KINGDOM CURRENCY

Text: Mark 9:17-29•Mar 9:17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.•Mar 9:18 "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

• Mar 9:19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

• Mar 9:20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

• Mar 9:21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood.

• Mar 9:22 "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

• Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes."

• Mar 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!“

• Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"

• Mar 9:26 Then [the spirit] cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."

• Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

• Mar 9:28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"

• Mar 9:29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

INTRO:•Money in any form when in actual use as a medium of exchange, especially circulating paper money.•The poor people are those without or little currency.

• Even rich people in the Phils. or people from the states would not be happy when it comes to currency spending here in UK.

• The truth is without the proper currency, you cannot buy anything.

• Any idea what is the kingdom currency?

I. FAITH • Is the Kingdom currency• Hebrews 11:6But without faith [it is]

impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of

those who diligently seek Him.•In order for us to make transactions on a particular country, we need to have the have the proper currency.•We need to exchange our unbelief, doubts, and fear into faith.•In obtaining kingdom benefit like healing Jesus would require from us the exact currency.•Mat 9:28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."

• John 11:26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?“

• Mar 5:34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.

• Mat 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you.“

II. DISTINCTION BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND PAGANS

• Believers seek for the Kingdom

• Pagans seek for food, water, shelter, needs.

• The fact that we cannot seek first the kingdom signifies we lack enough currency.

• The logic is rich people relax more and work less as they have plenty of currency.

• People with plenty of faith relax and obey God’s word to seek the kingdom of God first.

III. PROPER ESTABLISHMENT OF FAITH•Mar 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.•Our faith should be established in God and His Words not on His promises and blessings. •Problems arise if our faith is on His promises and blessings because as God as He is, He can do whatever He likes or wishes.•What if you don’t obtain the promises or blessings?•Do you still believe on Him?

• It is on this context when Paul said, “We live by faith and not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7)

• 2Cr 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory,

• 2Cr 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [are] temporary, but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

• In other words, money, food, job, relationship, and everything we see are temporary. They could be here now and gone tomorrow.

• But God is eternal, He is permanent, He is unchanging.

• Our faith should be established on the Rock (Jesus).

• Psalm 20:7-David did not put his trust on chariots and horses

IV. REASONS OF TEST• He wants us to grow stronger in faith• Our faith is as strong as the test it

survives.

• 1Cr 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

• In essence, difficult test tells stronger faith.

• You will not be known by the test you failed and avoided but by the test you survived.

V. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME•Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.•His definition of what is “GOOD” may not always be like ours. •Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

• Hebrews 11:40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

• God’s goodness serves His greater purpose

• His name is glorified, our faith is made stronger, He always have something better.

• Blessings does include test in the package not just the goodies like promotions, healing, prosperity.

• He even uses our failures for us to grow.

• Sometimes losing is a good thing.• We learn much or more from our

failures and mistakes than from our successes.

• This made the disciples query the Lord why didn’t we make it?

• He said, “Faithless generation”• Oh you of little faith• Your money is not enough.VI. CHANGE CURRENCY• Jesus said if you can believe, all

things are possible-v 23• Do you have the enough money?

• The father said I have pounds but I also have peso.

• I believe, help me with my unbelief-v 24

• Convert our unbelief into faith, change our fear into confidence.

• Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (NIV).

VII. FAITH UPGRADE• The disciples asked why could we not

cast it out?• This kind can come out by nothing but

prayer and fasting.

• Not all prayers could be answered by prayer alone, He wants us to fast.

• To fast means to abstain, to have nothing.

• Fasting weakens the flesh.• Fasting would enable us to soar in

the Spirit.• It is this context that God allows you

to lost things and even everything for us to make Him our everything.

• Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

CHALLENGE:•Where is your faith established?•How strong is your faith?•If God would not do as He promise would you still believe in Him?CONCLUSION: •Luke 17:5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith•Jam 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?