Help My Unbelief

READ: Mark 9:14

CHALLENGE: Trust in the Power and Compassion of God.

1. EVIDENCE OF UNBELIEF

Vv14-16 – When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

1. Arguing vs Amazement

Jesus has just come down off the mountain and the nine who were left behind were ministering and trying to heal a boy.  They encountered a case of a boy who was possessed by a destructive demon and they could not dislodge the menace from the child.  Enter Jesus. He approaches a chaotic and acrimonious scene that includes the disciples and the experts in the law arguing with each other.  Could that be part of the reason why nothing good was happening? 

The word “argue” means to dispute or debate.  As you look around America arguing is common as we polarize over anything.  If someone were to say, “a man can’t have a baby” – watch out! You monster – how dare you!  It’s a common sense – no brainer – biological statement and we can’t even agree on that!  I have not seen many arguments be productive and they certainly were not in this case. 

These are spiritual people and sometimes religious people will argue over a plethora of petty things that only hold importance for a scant few.  Majoring on minors causes us to lose sight of the mission.  It wastes time.

One can only imagine the number of truly egregious infractions the teachers of the law were worked up about.  Perhaps it’s the Sabbath day.  Perhaps the disciples touched someone unclean.  Perhaps they had not washed their hands.  Since the religious leaders didn’t like Jesus or his followers, they were looking for things to criticize.   Always ready to stir the pot. 

The sad part is that all their arguing never brings them one step closer to a solution to the boy’s problem.  The boy needed to be brought to Jesus but none of that was happening as they wasted time bickering. If Christians argue about silly things far less important than the human soul, we are missing the ball and striking out!  You’re a whiffer!

And here’s the thing.  The critics are not the ones remembered.  We remember Jesus, not the arguers.  If you help others, that will be remembered when your critics are long forgotten. Paul warned Christians about endless debates over genealogies and many things that take you away from the core truth about Jesus Christ. 

Titus 3:9 – “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless”.  Then he goes on to warn divisive people who want to carry on needless quarrels.  It’s unprofitable and useless.  You’re not winning when you argue, you’re losing.

I’ve often felt that the world is not very interested in one church slamming another based on their view of the end times or methods of ministry.  Let’s avoid needless hair splitting and keep the focus where it needs to be.  As the Bible says, knowledge puffs up but love builds us.  Our job is to build up not tear down.  And as Ben Shapiro says, there are lions and scavengers.  Scavengers can’t build things so their focus is on tearing it down.  Lions are the ones who build Jesus built ministry.

While the arguing is taking place, Jesus walks into view.  The crowds see Jesus and they are amazed …. Extremely amazed.  And what’s the result?  They run to Jesus to greet him because hope is found in him. 

I love how they are drawn to him.  What is it about Jesus?  He was a friend of sinners.  He was accepting and he gave people a chance to get on their feet.  Jesus actually cared.  The Pharisees did not allow people the chance to repent and turn their lives around.  They loved rules more than people and it showed.  Jesus on the other hand had compassion, so it was no wonder the crowds would quickly run away from the cold and controlling experts in the law and flock to Jesus. 

Let’s note that Jesus does not join the argument, he simply asks a question.  What are you arguing about?  And perhaps this should be us.  Focus on the mission and helping people.  What argument could have trumped the significance of the soul? 

Arguing is a sign of unbelief because he calls them an unbelieving generation.  Arguing was only preventing good things from happening and didn’t accomplish healing.  Avoid needless controversies.

• Sole Reliance on Human Strength

Vv17-18 –  A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

A man from the crowd answers the question of Jesus.  He brought his son but they could not heal him.  The scene depicts a mute boy having a convulsion.  He was thrown to the ground, foamed at the mouth, ground his teeth and became rigid.  It’s a violent problem and would be unnerving to see it in real time.

He brought the boy to the disciples who represent Jesus Christ.  He said that they were not able to drive the demon out.  Unable means that they did not possess the strength on their own.  The demon in this case was stronger than they were so they could not accomplish the mission. 

