One of the prayer request in our weekly prayer meeting is that the LORD increase our faith. There are several within our church who are in need of a miracle. When we pray, we feel our faith is not strong enough to even be classed as a mustard seed. It is our hearts desire that we believe that the LORD will answer our prayers. In the past few years, we have seen many who have survived cancer and their life extended by the LORD’s mercy. We know the LORD can and does heal people when it looks like all hope is gone.
In the book of St. Mark, chapter 9 and verses 23 and 24 we read: "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."
In this passage of scripture, we have an example of a faith that had been severely shaken before it was recognized and rewarded. The man spoken of in the text was desperately in need of the miracle working power of Jesus Christ. How many times in our life have we gone to others before going to the LORD?
According to the narrative, his son was totally deprived of his natural powers by the demon forces of darkness. The scriptures describe him as an individual with a dumb spirit and a person who is constantly tormented of the devil. When evil spirits lay hold of him, they tear him and leave him foaming at the mouth and totally exhausted. The man of the text evidently had heard of the miracle-working power of Christ and had brought the boy in hopes of having him cured. No doubt his faith was about as strong as faith can be under such difficult circumstances.
No doubt he felt he had a difficult case to bring to the LORD and a cure would require something more than a human agency to effect. Matters were complicated even further when he brought the young man to the disciples and had to go away disappointed. The thing he thought could be accomplished by the disciples was not accomplished at all.
There are times that we go to the doctors to find healing and they are unable to meet our need. The gift of healing does include the gift God has given doctors to heal the body. However, there are times when the doctors cannot give us the results we need. Just like the disciples they are unable to perform the "miracle" that is needed.
I understand the frustration of the disciples. They no doubt made every effort to change the young man's condition. They may have laid hands upon him calling upon God for an answer to his condition, yet nothing happened. By the time they were through with the ritual of their own faith, the faith of the father must have been seriously shaken. He went away disappointed and disenchanted with the professed power of the disciples.
I have often wondered when asked to pray for someone who is faced with a crisis in their life if my faith is strong enough to find the answer to their problem? I have struggled with why some prayers are answered almost immediately, and others go unanswered?
It was at this point that something happened that would alter the situation entirely. The LORD appeared upon the scene, and the question of the child's deliverance was raised once more. The father took the time to explain the boy's condition to Christ just as he had explained it to his disciples. He told him how the spirits took the boy and cast him into the fire and into the water. It would appear that the father had reached a point of desperation as he appealed to the LORD for compassion and assistance.
In verse 22 he expresses his doubts by saying, "If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." The "IF" of this statement is about as big an "IF" that you can find anywhere in the scriptures. It suggests to us that his faith had indeed been shaken. His heart was entertaining serious doubts about LORD's ability to perform the work that needed to be performed. He wanted the work done desperately, yet the ability of faith had received a shock from which it was not easy to recover.
How many times in our Christian journey have we experienced the same feeble faith this father had? Faith can be easily quenched or fanned into a glowing fire. It all depends on how that faith is used.
The LORD turned the question of IF back to the father, "IF thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." The big "IF" of verse 22 is followed by a bigger "IF" of verse 23. The LORD lays the responsibility for the exercise of faith on the shoulders of this father. The LORD does not question the power to perform the miracle, yet that power must be activated by the faith of the individual. If the tragic condition is to be changed, it must be changed by faith. If the forces of darkness are to be driven back, they must be driven back by the faith and confidence that is placed in LORD.
I can understand the father's struggle with his own faith. There are many times when it seems my faith is shattered and shaken by the events that transpire. The things I thought would happen just never came to pass. The prayers I thought ought to be answered were not answered as I wanted them to be answered.
I have often wondered if the prosperity of the time has made us more reliant upon our own ability to meet our needs than allowing the LORD to be the all powerful God we profess to serve? There is no doubt in my mind that we have forsaken faith in God and placed our faith in the ability of man. We do not allow God to be God. Often God is the last resort in our desperation to find help.
As knowledge has increased, there is very little that man does not know. The secrets of nature have been unlocked and the technology of our times has brought those secrets into service. Questions are being raised today that tend to shatter the faith of individuals. There is much more taking place to inspire doubt than there is belief, yet we need to respond to the LORD's appeal in a positive manner just as this father responded. We need to take our weakened faith and put it into action.
The desperate father answered the LORD by saying, "Lord, I believe, Help thou mine unbelief." In other words, I am doing all I can to believe, yet there are doubts in the back of my mind. Lord, I want you to honor my small faith and help my unbelief in doing so.
IF we could see one miracle it would cure our unbelief and increase our faith. Or, would it? In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6 we read,
And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves; for their heart was hardened—What a statement! The meaning seems to be that if they had but "considered the “miracle of the loaves," just a few hours before, they would not be amazed at what the LORD might do within the whole circle of power and grace. They had spent a whole day with the LORD performing one miracle after another ending with the feeding of the four thousand. Yet, they were amazed when he walked on water and stilled the waves.
How many times has the LORD given us miracles and we fail to “consider not the miracle of the loaves” in our own life? Our prayer should be the same as this father’s, “ Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."
The LORD did what He said He would do in response to an open heart and operating faith. He will do the same today as we meet His conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment