You’ve most likely read these chapters in Mark and Matthew before.
They tell about how Christ heals a demon possessed boy.
But, sometimes we look at the miracle and not so much the faith behind it.
How Christ Heals the Demon Possessed Boy Through a Father’s Faith
The Bible study lesson for today comes from Mark 9. And, it shows how a little faith can go a long way.
The question of Faith! How much does it take? And, do we have enough?
Learn about how the faith of a father allowed the demon possessed boy to be healed. With faith, Jesus says anything is possible.
What is Faith?
I looked up “faith” through Dictionary.com to find their definition of the word. The first one was:
“confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability.”
But, the second was more interesting. It simply says faith is:
“belief that is not based on proof.”
This definition brought to mind a verse from John 20:29 where Jesus says;
“Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” ~ NASB
Our world today seems to put more faith in what they can prove.
For example, archaeologists look for ruins to prove places in the Bible really existed. But sadly, many times their motive is to try and prove these places never existed!
So, do we have enough faith in what God’s Word tells us? Let’s leave this tangent and move on to the lesson..
Help This Demon Possessed Boy – If You Can…
In this passage from Mark, the father of the demon possessed boy asked Jesus to help him, “if He could“.
Bluntly, the father exhibited the type faith most of us have – with a little bit of doubt added.
Yes, faith takes a certain amount of confidence and trust in what Christ can do.
But, this passage from Mark shows that even a small amount of faith goes a long way through prayer – if we will only believe.
Jesus Drives Out the Demon
When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.
Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.
And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”
And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.
I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”
And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”
They brought the boy to Him.
When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.
But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’
All things are possible to him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”
After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”
But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.
When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?”
And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” – Mark 9:14-29 NASB
Anything is Possible
When Jesus made this statement, you can almost hear His patience dwindling, as the father of the demon possessed boy said those words; “if you can do anything“.
What Can Christ Do Through Faith?
It was never a question of Christ being able to do something. But, throughout His ministry He performed many miracles – all because of the faith of the people. In many cases, the miracles involved a very small amount of faith.
Only Believe
I have heard these words uttered many times in church. But I, just like many others, have always struggled with faith.
When times are to the point of “no hope“, and I don’t even know what to pray for, God takes up where my faith leaves off. And, He provides exactly what I need.
What We Want – What We Need
Notice, I didn’t say that God gives us everything we want. He is not our personal banker who has a vault that opens every time we are short of cash.
But, God does give us..
- everything we need
- when we need it
- as He sees fit.
He knows exactly what is best for us. So, next time you pray and it seems that God is not answering, or not answering in the way you thought He should, you may be right.
God’s Way vs Our Way
God has His own understanding of what is good for us and what is not.
And, He has His own timetable to put our situation in tune with His plan.
So, a true display of faith is when we turn it all over to God and let Him work in our lives, in His own way.
Sure, this is easier said than done.
But, we can’t second guess God’s plan for us.
We have no idea how the answers to prayer will effect other people. He does!
How Much Faith is Enough?
My “faith factor“, on a scale of 1-10, ranges between 2 and 7, according to the situation.
Pitiful, isn’t it? Yes, I many times have faith the size of the mustard seed. But, I pray that God will help me to improve.
What’s your faith number? Could it be higher?
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to discover how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here and take the first steps.