This is a great lesson for us, we’re not strong enough to handle all evil.  We don’t want to attempt to handle every problem in our own strength because that will limit us.  Faith in self is limited while faith in God is limitless.  My strength is puny in light of the great needs of the world, we need God. 

Even for salvation.  As Peter asked, how’s it possible for anyone to be saved?  Jesus said that for man it’s not possible but with God it is.  My salvation is not by my own strength and there are so many things in life where you can’t take credit because you realize that all comes from the hand of God.  Yes, work hard and strive but we are unable to handle all that we encounter. 

In their battle with evil, they could not be victorious alone.  This is why we are told to be strong in the Lord.  May our strength come from God.  Paul said that when he’s weak he’s strong.  Why?  He’s relying on God.  He found that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.  WE NEED GOD!

My encouragement is that when you’re not strong enough lean on God.  When you can’t handle it any longer.  Lean on God.  Lean on God all the time! Gain strength from the Lord.  They were unable – so many things I’m unable to do and this is why I count on God. 

(trans.) Another sign of a lack of faith

• You Look Around but No One is Getting Better

The child was not one inch closer to being healed after arguing and them trying to do things in their own strength.  As you contemplate unbelief vs belief, we can ask, “Is anything significant happening in people’s lives”?  Are people coming to Christ?  Are they changing? 

I love hearing stories of changed lives.  I like hearing from people who did not have a walk with Christ and now they do.  It’s incredible and I don’t want to forget it because it keeps you going. 

Amazing Grace sums it up well, I once was lost, but now I’m found.  I was blind but now I see.  If the blind remain blind, then it’s just a human work and we want a work far more profound.  When the spiritually blind can see, that’s God stuff.

• Failure of Faith

V19 – “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

Unbelieving generation.  What an interesting pair of words.  The word “unbelieving” is just that.  It’s the opposite of faith.  Even if you translate it faithless.  What would that mean?  No faith.  Right?  To be devoid of faith or trust! 

If you were to saying that I’m in a joyless occupation, what would that mean?  There is no joy.  The joy has been sucked out of the environment.  Speechless.  It’s means there are no words coming out of your mouth. 

To call someone a faithless generation is SO profound!  In one passage of the Bible, Jesus asked an a profound question about faith.  When I return to earth, will I find any?  So, what does he see at the core of the arguing?  The core of the continuing problem?  He sees a lack of faith. 

Let’s note that it’s an unbelieving generation.  It’s an entire group who is infected with disbelief.  And it’s contagious – right?  There is such a thing as social contagion where a certain thinking permeates everything.  Why is it that unbelief has an easier path into the human heart than faith?

Let’s have a faith is contagious.  Belief is something that elevates a situation where unbelief is something that brings you down.

How long will I be with you?  How long will I endure you?  To endure means to put up with?  With the concept of “how long” we might be able to think about how many chances do we get?  How many chances do we get in this life to exercise faith?  To truly trust God in difficult situations?

It’s a great challenge to think about faith.  Have I lost sight of it somehow?  Can it get weaker?  Where do I need to call upon God and rely on my faith?  What am I doing to stretch my faith?  Where am I being called to rely on God to accomplish something greater than self? 

There are plenty of people like this dad with a boy and they need our prayers.  Don’t argue about dumb things, focus on the important matters. 

• EVIDENCE OF FAITH

Vv20-24 – So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

1. Faith Brings Things to Jesus

Bring him to me.  This is where faith starts – bring the problem to Jesus.  God invites us to cast all of our cares on him.  Why?  Because he cares for us.  Maybe instead of getting frustrated, let’s bring it to God.  That would be a great pattern.  Bring him to me.  Bring your issues and your hurts to Jesus Christ! 

This is the answer to anxiety – pray about it! 

• Faith Brings Hope for Stubborn Issues

As soon as this spirit sees Jesus, it puts on a show.  A final battle ensues but that doesn’t mean that you’re going the wrong direction or that your faith isn’t strong enough. 

V21 – How long?

This is the third time we see the word used.  How long?  Since childhood.  What’s the point of the question?  It shows how persistent the problem is but also how stubborn patterns can be changed.  The boy is thrown down, convulses, foams at the mouth.  It’s been happening since childhood.

