2. Help My Unbelief Mark 9:24

3. “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

4. Help My Unbelief  The Setting

5. 1) The father & his son. “Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him” (Luke 9:38-39).

6. 2) Father’s encounter with the disciples. “So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not” (Luke 9:40). “So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him” (Matthew 17:16).

7. 3) Jesus response. “He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me” (Mark 9:19).

8. 4) Discussion between Jesus & disciples. “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:19-21).

9. 5) Jesus & the father. “Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, 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!” (Mark 9:20-24).

10. Help My Unbelief  The Setting  The Words

11. 1) Believe. “absolutely to trust in Jesus or in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something” (Thayer, p. 511). “Belief creates complete dependence upon the Lord and not independence” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament, p. 1160).

12. 2) Unbelief. “want of faith, unbelief; contextually, weakness of faith” (Thayer, p. 57). A.T. Robertson says, “An exact description of his mental and spiritual state. He still had faith, but craved more” (Word Pictures in the New Testament).

13. 3) Different translations. “The child's father cried out at once, “I believe! Help my lack of faith” (God’s Word). “Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!” (New Century). “At once the father of the boy gave (an eager, piercing, inarticulate) cry with tears, and he said, Lord I believe! Constantly help my weakness of faith!” (Amplified Bible).

14. 4) Believe & faith. Believe – pisteuō – verb, used 248 times in the N.T. Faith – pistis – noun, used 244 times in the N.T. Unbelief – apistia – noun, used 12 times in the N.T.

15. Help My Unbelief  The Setting  The Words  The Need For Belief

16. 1) John’s gospel. “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

17. 2) Must believe in God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

18. 3) Only way to be saved. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

19. Help My Unbelief  The Setting  The Words  The Need For Belief  Degrees Of Faith

20. 1) Some had no faith. “But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

21. 2) Others had little faith. “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

22. 3) Had those who were weak in faith. “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things” (Romans 14:1).

23. 4) Some were growing in the faith. “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

24. 5) Some were full of faith. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8).

25. 6) Are to be rich in faith. “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5).

26. 7) Others had great faith. “When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10).

27. Help My Unbelief  The Setting  The Words  The Need For Belief  Degrees Of Faith  Help My Unbelief

28. 1) When I see the wicked prosper! “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked…Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence” (Psalm 73:2- 3, 13). “When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end” (Psalm 73:16-17).

29. 2) When suffering. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

30. 3) When dealing with trials & temptations. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3). “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:12-13).

31. 4) When family & friends turn against me. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-37).

32. 5) When facing death. “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes” (Job 14:14). “But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

33. Help My Unbelief  The Setting  The Words  The Need For Belief  Degrees Of Faith  Help My Unbelief