| | Help My Unbelief
Mark 9:14-29 I. A father's Faith
A. Jesus - from the glory of transfiguration to the despair of humanity.
1.Inquires of scribes why they question His disciples
2. The father's anguish
a. The son suffers:
convulsions
foaming of mouth
gnashing of teeth
fall in fire and
water
b. The father must have
exhausted all sources of hope.
c. Jesus is his last and
final hope
3. Not stopped by disappointing failure of the disciples.
4. Felt if he could get to Jesus every thing would be okay. B. The disciple's lack of faith
1. Failed to cast out demon
2. Were at a loss without Jesus and the three leaders
3. Were at the mercy of the scribes
4. Were comforted by Jesus' presence
5. Jesus rebuked them for lack of faith
a. He had given them power to
cast out demons (Mark 6:7)
(Mark
6:7 KJV) And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send
them forth by two and two; and gave them
power over unclean spirits;
b. Their faith at this point
seems to have weakened II. When faith falters
A. The father's prayer - " Lord, I believe, help thou mine
unbelief"
1. He had faith
2. He realized his faith was
lacking
3. He trusted Jesus to help in his
unbelief
4. Jesus did not fail him
B. Why does faith grow weak?
1. God defies human language and imagination
a. The nature of god is
inconceivable
b. We deal more easily with
tangible things
2. Our love for the world interferes
3. We struggle to relate teachings of an a ancient culture
to a modern world
a. Examples of faith seem far
removed
b. Put on first century
glasses
4. We are bombarded with secularism, modernism, atheism,
ect.
5. Human nature interferes
a. Crucified old man of
sin leaves traces of doubts and weakness
b. Old self fights its death
6. Human suffering raises doubts III. Fortification of Faith
A. Deny yourself Luke 9:23
"And he said to them all, If any
man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow me."
1. Selfishness hinders faith
2. Self denial is a sacrifice for
Christ
B. Realize the power of faith
1. Jesus demonstrated the power of
faith to the father
a.
The father said " If thou canst do anything"
b.
Jesus replied " If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth"
c.
Jesus turned the responsibility to believe upon the father
2. Jesus said faith can move
mountains
Mat 17:19-20
KJV) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why
could not we cast
(him out? {20} And Jesus said unto them, Because of
your unbelief:
for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place; and it
shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
C. Put faith in greater hands than yours
1. Father turned his faith over to
Jesus
2. Peter reached out for Jesus
(Matt. 14:29)
3. Jesus supplied what they were
lacking
4. With God all things are possible Conclusion:
Don't you sometimes feel like the father in Mark 9? There are so many
things that
hinder our faith, so many problems, so many doubts. Is this wrong? Not within Itself, it
is
wrong when it draws us away from God. If we put our trust in Him, He will carry us
through when our faith falters. Never cease to draw nearer to God. Never let a moment
pass when your hand is not in the Masters hand.
While we sing, take a few moments to reflect on your faith
in God. Examine yourself. If you find your faith lacking, you can also pray " Lord, I
believe. Help thou my unbelief." Michael E. Grooms
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