In our study of Mark last time we left off with Jesus and the three disciples who were with Him on the mountain where they saw Him transfigured coming down the mountain.

On their way down Jesus cleared up their question regarding Elijah and the teaching of the scribes explaining to them that the scribes did not recognize that there would be two advents for the Messiah and that Elijah was going to be a herald for His second advent.

Mark 9:14; When they (Jesus, Peter James and John) came down the mountain to the other disciples (who they had left at the bottom of the mountain) they saw a large crowd around them and the scribes arguing with them.

What they were arguing about is not disclosed.

Mark 9:15; As soon as the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed and they immediately ran to greet Him.

The crowd is excited that they have an opportunity to actually see Jesus in person.

Mark 9:16; He asked the nine disciples what they were arguing about with the scribes.

Mark 9:17-18; Before they had a chance to answer one of the men in the crowd answers," Teacher, I brought to you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.

v18 and whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. (The demon caused him to have violent epileptic like seizures) I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not strong enough.

The man's request for Jesus' disciples to cast out the demon was legitimate because Jesus had previously given them the authority to cast out demons. Mark 6:7;

The man had expressed faith-rest by bringing his son but the disciples had insufficient doctrine to cast out the demon.

Mark 9:19; And He (Jesus) answered them and said, "You unbelieving generation ( they had no capacity for faith-rest... they did not have sufficient doctrine), how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!"

At this point He has been with them for about two years and they haven't learned much. He has taught them the faith-rest technique many times and they have completely failed to implement it; He then commands them to "bring him to me," a present active imperative.

Mark 9:20-22; So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth

v21 Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood.

v22 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you have the power to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.

The words, If You have the power, indicate that the disciples' inability to expel the demon had shaken the father's belief in Jesus' power.

Jesus took up the father's words of doubt, If You have the power, to show that the issue at hand was not His power to heal the boy but rather the father's power to trust in God who can do all things. Then He challenged the father not to doubt by throwing his statement back at him.

Mark 9:23; But Jesus replied "If you have the power?" "Those who believe (doctrine) have all power."

It's as if Jesus retorted because the man expressed doubt. Remember with faith all of the power resides in the object of faith. In this case the object of the man's faith is Jesus Christ. He simply has to believe that Jesus is the Word of God and connect that with the essence of God rationale.

That does not require much but he does have to believe. Believing is like a switch that turns on God's unlimited power.

This man is talking to Jesus who is the personification of doctrine. because Jesus is the Word. John 1:1,14;

Mark 9:24; The father of the boy immediately shouted out "I do believe, help my unbelief."

The man expresses faith in Jesus but he also requested Him to help assuage any vestiges of doubt. He was using the faith rest drill to recall who Jesus was and connect that with the essence of God rationale. Deut 32:39;

This man needed doctrinal perception to overrule empirical perception. Believing doctrine prioritizes God, unbelief or failure to believe doctrine prioritizes circumstances. 2Cor 5:7;

This brings us to a brief study on the doctrine of the importance of doctrine.

Doctrine is important because it reveals to the attributes of God and His plan.

Doctrine is the basis for all true worship. Psa 138:2; "I myself will worship toward Your holy Temple, and praise Your person (name) for Your grace and doctrine. For You have magnified Your doctrine above Your person."

Praising the Lord is not reciting an empty hollow phrase. It is thinking. It is the basis for making decisions. The only way you can apply doctrine is to prioritize doctrine in your life.

By comparing Luke 23:46; "Into Your hands I deposit My spirit," with Psa 31:5; we learn what was not recorded in Luke, "for You have delivered Me, O Lord, God of doctrine."

Rom 3:3-4; What if some did not believe "Will their unbelief cancel the faithfulness of God?

v4 Absolutely Not! Moreover, let God continue faithful, even though every man is a liar. Even as it stands written (Psa 51:4;), `That You might be vindicated by Your doctrine, and that You might prevail when You are maligned.'"

God only deals with us in truth. All faithfulness is based on truth. God always levels with us and tells us the truth.

The truth (Bible doctrine) can be maligned, but it can't be destroyed. Bible doctrine is maligned by ignorance and distorted by false teaching but it remains true regardless. 2Cor 13:8;

Bible doctrine is the content of the Bible that is communicated by teaching and instruction. It is the communication of Bible subjects from the original languages based on an exegetical analysis that includes the categorization and classification of subject matter along with proper historical context.

Grace is the genius plan of God to bless us, integrity is the character of God, and doctrine is the manifestation and explanation of that integrity and genius. Heb 11:1; Doctrine is the only way we can learn about God. Heb 11:6; Rom 10:17;

Bible doctrine is the written permanent expression of God's integrity as it is directed toward the human race. It is the verbalization of divine justice. Doctrine is the study of the attributes of God. Psa 33:4,;"For the Word of the Lord is integrity, and all His provision is in faithfulness."

Bible doctrine is the thinking of God in terms of His relationship to the human race. Nothing is more important than knowing what God thinks, understanding how God operates, and understanding His integrity that is basis for what he does.

The Bible uses several different words when referencing doctrine. The words that are used in the Hebrew of the Old Testament include: