Help My Unbelief

Help My Unbelief

October 5, 2008 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Don’t doubt; just believe.

Focus Passage: Mark 9:14-24

Introduction:

I. IT IS A STATEMENT OF SHEER HONESTY

a. This man was being as honest with the Lord as he possibly could.

1. He was saying, “Yes, Lord I believe in what you can do ... I think.”

2. He was saying, “Lord, I believe in your power, ... or at least I want to believe in your power.”

b. Which is the greater sin? Faltering in our faith, or faking our faith? FAKING!

c. Other Biblical characters had times of doubt.

i. I.e. John the Baptist in Matthew 11:1-6 had a bout with doubt. Jesus didn’t condemn Him for it. He reassured him!

ii. Elijah confronted 400 prophets of Baal, called down fire from Heaven, then ran when Jezebel threatened to kill him

iii. Moses doubted God when God told him to go to Pharaoh

iv. Zacharias doubted the angel of God and was mute until John was born.

II. IT IS A STATEMENT OF SERIOUS CONCERN

Mar 9:23 Jesus said, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

Mar 9:24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!"

a. He was concerned that although he believed in Jesus, perhaps he

did not believe enough!

b. Jesus is saying the same thing to some of us here today.

“Where is your faith?” “Why isn’t your faith where it needs to be?”

III. IT IS A STATEMENT OF SINCERE DESIRE

a. v 24 “The father of the child CRIED OUT, and said WITH TEARS”

b. it’s easy for us to say, “O Lord, I have great faith in you!”

Invitation: THE AFRICAN IMPALA is capable of jumping nearly 9 feet into the air,

although it is a very small creature, only about 3 1/2 feet tall. Yet, did you know that any zoo can keep the impala confined to a yard with a stone wall only 4 feet high? WHY? Because the impala will NEVER JUMP anywhere, unless it can see the place where his feet will land!

IS THAT YOU?