The Gospel of Mark: Chapter 09 | Listening In The Space Between | Pastor Ray Burgos Jr

 Summary  

This message explores the profound spiritual lessons found in Mark chapter 9, focusing on the theme of "listening in the space between"—the space between mountaintop experiences of divine glory and the valleys of real-life struggle and uncertainty. Pastor Ray unpacks two key accounts in this chapter: the Transfiguration of Jesus and the healing of a demon-possessed boy. The Transfiguration reveals Jesus’ divine glory to Peter, James, and John, providing a glimpse of His heavenly identity. However, the disciples are instructed not to speak about this event until after Jesus’ resurrection, emphasizing that glory without the cross is incomplete. This introduces the crucial concept that faith and growth happen not on the mountaintop alone, but in the challenging "space between" glory and difficulty.

The second account introduces a father pleading for his demon-possessed son’s healing, confessing, “I believe; help my unbelief.” This raw honesty highlights the tension believers often face between faith and doubt. Pastor Ray stresses that faith is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God amid trouble, underscoring the importance of dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than relying solely on spiritual habits or past experiences.

Throughout the message, the call is to listen attentively and obediently to Jesus in all seasons, not just during emotional highs or spiritual mountaintop moments. Pastor Ray challenges believers to stop chasing emotional spiritual highs and instead focus on obeying the last thing God told them, embracing the space between as the place of growth, maturity, and real faith. The sermon closes by connecting these lessons to the cross, where Jesus’ glory and suffering meet, and encourages a genuine, dependent relationship with Christ that endures through both mountain highs and valley lows.

 Highlights  

- 🌄 The Transfiguration reveals Jesus’ divine glory but is incomplete without the cross.  

- 🎧 "Listening in the space between" is crucial—faith grows not just on mountaintops but amid life’s challenges.  

- 🙏 The father’s plea, “I believe; help my unbelief,” models honest faith wrestling with doubt.  

- 🔥 Dependence on the Holy Spirit is essential—serving Jesus without it can lead to failure.  

- ⛪ Don’t chase spiritual highs; obey the last thing God told you and walk in faith through the valleys.  

- 🌟 Communion symbolizes the space between glory and suffering and renews our commitment to listen.  

- 💬 Authenticity with God, including doubts and struggles, is vital for spiritual growth and endurance.

 Key Insights  

- 🌄 Glory Without the Cross Is Incomplete: The Transfiguration shows Jesus’ divine form and glory, yet the disciples are commanded to remain silent until after the resurrection. This highlights a key biblical truth: spiritual mountaintop experiences are only part of the journey. True understanding and faith require embracing the whole narrative, including suffering and sacrifice. This teaches believers to resist the temptation to linger in transient moments of glory without moving forward into the necessary trials and growth.  

- 🎧 The Space Between Is Where Faith Grows: Most of life is lived in the “space between” the highs and lows—the mountaintop and the valley. This middle ground is where believers are challenged to listen deeply and obey God. It is a space of confusion, conflict, and pressure, yet it is also where spiritual maturity and endurance develop. The message reminds us that growth is not found in constant glory or crisis but in faithful navigation of this tension-filled space.  

- 🙏 Honest Faith Includes Doubt: The father’s confession, “I believe; help my unbelief,” is a profound example of authentic faith. It acknowledges the struggle between hope and doubt, showing that faith does not require perfect certainty. This honesty before God is a form of listening and dependence, inviting God’s strength into the tension rather than masking doubts. This insight encourages believers to bring their full selves—including doubts and fears—to God in prayer.  

- 🔥 Dependence on the Holy Spirit Is Crucial: The disciples’ failure to cast out a demon despite previous successes reveals the danger of relying on past victories or spiritual disciplines without dependence on the Holy Spirit in the moment. Spiritual habits and head knowledge are insufficient without the Spirit’s empowering presence. This calls the church and individual believers to cultivate a posture of ongoing dependence, recognizing that true spiritual power comes from God’s active leading rather than human effort or routines.  

- ⛪ Avoid Chasing Spiritual Highs: Pastor Ray warns against the dangerous temptation to seek only emotional or spiritual mountaintop experiences, which can lead to stagnation or neglect of the mission. Instead, believers must focus on obeying God’s commands in everyday life, even when it means descending into difficult valleys. This insight challenges contemporary Christian culture’s emphasis on emotional experiences and encourages a more grounded, obedient faith.  

- 🌟 Communion as a Reminder of the Space Between: Communion symbolizes Jesus’ journey from glory to suffering, death, and resurrection. It encapsulates the paradox of Christian faith—glory and pain intertwined—and calls believers to remember that the “space between” is not the end but part of the greater story of redemption. This sacrament invites ongoing reflection on Jesus’ identity and mission, encouraging believers to listen and respond faithfully.  

- 💬 Authenticity and Realness in Prayer: Being real with God, including expressing doubts and struggles, is key to spiritual growth. The message encourages believers not to perform or fake faith but to bring their honest questions, fears, and hopes before God. This authenticity fosters a deeper relationship with God and opens the way for transformation and endurance in the middle of life’s challenges.  

This message from the Gospel of Mark chapter 9 highlights the importance of “listening in the space between” the mountaintop moments of divine revelation and the valleys of spiritual battle and doubt. It calls believers to embrace the full journey of faith, marked by obedience, dependence on the Holy Spirit, honest wrestling with belief and unbelief, and a refusal to settle for fleeting spiritual highs. Ultimately, it points to the cross as the heart of the Christian story, where glory and suffering meet, and where true faith is forged. The call to each believer is to listen attentively to Jesus in every season and to live out their faith in the tension of the space between.