There are plenty of maladies and problems that have been going on since we were younger and the problem has a stronghold in our lives.  You can overcome.  You might think, but I’ve been this way my entire life.  It doesn’t mean you can’t change.  It doesn’t mean that God cannot make you new, because He can.

• Faith in What’s Possible Despite the Impossible Situation vv22-23

The dad states the problem once again and says, if you are able.  The problem of the boy is the problem of the father.  He asks Jesus to help “us”.  Why?  When your kids have problems you have problems too.  What the child went through, the father went through.  What one family member goes through impacts us all and this is life.

If you are able, have compassion and help us.  However, his words showed his true struggle because he said, “If you are able”.  Now to be able would mean what, exactly?  It would mean to “be strong enough”.  It’s a conditional statement.  If the first part is true, then what follows must be true.  A first-class condition implies that the speaker assumes the condition is true for the sake of the argument. By saying “If you can do anything”, the father was assuming Jesus did have the ability, though his faith was still mixed with doubt.  Since you have the power to heal, may you have the urgency and compassion. 

We see God as powerful and compassionate and these are two things that we rely on.  You can have all the power in the world you need to have a heart.  You can have a ton of money to help someone but you also need to feel for the plight of others. 

We will put a couple of roofs on for two gals in our church in September.   Knowledge is the power but then there’s the compassion that truly moves you to do it. 

Jesus responds to the if you can.  If I can?  It’s not a matter of the power of God, it’s a matter of our faith which unleashes the power!  Everything is possible for the one who believes.  There is never a question as to the power of God.  God is not weak.  He doesn’t fall asleep.  He holds the universe.  He sustains.  So since he made the world, he can fix it too.  And that’s where faith comes in.

There are certain things that I know aren’t going to happen regardless.  I’m not going to get younger.  There are certain realities that cannot be changed.  All things are possible through faith but I believe in the right tools for the job.  I don’t think that I can turn my bare hand into a chainsaw.  I believe in transportation.  I believe in gardens.  I believe in taking care of the physical things around me.

But spiritual realities such as dealing with evil, that’s something we can conquer through faith.  I’m going to keep believing.  Jesus said it – all things are possible.

• Faith Overcomes Doubt

I do believe, help my unbelief.  This is my favorite story in the Bible.  One of my favorite prayers.  I do believe.  Help my unbelief.  Help me to overcome doubt!

How many times does a person experience such a perplexing issue.  The dad did believe and that was why he brought his son to Jesus in the first place.  He did trust Jesus. However, just like he asks for help for his son, he asks for help to overcome his doubts.   It’s so honest! 

Have you ever prayed this prayer? 

• Faith Brings a Complete Healing

Vv25-27 – When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

The crowd was running.  Jesus cast out the mute and deaf spirit as the crowd rushed toward him.  He told it to leave and never return.  That caught my intention because he said, “Don’t come back”.  Jesus isn’t interested in temporal healings.  He’s into healings that are lasting.  The reign of terror is over.

Apply that to your life.  You can be free of evil and it need never to return.  The spiritual healing that Christ provides is permanent.  Praise God.  You don’t need to return to drugs or alcohol or adultery or pornography or anger.  You can walk away from it and be completely healed.  Do your part of course but there’s a true chance with Christ to become a new person. 

This is one of man’s great hopes.  There can be absolute change.  We can leave something awful or something awful can leave never to return.  We can be free.  Truly free.  This is like a resurrection

It’s like this 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

• Faith is Found in Prayer

Vv28-29 – After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

This kind comes out only through prayer.  Another passage says that it only comes out by prayer and fasting.  Prayer is a sign of our faith.  I wonder what is not happening because we are not praying about it.  Let’s bring life before the Lord. 

CONCLUSION:  My grandson was going down the road and saw all of the hey bails in the field and he was wondering why someone put cinnamon rolls out there.  His faith doesn’t make hay cinnamon rolls!  However, I like how he was thinking!! 

But trusting in God to have spiritual solutions to daunting problems with part of life experiences.