Mark 9:20-24 - 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!”
John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
What if we asked Jesus to help us overcome unbelief?
A. Reasons for Unbelief.
Unanswered prayers
2 Cor 12:7-9 “Because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Unexplained Evil in the worldUnknown informationUnfocused on BeliefUnwillingness to Believe
Acts 14:2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Acts 19:9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Unappreciated View of God
B. Misunderstandings of Belief. Maybe just need to . . .
Need to – Shut off your brainNeed to just intellectually have the answers
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Need to have all the answersNeed to see a miracle
Luke 16:31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Need an Experience
C. Path to Building Belief.
1. Choose
John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
2. Ask
3. Seek
4. Feed
5. Obey
6. Grace
7. Help
8. Look
John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Examples for encouragement from those before us
Abraham – yet still stumbled.
Romans 4:3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Hudson Taylor – Stumbled.
“God is not looking for men of great faith, He is looking for common men to trust His great faithfulness.”
