1. Difficulties for Disciples
John 16:33

2. JESUS PROMISED DIFFICULTIES (John 16:33)
How do we expand the kingdom of God when faced with three of life’s greatest challenges?
Satan, Self, & the System
JESUS PROMISED DIFFICULTIES (John 16:33)

3. Matthew 17:14-27
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

4. Matthew 17:14-27
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

5. Matthew 17:16-27
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

6. I. SATAN’S KINGDOM
When facing Satan’s kingdom, Jesus rebuked the demon
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
RESULT = CURED
”Why couldn’t we do it?”
“Because of your unbelief;” (& prayer & fasting)

7. I. SATAN’S KINGDOM
When facing Satan’s kingdom, what should true disciples do?
RESULT = CURED
BELIEVE (& prayer & fasting)
Take authority in faith & ACT
Build God’s Kingdom!
Devil has come to steal, kill & destroy. We can fight back! WE can take over in the human realm as well as in the spirit. This was a human (medical?) problem. We can have Christian schools, Christian banks, Christ businesses, Christ – Kingdom in operation on the Earth (God’s will being done on earth as in Heaven).

8. Matthew 17:14-27
24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25 He said, “Yes.”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

9. Matthew 17:14-27
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

10. II. THE SYSTEM When facing a human system, Jesus submitted
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”.
RESULT = FREE
V26 Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.” 
When we owe no man anything, then we are free

11. Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 

12. Romans 13
 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

13. II. THE SYSTEM
When facing a human system, true disciples submit; Jesus will always provide
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”.
RESULT = FREE
V26 “the sons are free.” 
PAY YOUR TAX, GET A LEGAL VISA

14. Matthew 17:16-27
22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

15. III. SELF
When facing his human nature, Jesus stayed focused; the disciples were very sad “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful. RESULT = KILLED (Sacrificed)

16. III. SELF
When facing our human nature, true disciples stay focused; even if it makes us very sad RESULT = (Sacrifice) LIVE TO DIE & DIE TO LIVE The disciples hadn’t understood yet. Later …

17. Satan’s kingdom, the World’s System, & Self
CONCLUSION
Satan’s kingdom, the World’s System, & Self
Build in faith – CURED
How are you building God’s kingdom?
Submit to human authority FREE
Are you Christ-like in human affairs?
Die to self – SACRIFICE
What sacrifices are you willing to make this week?

18. Expanding the Kingdom
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