitful, and fertile land through their exploration tour. They brought a single cluster of grapes on a pole between two of them because they were so big. All agreed that the land was flowing with milk and honey. However, ten leaders’ reports were so negative: “The people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. They are giants. We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes.” Their final conclusion was that they could not attack those people because they were too strong. Their view of the promised land might have been rational, but their count was without God, so the conclusion was that they could not conquer it. They didn’t believe God’s promise.

However, how were Joshua and Caleb’s opinions? Numbers 14:7-9 says “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Joshua and Caleb saw the circumstance with God’s point of view. Their opinion was based on what God promised them. Their opinion might have seemed ridiculous and absurd from a human point of view. The ten leaders’ reports might have been more accurate than Caleb and Joshua’s report from a reasonable standpoint. But they saw everything without God’s promise. They forgot the LORD Almighty, who poured out ten plagues to deliver them from Egypt and the dividing of the Red Sea. They forgot God’s promises, which would give them the promised land. They forgot God’s sincere care and His faithfulness. Their unbelief made all Israel despair and mourn.

How was God’s heart against their unbelieving response? He was so sad and angry against unbelieving Israel. He said, “I will do to you the very things I heard you say; in this desert, your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.” They had to wander in the desert for 40 years and died in the desert due to the leaders’ unbelief. However, only Caleb and Joshua and next generation could enter the Promised Land. Unbelief toward God is a fundamental and serious sin.

We know we live in an unbelieving generation. When we look at the outward world, it appears as a huge, unshakable rock compared to our faith, which seems like an egg. If we say that an egg can break a huge rock, people will sneer at our words. Do you remember the moment when the young boy David said he would fight against Goliath? His brothers were so mad, saying, "You came down to see the battle and go back to take care of the sheep." Saul also said, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young boy." However, David’s faith enabled him to overcome the mocking environment and finally crush the giant Goliath with a small pebble.

Even though other people who see only the visible world without God will tell you, when we live by faith, “What are you doing? Why is your life so weird?” We, who have faith in Almighty God, know that He is on our side, and we can gently show that God is the living God. We trust His promise as well as His presence. Do you believe He reigns over you and the world? Do you believe in Him and that He lives in you by the Spirit?

Hebrews 11:6 also teaches us how to please God:

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

God is still looking upon those who fear Him and fully trust in Him, to be with them and give them great reward. God pleases with those who have faith in Him and wants to stand by their side. If God is on your side, whom shall you fear, no matter if people despise you or not? If God is on your side, who can dare to defeat your inner faith? No matter if we die, we shall not be afraid. Romans 8:31-39 promises how firmly God holds us:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

We should not be afraid of anything, even death, because God holds us, and nothing will be able to take us away from the love of God. Our Lord Jesus is also much stronger than this world. He is the sovereign ruler. John 16:33 tells us about this:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If He doesn’t allow you into any circumstance, the world cannot touch you or break you. Troubles will only be God’s molding tool for us to be holy. Do you believe it?

Part Two: Jesus Worked to Plant Faith in the Boy’s Father (20-22)

Look at verse 20: ²⁰ And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. When the disciples brought the boy in front of Jesus, the evil spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. The situation seemed worse. It appeared to be the evil spirit’s final struggle to deceive everyone. Satan’s ultimate goal is to make us shrink back from trusting God by fear and focus on our current problems through deception. He knows very well how to destroy us: by breaking our relationship with God, leading to the destruction of our body and soul. He knows that if we leave Jesus, we will be powerless and become his slaves.

But Jesus, the sovereign ruler of the spiritual and material world, knows all things. He is not deceived by cunning deception. He asked, “How long has he been like this?” Jesus first wanted to heal the boy’s father, who had deep wounds and pain. The father had suffered a long time due to his son being possessed by a devil from childhood. The fear of death had gripped the boy’s father for so long. How did the boy’s father respond? Look at verses 21b-22: “From childhood. It has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

“If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” means “If you can do it, please do it; but if you cannot, it is just okay.” His faith was half-hearted. He doubted Jesus’ ability. He didn’t know Jesus’ deity. “If you can do anything” contains deep doubt about Jesus’ ability and power. He was only captured by his long-term failure experiences regarding his son’s healing, rather than on Jesus’ mighty power. It will be the same for us if we are possessed with the memories of our past failures and long-term wounds.

In our Christian life, we believe in Jesus’ salvation through His precious blood, but we may not believe in Jesus’ healing of our current chronic inner issues or the resolution of practical problems. When challenging situations arise, the fear of failure or old memories crush our faith, leading us to doubt Jesus’ power. We may say, “I tried many times, but it didn’t work, so I give up.” This is the same as the boy’s father saying, “If you can do it, please do it.”

I experienced the same sense of failure when Joshua said, “It is hard to have fellowship in our church because we don’t have many people,” as he left for New Zealand trip at few days ago—even though I told him that we have nationwide and international friends. I have served All Nations Disciple Church for 20 years. Although I shared a vision of having more than 20 worshipers by 2026, the current reality is that we have only a few members. It is not easy to reach young people. My inner attitude often act like the boy’s father’s in verse 22: “If you can do it, please do it.”

How did Jesus respond to his half-hearted faith? Let’s read verse 23 together: “And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” “If you can?” Jesus rebuked his unbelief in Jesus’ ability. Jesus is mighty God. He is the creator and sovereign ruler. If He wants to do something, nothing can hinder Him. There is no limit to Him. He created the whole universe by His words: “Let there be light!” and there was light. When He rebuked the storm, it immediately became calm. When He rebuked the evil spirit, it immediately surrendered to His command. The entire universe submits to His commands.

Matthew 28:18 declares, “Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” All authority and power in the universe are in His hands. The issue is not His ability, but His will. Nothing is impossible for Him.

The famous pastor Spurgeon told us, “What we have to do before God as humans is not countable faith but have absolute faith in God. Counting relies on God’s hand.” God’s counting is different from our counting. How could Abraham have hope in the situation of being 99 years old and Sarah’s womb being dead? He believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” “All things are possible for him who believes.”

The verse “believe” here refers to our inner positive action and struggle to have faith in Jesus’ word. What are the characteristics of faith in the Scripture?

 Firstly, faith should be based on the Scripture. We say, “Trust God! Trust Jesus!” God is invisible. Jesus is invisible. How can we put our trust in God or Jesus? It means that we trust in His words.

John 1:1, 14 teaches us about this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God reveals Himself through His word. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When we say, “I believe God” or “I believe Jesus,” it means we believe His word. Romans 10:17 teaches us how our faith can be generated and grown: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” That is why we should diligently meditate on His living word to trust God.

Secondly, Faith is the Gift of God’s Grace: Ephesians 2:8 explains that faith is a gift from God, not generated by ourselves: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” This teaches us to be humble before God.

Salvation itself also comes through faith in Christ alone by His grace. Romans 3:22 states, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” Believing in God’s promise leads to the astonishing forgiveness of sins and healing through Jesus’ precious blood (1 Peter 2:24).

Thirdly, Faith in God enables us Healing and Overcoming Hindrances: Faith in God allows us to experience healing and overcome obstacles. God’s miraculous healing, presence, and blessings through faith are documented throughout all Scripture. For example, Jesus was amazed by the faith of the Gentile centurion, who believed in Jesus’ healing power without having studied the Bible (Matthew 8:10, 13).

“10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.”

A bleeding woman was healed by her faith despite the social stigma and fear of death (Matthew 9:22).

22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Hebrews 11 highlights many heroes of faith and their blessings. “By faith, by faith” is repeated, showing how they overcame even the fear of death through faith. Conversely, Jesus did not perform many miracles in His hometown due to their lack of faith (Matthew 13:58). 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

 Faith acts as a pipeline for God’s mighty power and strength.

In verse 24, the boy’s father responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When I came to the U.S.A. as a missionary, God gave me a grand vision based on Mark 9:23 and Genesis 1:28. However, as more than 29 years have passed, I have not seen much visible evidence. When I look at myself and see how weary I have become, my faith sometimes feels only half-formed. Lord, I repent of my unbelief. Wash away all my unbelief by the blood of Jesus. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This is an act of repentance and prayer, bringing his unbelieving heart and doubts to Jesus for help. After the father repented and prayed, Jesus began to work. He rebuked the evil spirit. Look at verse 25.  “he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

The boy was healed after Jesus rebuked the mute and deaf spirit.  It demonstrates Jesus’ authority and the power of His living word. His word is the living word of God.

Faith is the channel to experience of God’s blessings and power. It is crucial to believe wholeheartedly in Jesus’ power and ability, trusting in His word and experiencing His miraculous works in our lives.

One typical example of faith in action is our salvation. To unbelievers, it seems nonsensical to say that if we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven, and we become righteous. How can our sins be cleansed? How can we be set free from the power of darkness?

Many believe that living a moral life makes one righteous, but no one can live a perfectly moral life. Adam’s sin tainted everyone. When we put our faith in Jesus’ blood, we experience the astonishing forgiveness of sin and healing. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

So, it is true that “Everything is possible for him who believes.” God uses our faith within His sovereignty as the path of blessing or the pipeline of His power route.

Part Three: The Power of Prayer (Verses 28-29)

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples approached him privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” This question reflects their confusion and disappointment. Despite their previous experiences of casting out demons, they were unable to do so this time. Their question shows their desire to understand the failure and to learn from it.

Jesus’ response is straightforward: “This kind can come out only by prayer.” This statement highlights the essential role of prayer in spiritual battles. Prayer is an expression of our faith, a direct action that brings us into God’s presence and aligns us with His will and power.

1. the prayer is the Expression of our Faith: If we truly believe in God’s word, we pray. It’s a tangible demonstration of our trust in God.

  2. the prayer is the Overcoming the World: In a world filled with threats, doubts, fears, worries, anxieties, and distractions, prayer is our means of maintaining faith and receiving God’s power. Satan aims to scatter our minds and prevent us from listening to God’s word because he knows its transformative power. Prayer helps us overcome these all obstacles.

3. the prayer is the Powerful Weapon: Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons God has provided. It’s a direct line to God and a proof of our reliance on Him. If we believe God is living and answers of our concerns, we will pray.

I suggest prayer meeting on Saturday evening at 7pm. What do you think about it?

To live a powerful life in Jesus, we must have daily prayer time. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must walk with God’s word and pray daily. “This kind can come out only by prayer” is the secret to a victorious daily life. Morning prayer can transform your daily life into an experience of God’s presence and action.

### Conclusion

We learned about the power of faith and the truth that “all things are possible for him who believes.” How can we experience such a powerful life? By trusting His promised words and through prayer. I pray that God richly blesses the international conference, drawing all attendees closer to Jesus. May we experience His presence and power more deeply through our faith and prayer.