Help our Unbelief!

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Jesus commands us to have faith, and he gives faith to those he loves.
The mountaintop experience is followed by service
The physical and the spiritual are often connected
The faith of the congregation impacts the kingdom impact
Luke 9:37–43 (ESV)
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at 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 shatters him, and will hardly leave him.
And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
Mark’s account of this story adds some detail:
Mark 9:14–28 ESV
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
Jesus commands us to have faith, and he gives faith to those he loves.
The mountaintop experience is followed by service
The physical and the spiritual are often connected
The faith of the congregation impacts the kingdom impact
Luke 9:37 ESV
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
Right after the transfiguration
When we are given a refreshing time in the presence of God, we should use that to spur us on to more service in his kingdom
Sometimes the break ends suddenly and we need to get back to work.
Just as our secular work, a vacation ends and we have to get right back to the job
Luke 9:38 ESV
And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
An only child.
This makes the plea all the more compelling
Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth (Luke’s Revised Version)
Out of the tumult rose a pathetic voice with a heart-rending plea: “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.” The Greek verb translated “look at” is the same verb Mary used in the Magnificat in reference to God’s compassion—“Look with mercy, Lord!”
However, this does not mean that Jesus only cares about someone if they are an only child
It does show that loneliness and sorrow are felt more greatly when a person’s family or circle of friends is small
A reminder that we must make the most of our relationships in the church.
it is much easier to process sorrow and grief in the context of a larger, loving group
Luke 9:39 ESV
And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.
People have tried to explain away the demonic component. It may have been epilepsy, they say
It could have been something like epilepsy, but that does not mean that people back then were just too simple to know that, so they attributed it to scripture.
Physical disease is often spiritually connected.
This is why we are called to pray when we have sickness.
James 5:13–16 (ESV)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Calvin:
Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 17:14–18; Mark 9:14–27; Luke 9:37–43

Let us learn from this how many ways Satan has of injuring us, were it not that he is restrained by the hand of God. Our infirmities both of soul and body, which we feel to be innumerable, are so many darts with which Satan is supplied for wounding us. We are worse than stupid, if a condition so wretched does not arouse us to prayer. But in this we see also an amazing display of the goodness of God, that, though we are liable to such a variety of dangers,1 he surrounds us with his protection; particularly if we consider with what eagerness our enemy is bent on our destruction. We ought also to call to remembrance the consoling truth, that Christ has come to bridle his rage, and that we are safe in the midst of so many dangers, because our diseases are effectually counteracted by heavenly medicine.

Jesus commands us to have faith, and he gives faith to those he loves.
The mountaintop experience is followed by service
The physical and the spiritual are often connected
The faith of the congregation impacts the kingdom impact
Luke 9:40 ESV
And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
Why couldn’t they? They lacked faith - Calvin
Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke Matthew 17:14–18; Mark 9:14–27; Luke 9:37–43

it is not the Lord that prevents his benefits from flowing to us in large abundance, but that it must be attributed to the narrowness of our faith, that it comes to us only in drops, and that frequently we do not feel even a drop, because unbelief shuts up our heart.

And yet, we may have faith as a gift from him. We must ask:
Mark 9:24 ESV
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Luke 17:5–6 ESV
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Whatever we lack, we should ask for. Faith, wisdom, love, grace, etc
Luke 9:41 ESV
Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
It is tempting here to attribute a tone that may not be here.
Jesus was not
Surprised at the lack of faith
ready to give up
aggravated to the point of unholy anger.
Any feelings Jesus had were holy feelings.
His feelings were within his character (same as the Father’s character)
Mark adds: Mark9.29
Mark 9:29 ESV
And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Here we see that the apostles had authority from Jesus, but in some cases they cannot command the evil spirit. If this kind can only be driven out by prayer, then the believer would be wise to pray!
Ask God to command it.
Do not rely on your own strength or be arrogant about your faith.
Satan and his demons have real power on this earth, but Jesus has more
Ask God to fight on your behalf.
Many people go around talking to the devil or to demons. It is much safer to talk to the Lord who they must submit to.
If you had to deal with a bully at school and you are weak, would you try to fight the bully yourself, or go to the authority who can intercede for you?
You may work to get strong. You may take a self-defense class. You may learn about verbal strategies to deal with the bully. But until you are able to handle it all without getting in trouble yourself, you must appeal to the authority.
So it is with the believer. Help my unbelief. Work to build your faith, but remain dependent on the Lord.
As the man’s son was coming, the demon violently demonstrates his hold on him: Luk9.42
Luke 9:42 ESV
While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit.
A lesson here, again, is to call on Christ to rebuke on our behalf.
He rebuked the spirit and healed the boy. Again, this shows a link between the physical and the spiritual.
The result: Luk9.43
Luke 9:43 (ESV)
And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
Jesus commands us to have faith, and he gives faith to those he loves.
The mountaintop experience is followed by service
The physical and the spiritual are often connected
The faith of the congregation impacts the kingdom impact
How is our faith?
Do we believe the gospel still saves sinners? Rom1.16
Romans 1:16 ESV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that God can help us to do what he has called us to? 2Cor9.8
2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we believe that God can still turn a hear of stone to a heart of flesh? Ezek36.26
Ezekiel 36:26 ESV
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that the gates of hell shall not prevail over the church?
Matthew 16:18 ESV
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that he will guard until that day what he has entrusted to us? 2Tim1.12
2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)
But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe in the value of scripture? 2Tim3.16
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that he is with us wherever we go? Josh1.9
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we believe that God can still add to his church? Acts2.47
Acts 2:47 (ESV)
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that Christ holds all things together? Col1.15-17
Colossians 1:15–17 ESV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that we are free from sin? Rom8.1-2
Romans 8:1–2 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe we have peace with God in Christ? Rom5.1
Romans 5:1 ESV
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe we are saved from God’s wrath? Rom5.9
Romans 5:9 ESV
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that the Spirit helps us in our weakness? Rom8.26
Romans 8:26 ESV
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that all things will work together for the good of the church? Rom 8.28
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe Jesus is coming? Act1.11
Acts 1:11 ESV
and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Revelation 22:12 ESV
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that God is light? 1Jo1.5
1 John 1:5 ESV
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that disciples of Christ are friends of Christ? John15.15
John 15:15 ESV
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe we are new creations in Christ? 2Cor5.17
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe the Great Commission is our personal mission? Matt28.19
Matthew 28:19 ESV
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that we ought to have an answer for people? 1Pet3.15
1 Peter 3:15 ESV
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that meeting together as believers is essential and commanded by scripture? Heb10.24-25
Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Do we still believe that Jesus never changes? Heb13.8
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
“We believe, help our unbelief”
Jesus commands us to have faith, and he gives faith to those he loves.
The mountaintop experience is followed by service
The physical and the spiritual are often connected
The faith of the congregation impacts the kingdom impact
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