Sunday 28 August 2022

Where there is Faith ...

 

Mark 9:16 onwards.

I recommend you read this Bible passage as it has a lot for us to learn. Here's a summary:

There was a man with a son possessed with an evil spirit. He said to Jesus, "I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit but they could not!"

The child was brought to Jesus and having explained about his condition since childhood the man said, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!" 

"If You can?" echoed Jesus. "All things are possible to him who believes!"

To which the man responds the immortal words, "I do believe; help my unbelief!"

These words were spoken as a prayer for us. How often do we get into a situation where our faith falters and we're not sure what to believe any more? There is no shame in turning to God and saying honestly, "Help me God ... I don't know what to believe!"

Jesus was impressed by the man's honesty and He healed his son.

But the story does not end there. Later, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why could we not drive out the evil spirit?" 

Jesus answered, "This kind cannot come out, except by prayer."

I think what Jesus is teaching us here is true faith. We may pray and pray, but are our prayers accompanied by faith? Do we truly believe that God will answer them positively?

Whilst the disciples of Jesus could not at the time drive out the evil spirit, later on we learn that they too performed many miracles.

In the book of Acts Chapter 3 we read that as Peter and John went into the Temple to pray they met a man at The Beautiful Gate who had been lame all his life. The beggar expected money from the two apostles. Peter turned to him and said, ‘I don’t have silver or gold. But what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth get up and walk!’ and the man was healed.

The important thing to note here is that Peter said ‘in the name of Jesus Christ get up and walk.’

It is God, through Christ, who performs miracles and not the disciples or the apostles or any of us.

Later on in Acts 5 Verse 12 we read that many miracles were performed by the apostles. Sick people lay in the streets so that Peter’s shadow would fall upon them and heal them. And indeed many were healed.

Even today, miracles happen in the name of God through Christ.

All we have to do is believe in an unbelieving world.

18 comments:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE0Dh-cogcU

    Lyrics.....
    I believe in faithfulness
    I believe in giving of myself for someone else
    I believe in peace and love
    I believe in honesty and trust but it's not enough
    For all that I believe may never change the way it is
    Unless I believe Jesus lives
    Where there is faith
    There is a voice calling, keep walking
    You're not alone in this world
    Where there is faith
    There is a peace like a child sleeping
    Hope everlasting in He who is able to
    Bear every burden, to heal every hurt in my heart
    It is a wonderful, powerful place
    Where there is faith
    There's a man across the sea
    Never heard the sound of freedom ring
    Only in his dreams
    There's a lady dressed in black
    In a motorcade of cadillacs
    Daddy's not coming back
    Our hearts begin to fall
    And our stability grows weak
    But Jesus meets our needs if only we believe...
    ❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...and a bit of hard work won't hurt.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My friend you hit a nerve here:
    There is no shame in turning to God and saying honestly, "Help me God ... I don't know what to believe!"
    I have been in a cross of minds lately, and I do pray this, "Help me with my own beliefs!"
    Thanks for the prayers.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Praying for you right now, Jack, that whatever is troubling your faith will soon go away with God's help and grace.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  4. Amen, Victor! It is by grace and our faith that Jesus still performs miracles today.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed He does; even when our faith is weak.

      God bless you and yours Martha.

      Delete
  5. I don't know why it's so hard for me to believe (that) miracles happen to other people, but so much myself. I'm comforted by my son's favorite verse: Matthew 7:7.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mevely, I could give so many examples of miracles in my life ... ... ...

      Yes, that is a good Bible verse; we need to trust it and take it to heart.

      God bless you and your family.

      Delete
  6. He does want us to be honest, since He knows anyway.

    Sometimes i just ask the Holy Spirit to pray for me, since i'm just not sure what words to use or even what to ask for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How wonderful and you are so right, Mimi.

      God bless.

      Delete
  7. Dearest Victor,
    Miracles absolutely do happen as there are so many unexplainable events.
    Prayer and asking God for help in Jesus' name and above all; not for ourselves...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete

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