Help My Unbelief Series

GOSPEL OF MARK: GOD’S SERVANT IN ACTION

HELP MY UNBELIEF

A. Mark 9:14-27 (READ)

COMMENT:

A DESPERATE father! . . . a father who deeply LOVES his son. . . . a father who has tried EVERYTHING to help his BOY. Undoubtedly, he heard stories about Jesus—how He has helped people who were DEMON POSSESSED. He BRINGS his son to the DISCIPLES of Jesus hoping

they can help. For some reason, they are UNABLE to CAST the DEMON out.

The father’s only HOPE was that Jesus could HELP his troubled SON. “If you can do anything,” the father pleads with Jesus, “take pity on us and help us.” “If you can!” Jesus answered

astonishingly. “All things are possible to him who believes.”

“I do believe!” the father cries. “Help me overcome my unbelief.”

1. What an honest answer! An answer that says, “I want more than anything to BELIEVE, but I have

this DOUBT!”

a. Even so, after reading this some Christians probably ask, “What could that father possibly mean when he said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief’? You are either a believer or you’re not! Make up

your mind!”

b. We Christians strongly affirm, “I BELIEVE!”

COMMENT:

Often, however, when confronted with TRAGEDY or HARDSHIP we begin to QUESTION our FAITH in God and in His PROMISES.

2. Maybe, like the father, during times of difficulty we should honestly and humbly cry out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

B. Have you ever faced a TRAGEDY that has caused you to QUESTION God—to question your FAITH?

1. I have been a preacher for over 3 DECADES, and during this time I have sat at BEDSIDES, held HANDS, PRAYED for, and PREACHED FUNERALS of people who have faced some of the most

TRYING of CIRCUMSTANCES.

a. Some remained FAITHFUL, some did not.

ILLUSTRATION:

One of the very first funerals I had to preach was that of an 18-year-old girl who DIED from complications after SURGERY. She was 60 to 70 pounds OVERWEIGHT. She didn’t have many FRIENDS. Her mother constantly BELITTLED her because of her WEIGHT. So, her mother insisted that her daughter get her STOMACH STAPLED; a relatively new PROCEDURE back in the early

80’s. Two days after SURGERY, she was DEAD.

At the girl’s funeral her mother told me with TEARS in her eyes, “I much rather have her FAT than DEAD.” A year later, the mother committed SUICIDE.

b. I have preached several FUNERALS of people who lost HOPE and FAITH, and took their own LIVES. I preached a funeral of a dear, sweet lady who was MURDERED—STRANGLED TO DEATH—by her next-door neighbor. I preached the funeral of a 3-month-old baby that died from SIDS.

2. The FAMILIES that are left behind are DEVASTATED. They don’t understand “WHY!” And no doubt many CRY OUT, “Lord, I believe; HELP my UNBELIEF.”

MESSAGE:

I. “IF YOU DO ANYTHING?”- vv. 14-22

A. Peter, James and John are returning from the MOUNTAIN on which Jesus had been GLORIFIED and

VISITED by Moses and Elijah from heaven.

1. It was as close to an “OTHER-WORLD” experience one gets, and now they descend to “THE

REAL WORLD” where yet another CONTROVERSY is taking place.

a. As they come closer, they hear a HEATED-ARGUMENT between Christ’s DISCIPLES and the

TEACHERS of the LAW.

b. Jesus INTERRUPTS and asks the Teachers of the Law, “What are you arguing with them

about?”- v. 16.

COMMENT:

Apparently, the ARGUMENT started when a man brought his SON to Christ’s DISCIPLES to be HEALED of DEMON POSSESSION, but they couldn’t do it. So, the TEACHERS of the LAW rushed in to take ADVANTAGE of the situation, by, undoubtedly, TRIVIALIZING the disciples’ FAILURE to CAST OUT the DEMON.

2. While this SHOUTING back and forth is going on between these RELIGIOUS MEN, there is a

DAD standing there who DESPERATELY wants somebody to HELP his BOY.

a. Matthew records that when Jesus came on the scene “the man fell to his knees before Him and

said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son.’”- Matthew 17:14.

COMMENT:

It’s APPALLING to admit, but there have been too many times (and one time is too many) when we have allowed DISAGREEMENTS and QUARRELS within the church to overshadow the

HURTS and NEEDS of people.

While we are trying to PROVE our point—the LOST remain UNSAVED, NEEDS remain

UNMET, HURTING MEMBERS leave the CHURCH. And we don’t even NOTICE!

b. Whatever HOPE and FAITH this father had in bringing his SON to Christ’s DISCIPLES for help is gradually being CHIPPED AWAY by the CONTROVERSY that him being there has caused.

B. But then comes Jesus!

1. The father DESCRIBES to Jesus what his SON has been going through- vv. 17b-18a (READ).

a. Everything that this Dad has tried to HELP his SON has not WORKED.

COMMENT: