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Published: April 1, 2009, 2:12 p.m.

(John 14:12)\xa0 \u201cI tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.\u201d

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\xa0(Mark 9:16-24)\xa0 \u201cWhat are you arguing with them about?\u201d (Jesus) asked. A man in the crowd answered, \u201cTeacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.\u201d\xa0 \u201cO unbelieving generation,\u201d Jesus replied, \u201chow long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.\u201d\xa0 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy\u2019s father, \u201cHow long has he been like this?\u201d\xa0 \u201cFrom childhood,\u201d he answered.\xa0 \u201cIt has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.\u201d\xa0 \u201cBut if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.\u201d\xa0 \u201cIf you can?\u201d said Jesus. \u201cEverything is possible for him who believes.\u201d\xa0 Immediately the boy\u2019s father exclaimed, \u201cI do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!\u201d

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\xa0Why do we have doubting faith?

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We believe like those around us.

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\xa0(Mark 9:19)\xa0 \u201cO unbelieving generation,\u201d Jesus replied, \u201chow long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.\u201d

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\xa0(2 Corinthians 6:14-15)\xa0 \u201cDo not be yoked together with unbelievers\u2026What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?\u201d

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\xa0We believe God isn\u2019t loyal.

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\xa0(Mark 9:22-23)\xa0 \u201cIt has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.\u201d\xa0 \u201cBut if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.\u201d\xa0 \u201cIf you can?\u201d said Jesus. \u201cEverything is possible for him who believes.\u201d

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We believe, sort of.

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(Mark 9:24)\xa0 Immediately the boy\u2019s father exclaimed, \u201cI do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!\u201d

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(James 1:6-8)\xa0 \u201cBut when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.\xa0 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.\u201d

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What is real faith?

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(Hebrews 11:1)\xa0 \u201cNow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

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3 Aspects of Faith

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1.\xa0 Our authority comes through His Name.

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(Mark 9:25-27)\xa0 \u201cWhen Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. \u2018You deaf and mute spirit,\u2019 he said, \u2018I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.\u2019\u201d

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(Philippians 2:10)\xa0 \u201c\u2026at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.\u201d

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2.\xa0 Our confidence comes through relationship.

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(Mark 9:29)\xa0 He replied, \u201cThis kind can come out only by prayer.\u201d

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(Romans 10:17 NKJV)\xa0 \u201cSo then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.\u201d

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3.\xa0 Our power comes through the cross.

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(Mark 9:31)\xa0 He said to them, \u201cThe Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.\u201d

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(Colossians 2:15)\xa0 \u201cAnd having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.\u201d

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For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.

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