“Help My Unbelief”

Opening Prayer (Adoration & Petition)

Read Mark 9:14-29.

There comes a moment in life when we discover that some problems are simply bigger than us.

We exhaust our options. We try harder. We seek advice. We lean on our experience. Yet the situation remains unchanged. What do we do when our strength is insufficient, and our solutions fail?

Mark brings us to such a moment.

A desperate father brings his suffering son to the disciples, but they cannot help him. The scribes offer no answers. The crowd only watches. Human resources have reached their limit.

Then Jesus arrives.

What follows is not merely a miracle story. It is a lesson about the inadequacy of human power, the struggle of imperfect faith, and the sufficiency of Christ. In the father's honest cry—"I believe; help my unbelief!"—we find one of the most relatable confessions in all of Scripture.

This passage reminds us that when we come to the end of ourselves, we have not reached the end of hope. We have arrived at the place where Christ's power is most clearly displayed.

Mark wants us to see that faith is not confidence in ourselves but dependence upon the all-sufficient power of Jesus Christ.

Jesus leads us to the real problem. (v.14-18)

We see the Lord leading John, James, and Peter down from the mountain as they are learning more about God’s intended deliverance. There is a real passionate argument here, as we see elsewhere:

Job 19:5 “5 “If truly you magnify yourselves against me And argue my disgrace to me,”

Acts 9:29 “29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.”

As Jesus comes near to the crowd, he then asks his disciples what the matter is at hand, and we hear from the Father about his son, who is oppressed by an evil spirit. Satan is one who counterfeits God’s grace for death.

Psalm 104:24 “24 How numerous are Your works, O Yahweh! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.”

Psalm 105:21 “21 He set him up as lord of his house And ruler over all his possessions,”

In the middle of the pressing issue of the boy’s wellbeing, the father makes known that the Disciples were unable to help the boy (This is a radical shortfall for the famed deputies of the Craftsman who heals)

Who is truly sufficient? The World and our circumstances, or the Living God?

Jesus is the only foundation for faith. (v.19-24)

Jesus knows there is little time for the Disciples to learn from Him, as the road to Jerusalem grows short, and the cross draws nearer and nearer.

Again, we see the response by the evil spirit, as it takes the boys into convulsions to kill him. Where darkness dwells;, death ensues, where light dwells, life has hope.

Mark 5:1-20. (The Gerasene Demoniac)

The father speaks with Jesus, and he makes a statement that captures Jesus’ attention. “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

Jesus then draws out from the Father the conflict that rages within him, in order to give hope to the Father and life to his son. Faith (or to believe) is what Jesus points to in this passage.

Genesis 15:6 “6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness.”

John 5:46 “46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.”

Is faith my response to situations around me, or the person of Jesus?

Jesus gives life and hope amid the world. (v.25-29)

Once more, Jesus delivers the demon out of the boy, and as he laid on the ground, seemingly lifeless, Jesus takes him by the hand to raise him. (a subtle hint at the resurrection).

We see a common, recurring issue with the work of God among human beings like you and me. The consequence and effects of sin may linger and make us doubt and despair, only to see God’s power transform us from the inside out and granting us new life.

Romans 7:6 “6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were constrained, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

In the end, we see the problem that accompanied the deliverance of the boy. Faith must be kindled and guarded; cherished and fanned to a flame. It must be constantly supplied by the one whose power makes the whole difference.

Hebrews 11:1–2 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.”

Prayer is not some words alluding to a magical incantation. Prayer is a life and walk of dependence upon the one who hears our deepest sorrows, our gravest confessions, and our most cherished joys.

Matthew 6:5–13 “5 “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore, do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]”

Does my prayer life lead me to self-assertion, or to total surrender?

How do I remain in the power of God?

Total surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Total confidence in God’s Character.

Complete trust in Jesus and his finished work.

Closing Prayer (Thanksgiving & Intercession)