Have you ever felt like you needed more power? Maybe you came up against things that you could not handle. Often in the lives of the early disciples they faced situations that were overwhelming. Their faith was weak at times and they were easily shaken. This happened to them when they faced storms they could not sail through. It also happened when they did not have enough food to feed the multitudes and when they did not have money to pay their taxes. Consider the story in the New Testament when the Lord’s disciples could not do what was needed. A man had brought his son to be healed and they did not have the ability to drive out the evil spirit or heal him. When they did not know what to do, they brought it to Jesus. You should know that we have a strong Savior.
Mark 9:14-29 NIV When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 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.” “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 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. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Mark 9:23-24 NKJV Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
The man in today’s story was in a great crisis and panic over the condition of his son.
His son was in a physical and spiritual crisis. Have you ever been deeply concerned about someone you loved? Has your deep concern turned into worry and fear?
This father’s deep concern and worry brought him to Jesus.
Once in Christ’s presence, his unbelief threatened him receiving the Lord’s help. He had trouble believing that anyone could help him.
It is terrible to be at the feet of Jesus and have doubt and fear control your future.
While our deep concern and worry may bring us to the Lord, it can so dominate our thoughts and prayers. Worry and unbelief causes us to have trouble receiving God’s answers.
The situation that was presented to Jesus may help us in our current situations.
To have an unshakable life, we need a strong savior.
First, this man faced an unexpected difficulty.
When he brought his son to the disciples, they could not help him.
The disciples were incompetent.
They were bold. They knew the right words. They had dealt with these kinds of spiritual and physical problems before, but they could not help him.
Even with all of their boldness, they did not have the necessary skills, authority, or power to help him.
They had a good reputation. They spoke about the good things they did for others, yet, they could not help his son. The more they prayed, the more frustrated they became. They were too weak or incompetent to help him.
This man was facing a situation that seemed impossible.
Hopelessness was pulling at his heart. His son’s problem was just too great and the Lord’s disciples were powerless to help him. He was facing a spiritual and physical giant of a problem.
The Lord delights in solving impossible situations.
When no one else can help, bring your situation to Jesus. Jesus can bring relief.
To have an unshakable life, we need a strong savior.
Second, this father was not sure that the Savior could help.
The man asked Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us.” “If” is a big word. It carries all of the doubt and anxiety that this father faced. After failing to receive anything from the Lord’s disciples, his faith was challenged.
The people of Isaiah’s day grew discouraged while they were in exile and bondage.
They questioned God. Did God care about their problems? Could He even help them in their situation?
In their distress, God told Isaiah to cry out or proclaim His word to His people. In Isaiah 40, God had a word of comfort for His people.
God began telling them that He was bringing an end to their situation. He was coming to their aid with double for all their sins. He said every valley would be exalted and every mountain and hill would be brought low. He would make every crooked place straight and every rough place smooth.
Their fear, anxiety, and pain had caused them to look at God like He was just another man.
They suffered greatly in Babylon. Who could help them? Anxiety whispers, “God doesn’t care.” Fear mocks and says; “The Savior is powerless.” Worry says: “Things can only get worse.”
Isaiah 40:25 NLT “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
In Isaiah 40, God told His people that He is Almighty God. You need to know and understand Who the Lord your God really is. He is the Omnipotent (Almighty), Omniscient (All knowing), Omnipresent (Everywhere Present), Sovereign (Has all authority) God. He is the Holy, Wise, Good, Merciful, and Loving God. The Lord our God is greater than any other. God said He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. He measured the heaven with His fingers. He weighed the dust of the earth and the mountains in His scales. God said He never faints or grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Recently, Israel was under attack by Iran. Iran sent over 180 ballistic missiles into Israel. Each of those missiles had the capacity to flatten an entire apartment complex. Under attack, the people of Israel fled to their bomb shelters. When the attack was over, none of the rockets had hit their targets. They all were destroyed, landed in sand, or in water. Only one man from Gaza lost his life with the fragments of one of those rockets.
In Isaiah 40:31 God said, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Don’t diminish the Lord your God. He can help you. He is mighty to save and deliver.
To have an unshakable life, we need a strong savior.
Third, the Lord was not limited by the man’s weak faith.
The Scripture says: “He cried out with tears… Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”
Filled with emotion and tears, his small faith challenged his unbelief.
He knew that his faith was weak. He knew that his only hope was in Jesus Christ. He was distressed by his own unbelief and cried out for mercy from the Lord.
Unbelief kept the children of Israel out of the Promised Land for 40 years.
They came to the border of blessing and inheritance but could not enter because they did not believe. They looked into the blessing, but they could not enter. They did not believe that God was able to help them. Unbelief doubts the power of the Omnipotent God. Unbelief doubts the value of God’s promises.
Although that father was distressed at his own unbelief, he refused to stop there.
What did he do? He refused to be controlled by his own weakness. He cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
“Lord, I believe…”
You can come to Christ today with even a small amount of faith.
Isaiah 42 was prophesying about the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:3 NKJV says, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.”
What does that mean? The New Living Translation can help with this.
Isaiah 42:3 NLT He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope.
If you have any faith at all, come to Christ for help. You may feel that you are so weak that you can barely come to Him. He will help you.
The father of this incurably sick and spiritually bound son said: “…Help!”
You can hear desperation and almost panic in his voice. Where can I go but to the Lord?
What did Jesus do?
Jesus did not lecture him on his weak faith. He didn’t scold him for unbelief, anxiety or desperation. He didn’t give him a lecture with ten ways to get stronger faith. In power and great authority, Jesus commanded the deaf and dumb spirit to leave and the man’s son was healed.
Call out to the Lord with the faith that you have and Jesus Christ will help.
If you are concerned about a loved one, come to Jesus. If you are having a difficulty in life that you cannot solve, come to Jesus. Bring any case to Him. In every situation, come to Jesus. Come with the faith that you have. He will help you. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
