The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, September 23, 2026, we conclude our 2-part message series called, "All Tings Are Possible."  It's a study of the kind of faith Jesus wanted His followers to have, and an opportunity for us to build our faith.  We'll take a deeper look at what it means to live with faith and the impact that has on our fear, worry, anxiety, hope, and peace.  Join us at 6:00 p.m. for some mid-week encouragement for the soul. 

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page.  We go "live" at 6:00 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live, there are 3 ways to watch the message later - on Facebook, on YouTube, or here on our website. (the "Past & Future Messages" page).  Watch anytime!  

This week, September 16, 2026, we began a new study on faith. 

Jesus wanted His disciples to have faith.  It was a recurring topic that He discussed with them; or maybe it is more accurate to say it was a recurring issue and Jesus asked them about their lack of faith.  Fact is, Jesus knew they needed to believe in Him so they could live for Him so they could change the world.  

It's the same with us!  That's one reason the Bible tells us that our faith makes God happy.  Scripture says it this way - “without faith it is impossible to please” God (Heb. 11:6).

Let's look at 3 times Jesus dealt with the disciples' faith - or lack of it.  The first is from Mark 4 when Jesus calmed the storm.  They were in a boat when a furious squall came up, and waves broke over the boat.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

This story highlights what faith gives you - peace.  Jesus could sleep because He completely trusted in God and knew all would be okay.  The ability to remain calm in the storm is rooted in faith.  Jesus had it, the disciples didn't.  And we struggle with it, too.  The disciples had seen Him heal many, many people; they saw him cast out spirits, miraculously feed thousands, but still they had fear.  They were not at peace, and they thought He didn't care.

Storms will happen in our lives.  Do you know the stories of God's power, but still have no faith?  Do you face things with fear?  Focus on all that could go wrong?  Or are you a calming voice of faith?

We’ve read the stories the disciples wrote about.  Jesus did the impossible through the power of God.  He made the lame walk, the deaf hear, the mute talk, the blind see.  He restored a shriveled hand, healed diseases that existed for 12 years, and healed people from leprosy.  He can handle your problem, heal your body, and fight your battle.   

Now consider Mark 8 - the Pharisees came to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. Look at verse 12 - "He sighed deeply and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.'”   The reality is - Jesus had already been performing miracles.  They knew of them.  Jesus isn't interested in putting on a show, He wants to change lives.  The Pharisees had already known of Jesus' miracles but still had doubt.  Here is a truth about life - some people have seen and heard of Jesus but still have hardened hearts that doubt.  They want another sign … one more . . . but one more will still not be enough for some.  Where do we fall in that?  Haven't we seen and heard enough to believe in Jesus?  Or do you still want one more?  If so, the Enemy is using your head to harden your heart; he is telling you lies to make you question what you should already know - there is a God.  He exists, He loves you, and He still performs miracles.  If you're struggling with faith, the solution is to repent.  To come to God with your heart, and your head; give Him all of yourself.

After that encounter, Jesus then warned the disciples, “Be careful . . . “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”  Look at verses 16-21:

"They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”   Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  “Twelve,” they replied.  “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”  They answered, “Seven.”

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Jesus asks us the same question – do you not understand who I am and what I can do?   Nothing is impossible!  Live with faith and hope believing that and tune out the noise of those who want you to doubt.  What the Bible shows us over and over, and what I know from my own experience is that God meets our needs.  He rights the wrongs of this life.  He makes good come from bad.  He restores.  He heals.  God is real. 

There is a third story in Mark 9.  In this encounter, a man brought his son to the disciples for healing, but they couldn't do it.  In verse 21, Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. The man told Jesus that a spirit "has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”   Notice verse 23 - “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”   Jesus then healed the boy and cast out the spirit.  He lifted the boy to his feet and he stood up. 

Some people are like the disciples – they have belief, but no results.  All things are possible, but through prayer and absolute dependence on divine intervention.  Prayer is the way we connect to the vine because the miracle is not us, but God.  Consider why some victories [answered prayer] don’t come to us right away.  Here are 6 reasons:

1 – doubt.  We don't really believe.   Example, you pray for rain but don't carry an umbrella.

2 – wrong motives.  We pray for our own glory or wealth so we don't have to work.  James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.”  God doesn’t partner with our schemes to get glory, or just live easy.

3 – an effort to manipulate God.  (See 1 Sam. 13:9-14)  God is the master, we are  the servants. We don't control Him. 

4 – our sin and disobedience.  (See Psalm 81:10-12)  God may withhold his gracious hand, and give us what’s in our stubborn hearts until we return to Him with a repentant heart. 

5 – rejecting God’s method.  (2 Kings 5).   Naaman almost missed his healing because he didn’t want to do what he was told to do.

6 – God may delay the answer to teach us to pay attention to Him.  Isaiah 48:18 – “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”  

These stories call on us to evaluate our prayer life.   Be sure we are depending on God - not ourselves - and trusting Him.  Keep believing.  Keep praying.  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  James 5:16.  So have persistent prayer & faith. If you give up, that’s not faith.

Some people are also like the father in the story from Mark 9.  We have both belief & unbelief.  We want to believe, but we doubt.  Look at Jesus’ answer in verse 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  When Jesus repeats what the man said - “IF you can…?” - it highlights that Jesus’ abilities were not at issue here.  Here's the question – did Jesus possess unlimited power because He was the Son of God or because He had unlimited faith?

To answer that, look at John 14.  During the Last Supper, Jesus is telling the disciples that He’s going to prepare a place for them.  He will be with the Father, and he tells the disciples this, starting in verse 11:

"Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing.  He will do even great things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it."

What prayer are you too timid to pray?  What do you think is too great for God?

Have you given up?   Afraid to hope?   Let faith begin to grow more in your heart.  Let these stories give you confidence to pray boldly!

Nothing is impossible for God, and as Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”