And God knows we struggle at times, that is why Jesus was sent, that is why the Holy Spirit was sent, to complete that which was lacking in our lives. God knows we fall short of His best even in matters of faith and He knows we need His help. And many of us love to strut our faith walk and talk and God loves faith, Hebrews 11:6 tells us ‘without faith it is impossible to please God.’ But God also appreciates honesty, He loves it when we are real with Him, sometimes our faith bravado doesn’t impress Him.
I love the story of the man who came to Jesus with a child who had a mute spirit. Mark 9:17-29 ” O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”
This man had been faced with the awfulness of his circumstances for so long he came to Jesus in pretty rough shape, faith-wise. He had seen his own child throwing himself into the fire to burn himself to death, or into the water to drown himself, the child was possessed by forces determined to destroy his life, and the father was heartbroken, begging Jesus for mercy he says ‘if you can do anything.’
‘ Unfortunately ‘if you can do anything’ is not the kind of statement you make to Jesus. Jesus was the Solution of all his problems, the Answer to all of his questions and He was standing right in front of him, but he was so traumatized by the vicious work of the enemy in his life he had very little faith left to offer. And that is how it is for many of us, we have been through so much hardship, we are tempted to think the enemy is more powerful than God! God help us. And Jesus challenged this man and said “If you can?” Jesus was probably feeling insulted at this point, ‘what do you mean IF?’ Jesus is saying, you obviously have NO idea who you are dealing with here!
And then He says “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Jesus is saying because of who I AM, I can do anything, just believe. The man quickly / immediately becomes very apologetic. He repents. He says “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” He says ‘I believe,’ but he understands his faith is fractured, probably jaded to some extent by life experiences, maybe human wisdom and the philosophy of the day had eroded his faith in the supernatural. But he was desperate for miracle, no-one or nothing else could help him, he needed a miracle from God and in his desperation he says, this unbelief has to go, the supernatural intervention of God is my only hope!
He wasn’t like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, proclaiming his virtues, telling everyone how perfect his faith was, he stood there beat his breast and said ‘God, I’m falling short in the faith area, I repent, I need your help,” he said “God have mercy upon me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Jesus says in Luke 18:14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” I’m telling you if you want to have real faith, you need to be real with God! No faking it! You can fake it with your friends and family, but don’t even begin to try and fake it with God.
And when this man began to stir what little faith he had, and confess the areas he fell short Jesus began to spring into action. God will do a miracle even if our faith is lacking, in order to build our faith. It pays to be real with God, and this man was rewarded with the miracle he needed. Maybe you need a miracle today, I want to encourage you to bring what little faith you have to Jesus and watch Him multiply it – ask God to help your unbelief.
I want to encourage you, no matter how difficult, impossible or awful the circumstances are that you are facing, get before God in your desperation and tell Him you believe He can do miracles, tell Him you struggle sometimes, but you are here to do your best to believe Him.You don’t have to have perfect faith to receive a miracle from God, God knows we are all imperfect, that’s what Jesus died for. Instead acknowledge your imperfection, humble yourself, and let God fill up that which is lacking in your life, so you can receive the miracle you need.
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