Believe Part III

9. February 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

We’re still studying our text from last Friday.  Here it is again for your review. 

Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 ”Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 ”O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

We ended on last Friday talking about how when Jesus found out that the disciples could not cast out the demon that he called that generation faithless and perverse.  Today we want to pick up with what happens next.   If you have been following my daily devotionals then you are aware that I use a method of hermeneutics (science of interpretation) called the historical grammatical approach.   Inside this method, when you study the context, it is studied in its immediate, remote, and historical setting.  Today I want to use the remote source of this story to show you how it gives you more insight and details as to what is going on.   All that we mean by the remote context is simply when the story you are studying has been told or repeated in another source.   For this particular example, this story is told in Mark 9^th chapter and in Luke.   Let’s look at the account in Mark and you’ll see what I mean.

Mark 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. 15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them ^F28? 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth ^F29 him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

In Mark’s account, it gives us the details of the conversation with the Father.  Jesus asks him how long has his son been demon possessed and the father responds since childhood.  Jesus has just established longevity of time.   The father then pleads to Jesus to have compassion on them and help.  Jesus then responds with a famous and popular verse known in the church world.  It is “If thou can believe, all things are possible.”  The bible says that immediately the man burst into tears.  You can tell that Jesus has gotten to the root of the man’s problem which is his belief system.   Longevity of time and constant disappointment can cause unbelief.   The man takes his son to the disciples and the disciples cannot cast the demon out.  Jesus has given them power and they had been going about healing and casting out demons but all of a sudden when it is this man’s turn, the disciples had lost their power.

Have you ever just felt like why when it is your turn, or when it comes to you nothing seems to work out.  It seems that everything and everybody around you can prosper and get their blessing but you struggle over and over again.   This is the first encounter in our text where the disciples have lost their ability to cast out demons and it happens to this man.  By the time he gets to Jesus, his request is Lord, have compassion on us and if you can do anything, please help us. 

 The man responds to Jesus; “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.”  It almost seems like a contradiction.     Lord, I believe, that’s why I brought him to your disciples.  I believe, that’s why I keep coming to church, that’s why I keep reading the bible though it seems like nothing is changing, that’s why I keep praying though it seems like prayers just constantly go unanswered, Lord I believe, this is my son…..  I believe but I have been disappointed, time and time and time again so Please God …..  I believe but help my unbelief.  Help me God with these thoughts that say this time will be no different than the rest.  Help me with those thoughts that say this will be another disappointment.  Help me get rid of the “enemy that’s in my mind” that constantly keeps discouraging me.  Lord, I believe that’s why I’m still trying, that’s why I haven’t given up, but help my unbelief.  Help me overcome these negative thoughts. 

Have you ever experienced constant disappointment?  You know that God is able but for whatever reason, you’re just not sure that God will do it for you.  

You’re told it’s your season so much that know when you hear it, you wanna believe it but you’ve been disappointment by the past and what you thought should or should not have happened if it were your season.

Lord, help my unbelief.   The disciples were not the man’s problem.  Jesus will deal with his disciples later on.   The problem was the man’s belief system.    The issue is: will we believe God’s word.   All things are possible if we believe.  If we really believe then our conversation will change.  Our attitude will change.  Despite the circumstances, we will hold on to God’s word.  Our actions will reflect our beliefs for we know that faith without works is dead.  We would get up off that couch, start dreaming again.  Work towards our goals even if they are baby steps.  We would constantly push towards the promise and word that is on our life, if we really believe. 

Yes, I do understand that life and people and circumstances has a way of robbing us and beating us down and making us settle for the “status quo” but Lord, I believe again and I want something better.     Lord, I want all that your word says I can embrace in this life.  I WANT MORE!!!!!!!

Lord, I believe……….. but help thou my unbelief.     Nobody can hinder us but us.   The problem lies from within.   He can blame the disciples, but the issue is his beliefs.   All things are possible if you believe..    

Ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!   I BELIEVE AGAIN……

 Okay, tomorrow, we will end this story by looking at what Jesus says to his disciples when they ask him why they could not cast out the demon. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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