Praise the Lord church family! God is so wonderful and I love Him with all my heart! Before I begin and share what is on my heart this month, I again want to say how blessed I am because of all of you, and know that you are what makes Shepherd’s Gate Church special!
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
This cry came from a man who was heartbroken over the state of his son. He was desperately hoping that Jesus’ disciples could help, and when they couldn’t, he began to feel doubt. Jesus’ words that prompted this cry for help were both the gentle reprimand and the reminder that he needed in that moment.
...Everything is possible for one who believes. Mark 9:23
I have needed to hear that on my Christian journey as well. For, as much as I love the Lord, there have been times when I’ve veered into doubt. Whether my attitude came out of fear, upset, or even impatience, it’s revealed a weak area in me. But within the conversations and the healing in this account, I’ve found great reassurance and hope that my faith can always keep growing. Becoming stronger in our faith is a lifelong process. The great news is that we are not expected to mature on our own—God will do the work in our hearts. We do have an important part to play in His plan, though.
The Meaning of ‘Lord, I Believe; Help My Unbelief’ in Mark 9:24
What the man says here can sound contradictory. He claims to believe, yet confesses to unbelief. It took me a while to appreciate the wisdom in his words. Now I see that this father understood that faith in God is not a one-and-done choice or just a switch that God turns on at our moment of salvation.
Early on as a believer, I heard the idea that God changes us gradually, as the layers of an onion are peeled off. This can apply to faith. How much we grow in our belief over time depends on how willing we are to
· Let go of trying to control
· Submit to God's will
· Trust in God's ability
The father quickly realized he needed to admit his inability to heal his son. Then he declared that Jesus could do the healing. The result was joyous—his child's health was renewed, and his faith increased.
Prior the disciples could not….
Mark 9:17–18 (NKJV) 17Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
When the father saw Jesus, he turned to him and explained the situation, and added that the disciples couldn't drive the spirit out. Jesus' rebuke is the first mention of unbelief in this passage.
‘You unbelieving generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Mark 9:19
When asked more about the boy's condition, the man answered, then gave an entreaty: 'But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'
Within this one sentence is a mix of discouragement and a weak kind of hope. Jesus perceives this, asking ‘If you can?' He then offers the long-suffering father a better perspective.
The well-known response puts the man's heart on display and shows steps we can take to grow in our own faith:
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
1. He states his love for God (a worship life)
2. He admits that his faith is not as strong as it could be (a weakness in his spirit)
3. He asks Jesus to change him (a willingness to be made stronger)
Afterwards the disciples asked Him, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?' And Jesus stated...Mark 9:29 (NKJV)
29So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Spending regular time in prayer will have that same effect on us. The disciples had harnessed the power Jesus bestowed on them to perform many miracles. But some situations called not for aggressive commands but humble prayer. They needed to be both reliant on and confident in God. As the disciples sought God's healing hand and saw answers to prayer, their faith grew. The closer our connection to God, the more we'll see Him working. As we become more aware of our need for Him and how He provides, our faith will strengthen, too.
Jesus loves you and so do I! ~Pastor Doug
