I Believe! Help My Unbelief
Mark 9:14-29
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”
******************************
Last time we were together we talked about Step 1. "We admitted we were powerless over our addiction; that our lives had become unmanageable." In case you missed it, we discussed the fact that in some sense, we all struggle with something- whether it’s alcohol or drug addiction, food addiction, shopping or spending, TV, social media, working, working out, video games (the list goes on) We can even be addicted to things like consumption, judgment, even our own opinion or ego.
And when we went over step 1 we remembered people like the Apostle Paul, who named his own struggle by saying “The very thing I don’t want to do is the thing I do…” And we realized addiction is that common and the problem is that old…that in some form or another, addiction has a grip on most if not all of us. And more important, that we are powerless over our addiction. That despite our best efforts to control it, somehow it creeps in…
So that brings us to Step 2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
And here is the expanded explanation of that step from the A.A. big book- “We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. - "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.
-A.A. Big Book p.47
SO now we have it. If we admit that we are powerless, that we can’t do it, if our lives have become unmanageable because of our addiction, then is there someone or something out there that can help? And for some of us, that’s a pretty big leap.
Because admitting I am powerless (which was a struggle in itself) puts me in the position where I think- ‘If I can’t do it, than no one can.’ SO embracing step 2 would mean that I would actually have to see something or someone out there, who is capable of doing something that I can’t do!
And before you jump the gun on me, understand that we already do this all the time- but most of the time we don’t turn to God, or whatever your name for higher power is. Most of the time we turn to “experts.” I need to lose weight so I’m going to surf the net for what has worked for other folks, find the weight loss method that I think I can live with, (or not) and then dive in. I’ll listen down to the letter of what that person… that expert… that knows something I don’t know, or has done something I haven't done, has to say. And I’ll follow their advice… after all, she has a six pack of abs- and he looks phenomenal in his upper body, so it must work!
And before we know it, we have placed our faith in something- someone- who we believe can make our dream come true. Any problem with that?
Exactly- we fall off- otherwise we wouldn’t still be struggling and I wouldn’t have a shelf full of diet books! So it’s not like we have not put our faith in things before…
But In step 2, this power that we put our trust in has to be greater than ourselves… more than just a human being. There would have to be something or someone who could do things that we can't do on our own. And it’s why the scripture from Mark 9 is so utterly perfect in discussing this step.
Jesus comes upon a group of people arguing. The crowd spots him and they are filled with awe! "It’s that miracle guy! He can help! And look at the timing- just when we needed him…" And they ran forward to greet him. (And this is the way it is, right? We run toward the latest greatest thing we think can help us, especially when we are desperate. )
And Jesus asks them, “What are you arguing about?”
He doesn’t get an answer… instead someone from the crowd shouts, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”
It is a father at the end of his rope. Despite his best efforts to control the craziness in his life- in this case his son’s problem (and all those in AlAnon will be able to relate to this) he is powerless. So he went to the experts… he went to the disciples of Jesus. Clearly he had heard about the healing Jesus had performed in the past, and so going to his disciples made perfect sense. But when it came right down to it, unless he went to the source himself… he was unable to access the power he needed. So finally he goes to Christ…
And Jesus listens to the father, and hears the pain in his voice and in his life, and he looks to the crowd and calls them faithless- and let me be clear- not in a way that holds condemnation, but Jesus calls them out on the fact that they have tried to heal in their own power instead of turning to God- and then he says, “Bring the boy to me.”
And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
Now I don’t know how many of you have ever come face to face with Jesus. I don’t know if you have ever been in a position where you realize that the power standing in front of you can actually change your life. And you are at a crossroads- “is this something I am ready to let go of?” It’s fine to say, 'yeah, I really want to quit drinking, or smoking, or eating funnel cake,' but when push comes to shove… “don’t come too near my secret stash of powdered sugar!” No wonder the boy started convulsing and rolling around on the floor. Jesus is after that last mini snickers he has hidden in the back corner of the freezer, for “just in case…”
But now Jesus turns to the father of the boy... because we all know that our addictions don’t affect just us, amen? And in some cases, those people we love may end up codependent- or enabling us- but in some sense they are just as powerless as we are… and so Jesus asks the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; (Anyone’s addiction ever threaten to destroy you? Your family?)
And then the father of the boy goes on in the most telling comment… “but Jesus, if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.”
I know where this guy is. When we reach the point where we can’t take it anymore, and we are searching like mice trapped in a maze for a way out, and we’ve failed over and over again and been disappointed over and over again, … we develop an affliction. And this affliction is called doubt. And doubt, my friends, is the biggest obstacle to healing…
So Jesus calls him on it, and says, “If you are able! --All things can be done for the one who believes.” And the father gets it… and he cries out to Jesus, “I BELIEVE!!!”
But you know what? When you are standing in front of the Almighty- the one who created you, and knows you inside and out, and hears your thoughts before they are on your lips, and feels your pain before you are aware of what’s hurting you; when you are face to face with the one from whom no secrets are hid, you have no choice but to drop your defenses… I BELIEVE!!!!!"
But then the man drops his head... and then drops to his knees... and takes hold of the feet of the one who could restore him to sanity and prays… “Lord, Help my unbelief!”
And we could stop right there… because when it comes down to it, that’s all it really takes. One simple prayer…
‘Help my unbelief.’ Help me understand that you really are who you say you are, Jesus... help me come to know that you can do the things you say you can. Because you see Jesus, I’ve been here before… wanting to know you but instead I ended up believing in a Santa Clause God who can leave me presents under the tree if he wants too… the one who watches me night and day and gives me things or denies me things based on how good I am… I’ve been here before… this place of putting my trust in something only to be disappointed, being told I don’t measure up… things I’ve learned about God in the past have left me with feelings of fear, anger, shame, guilt, and frustration. And in order for me to put my trust in you… my God I’m scared… help my unbelief…
And the God of compassion reaches in past the fear, and doubt and hurt, and touches the heart yearning to believe… Jesus responds… and he calls, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, (Hey, no one ever said getting rid of this thing would be easy or painless) it came out,… but the boy was like a corpse, so that most of the people around him said, “He is dead.”
Anyone here ever been counted for dead? Because sometimes, that is exactly what happens... People who have watched you struggle and convulse and roll around on the floor- the ones who have lived with you and seen you on the street and in the office, the ones who see you in the bar and in Dunkin Donuts... when you disappear from those places, when you don't stop in to pick up your Friday box of munchkins, when you deviate from old behaviors… those people often count you for dead…
But it’s OK… because despite how it may appear, there’s healing going on… despite what my friends think- despite the people who have chalked me up as just another basket case, or another fatality… I’m not dead! And God isn’t done with me! And amidst all the naysayers and well-meaning but patronizing doubters in your life… Jesus stands true… because here’s what happened to this boy…
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand…
Do you understand... that regardless of what people think of you, regardless of how many times you have tried before, regardless of whether you are saying “I know I believe” or are just coming to believe, or simply praying to believe… God is still there… This whole 'coming to believe' is truly a process… and the best part is that God KNOWS it’s a process… God knows the times you have been let down, and tried and failed, and hurt, and were guilted and shamed, and even the times you’ve hardened your heart against anything spiritual…
And still Jesus stands over your down and out, dead-looking situation and offers his hand… stand up…
Today Jesus offers the same hand to you. He offers the same gift every single minute of every single day… and when you find yourself face to face with the Almighty… and you want to believe but somehow can’t get past your own doubt, here's what you do...
Drop your head... and drop to your knees... and grab hold of the feet of the one who can restore you to sanity… help my unbelief…
And know that you don’t have to do anything more than that. There is no measuring up, or being good enough, or acting right or changing anything about you…. Because the one who created you and knows everything about you, loves you exactly as you are whether you ever change or not. But when you come to an understanding of that... healing begins- change does happen. Let the God who loves you exactly as you are right now reach in past your doubt and touch the heart yearning to be healed.
...Help my unbelief...
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”
******************************
Last time we were together we talked about Step 1. "We admitted we were powerless over our addiction; that our lives had become unmanageable." In case you missed it, we discussed the fact that in some sense, we all struggle with something- whether it’s alcohol or drug addiction, food addiction, shopping or spending, TV, social media, working, working out, video games (the list goes on) We can even be addicted to things like consumption, judgment, even our own opinion or ego.
And when we went over step 1 we remembered people like the Apostle Paul, who named his own struggle by saying “The very thing I don’t want to do is the thing I do…” And we realized addiction is that common and the problem is that old…that in some form or another, addiction has a grip on most if not all of us. And more important, that we are powerless over our addiction. That despite our best efforts to control it, somehow it creeps in…
So that brings us to Step 2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
And here is the expanded explanation of that step from the A.A. big book- “We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. - "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.
-A.A. Big Book p.47
SO now we have it. If we admit that we are powerless, that we can’t do it, if our lives have become unmanageable because of our addiction, then is there someone or something out there that can help? And for some of us, that’s a pretty big leap.
Because admitting I am powerless (which was a struggle in itself) puts me in the position where I think- ‘If I can’t do it, than no one can.’ SO embracing step 2 would mean that I would actually have to see something or someone out there, who is capable of doing something that I can’t do!
And before you jump the gun on me, understand that we already do this all the time- but most of the time we don’t turn to God, or whatever your name for higher power is. Most of the time we turn to “experts.” I need to lose weight so I’m going to surf the net for what has worked for other folks, find the weight loss method that I think I can live with, (or not) and then dive in. I’ll listen down to the letter of what that person… that expert… that knows something I don’t know, or has done something I haven't done, has to say. And I’ll follow their advice… after all, she has a six pack of abs- and he looks phenomenal in his upper body, so it must work!
And before we know it, we have placed our faith in something- someone- who we believe can make our dream come true. Any problem with that?
Exactly- we fall off- otherwise we wouldn’t still be struggling and I wouldn’t have a shelf full of diet books! So it’s not like we have not put our faith in things before…
But In step 2, this power that we put our trust in has to be greater than ourselves… more than just a human being. There would have to be something or someone who could do things that we can't do on our own. And it’s why the scripture from Mark 9 is so utterly perfect in discussing this step.
Jesus comes upon a group of people arguing. The crowd spots him and they are filled with awe! "It’s that miracle guy! He can help! And look at the timing- just when we needed him…" And they ran forward to greet him. (And this is the way it is, right? We run toward the latest greatest thing we think can help us, especially when we are desperate. )
And Jesus asks them, “What are you arguing about?”
He doesn’t get an answer… instead someone from the crowd shouts, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”
It is a father at the end of his rope. Despite his best efforts to control the craziness in his life- in this case his son’s problem (and all those in AlAnon will be able to relate to this) he is powerless. So he went to the experts… he went to the disciples of Jesus. Clearly he had heard about the healing Jesus had performed in the past, and so going to his disciples made perfect sense. But when it came right down to it, unless he went to the source himself… he was unable to access the power he needed. So finally he goes to Christ…
And Jesus listens to the father, and hears the pain in his voice and in his life, and he looks to the crowd and calls them faithless- and let me be clear- not in a way that holds condemnation, but Jesus calls them out on the fact that they have tried to heal in their own power instead of turning to God- and then he says, “Bring the boy to me.”
And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
Now I don’t know how many of you have ever come face to face with Jesus. I don’t know if you have ever been in a position where you realize that the power standing in front of you can actually change your life. And you are at a crossroads- “is this something I am ready to let go of?” It’s fine to say, 'yeah, I really want to quit drinking, or smoking, or eating funnel cake,' but when push comes to shove… “don’t come too near my secret stash of powdered sugar!” No wonder the boy started convulsing and rolling around on the floor. Jesus is after that last mini snickers he has hidden in the back corner of the freezer, for “just in case…”
But now Jesus turns to the father of the boy... because we all know that our addictions don’t affect just us, amen? And in some cases, those people we love may end up codependent- or enabling us- but in some sense they are just as powerless as we are… and so Jesus asks the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; (Anyone’s addiction ever threaten to destroy you? Your family?)
And then the father of the boy goes on in the most telling comment… “but Jesus, if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.”
I know where this guy is. When we reach the point where we can’t take it anymore, and we are searching like mice trapped in a maze for a way out, and we’ve failed over and over again and been disappointed over and over again, … we develop an affliction. And this affliction is called doubt. And doubt, my friends, is the biggest obstacle to healing…
So Jesus calls him on it, and says, “If you are able! --All things can be done for the one who believes.” And the father gets it… and he cries out to Jesus, “I BELIEVE!!!”
But you know what? When you are standing in front of the Almighty- the one who created you, and knows you inside and out, and hears your thoughts before they are on your lips, and feels your pain before you are aware of what’s hurting you; when you are face to face with the one from whom no secrets are hid, you have no choice but to drop your defenses… I BELIEVE!!!!!"
But then the man drops his head... and then drops to his knees... and takes hold of the feet of the one who could restore him to sanity and prays… “Lord, Help my unbelief!”
And we could stop right there… because when it comes down to it, that’s all it really takes. One simple prayer…
‘Help my unbelief.’ Help me understand that you really are who you say you are, Jesus... help me come to know that you can do the things you say you can. Because you see Jesus, I’ve been here before… wanting to know you but instead I ended up believing in a Santa Clause God who can leave me presents under the tree if he wants too… the one who watches me night and day and gives me things or denies me things based on how good I am… I’ve been here before… this place of putting my trust in something only to be disappointed, being told I don’t measure up… things I’ve learned about God in the past have left me with feelings of fear, anger, shame, guilt, and frustration. And in order for me to put my trust in you… my God I’m scared… help my unbelief…
And the God of compassion reaches in past the fear, and doubt and hurt, and touches the heart yearning to believe… Jesus responds… and he calls, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, (Hey, no one ever said getting rid of this thing would be easy or painless) it came out,… but the boy was like a corpse, so that most of the people around him said, “He is dead.”
Anyone here ever been counted for dead? Because sometimes, that is exactly what happens... People who have watched you struggle and convulse and roll around on the floor- the ones who have lived with you and seen you on the street and in the office, the ones who see you in the bar and in Dunkin Donuts... when you disappear from those places, when you don't stop in to pick up your Friday box of munchkins, when you deviate from old behaviors… those people often count you for dead…
But it’s OK… because despite how it may appear, there’s healing going on… despite what my friends think- despite the people who have chalked me up as just another basket case, or another fatality… I’m not dead! And God isn’t done with me! And amidst all the naysayers and well-meaning but patronizing doubters in your life… Jesus stands true… because here’s what happened to this boy…
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand…
Do you understand... that regardless of what people think of you, regardless of how many times you have tried before, regardless of whether you are saying “I know I believe” or are just coming to believe, or simply praying to believe… God is still there… This whole 'coming to believe' is truly a process… and the best part is that God KNOWS it’s a process… God knows the times you have been let down, and tried and failed, and hurt, and were guilted and shamed, and even the times you’ve hardened your heart against anything spiritual…
And still Jesus stands over your down and out, dead-looking situation and offers his hand… stand up…
Today Jesus offers the same hand to you. He offers the same gift every single minute of every single day… and when you find yourself face to face with the Almighty… and you want to believe but somehow can’t get past your own doubt, here's what you do...
Drop your head... and drop to your knees... and grab hold of the feet of the one who can restore you to sanity… help my unbelief…
And know that you don’t have to do anything more than that. There is no measuring up, or being good enough, or acting right or changing anything about you…. Because the one who created you and knows everything about you, loves you exactly as you are whether you ever change or not. But when you come to an understanding of that... healing begins- change does happen. Let the God who loves you exactly as you are right now reach in past your doubt and touch the heart yearning to be healed.
...Help my unbelief...