Help My Unbelief

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief Mark nine twenty four. Lord Jesus, we come to you with humble hearts, confessing that we often struggle with doubt, like the father whose son needed help. We believe, but we ask you to help our unbelief. When fears and uncertainties cloud our minds. Remind us of your faithfulness and power. We lay our doubts at your feet, trusting that you are greater than all our fears. Strengthen our faith where its weak, and give us the courage to trust you fully even when we cannot see the way. Help us to walk in confidence, knowing that you are with us, guiding us every step. May our hearts always seek you, finding peace and assurance in your presence. Then your precious name, we pray Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. This is the Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus encounters with and power over demons. As this podcast given you hope, we'd love it if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend. Thanks for making the mission possible. 00:01:35 Speaker 2: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the pray dot Com app. Click the link of the description to get started. 00:01:51 Speaker 1: Abel let out a relaxed sigh as he stepped into his home. He hung his cloak on a hook and placed his bag by the door. He walked into the living room to rest his tired feet, but he paused when he noticed some of the chairs had been knocked over. 00:02:08 Speaker 3: H Jeremiah, where are you? 00:02:11 Speaker 1: The man called out for his son, with a hint of anxiety in his voice. A few years prior, Abel's wife had fallen ill, then passed away in her sleep, leaving him and their young son to press on through life together. His son was all he had now, and while he didn't like it, he often had to leave Jeremiah home alone to go make ends meet for their little family. As Abel moved his way through the house, he heard a vase fall behind the house. He darted for the back door, swinging it open, he found Jeremiah staring into a pile of charcoal that burned with a warm glow. 00:02:56 Speaker 3: Ah, there you are. You had me worried, What are you doing out here? 00:03:02 Speaker 1: Jeremiah didn't acknowledge his father. His eyes seemed to be entranced with the smoldering embers. They will pulled at Jeremiah's shoulder to turn him around. Jeremiah's eyes quickly darted up to his father. Abel jumped back with a gasp. His son's eyes were a dark gray. They studied the man before him. The young boy cocked his head like he was looking at a stranger. His head jittered back towards the fire. 00:03:33 Speaker 3: Jeremiah, what are you doing? 00:03:36 Speaker 1: The boy's throat gurgled as he let out a faint groan. Abel leaned in to try and make sense of his son's words, but as soon as he began to draw his face nearer, Jeremiah lurched forward towards the coals. Abel watched curiously, his concern steadily rising. In a flash, Jeremiah leaped into the ear, plummeting into the embers. His body writhed with pain. He let out a haunting cackle as his clothes began to catch fire. Abel threw himself at the boy to pull him out. Jeremiah fought against his father as he cried out in a strange mix of agony and giddiness, Abel overpowered his son and pulled him from the embers, Patting out the fire. He wrapped his boy in his arms. As Jeremiah struggled to break free, Abel began to sob. 00:04:39 Speaker 3: It's one thing to go through an intense trial yourself, and it's another thing entirely to watch your child go through it. If you are a parent, you understand that you would rather endure mountains of pain if it meant your child was spared. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. Today, we're diving into a fascinating and power powerful story found in Matthew chapter seventeen fourteen through twenty one, Mark chapter nine, verses fourteen through twenty nine, and Luke chapter nine, verses thirty seven through forty three. It's a tale that involves a desperate father, a tormented son, baffled disciples, and a lesson about faith that can move mountains or in this case, cast out demons. 00:05:26 Speaker 1: Jesus descended down the mountain with Peter, James, and John. Their faces still wore the shock and awe of what had just occurred. They were able to see the heavenly radiance of Jesus unveiled for a moment. On that mountain, they were able to comprehend the greatest miracle of Jesus. His greatest miracle was not turning water into wine, healing the blind, or calling a storm. The miracle occurred every day as he continually held back the entire hirety of his glory. As they reached the base of the mountain, a large commotion could be heard from camp. Peter was the first to respond and run. The others followed. Hurrying down the path. They reached camp and found a large crowd violently arguing for the rest of the disciples. Jesus saw a few members pointing at the disciples as they shouted. 00:06:24 Speaker 4: You frauds, Who are you to call yourself disciples of Jesus. 00:06:29 Speaker 1: Peter found no time to reason as he lunged himself into the crowd, separating from the disciples, but this only made them war angy. One of them swung Peter, but before he could respond, Jesus pushed into the scene, and the attention of the crowd mister Brock. His presence changed their countenance. Jesus addressed the crowd with deep concern, what is going on here? The crowd parted and a man emerged, holding his son his arms. He was a short and portly man, quite possibly a butcher by trade. His strong arms held up his boy, who could not have been older than ten years of age. The boy was limp in his father's arms, grunting incessantly. The man bowed to Jesus as he spoke. 00:07:21 Speaker 3: A teacher, I brought my son to you. 00:07:25 Speaker 5: A spirit had taken him. 00:07:27 Speaker 1: Jesus peered at the boy. His eyes were rolled back and his neck twitched from side to side. He scanned the boy's body. It was covered in burn marks. The father took notice of jesus eyes and began to weep. 00:07:44 Speaker 5: His spirit comes it out. Notice he will take control of my son and throw him into the fire. He foams it about and grinds the teeth, and he will throw my son into the water to drown. 00:07:57 Speaker 1: The man clenched his eyes closed, holding his son tightly. He took a ounce of strength to carry on. 00:08:06 Speaker 5: He foams at the boat and grides his teeth there. 00:08:10 Speaker 3: Then he will throw my son into the water to drown. 00:08:14 Speaker 1: The man broke down, unable to console himself. Jesus caught a glimpse of the Pharisees and scribes smirking in the corner. They reveled in the disciples inability to cast out the demon. 00:08:28 Speaker 3: That's what you get for choosing fishermen and tax collectors as your disciples. 00:08:33 Speaker 1: It's a pity that Jesus chose such vagrance. Jesus walked toward them with his chest held high and his fists clenched. He pointed to them with a gaze that was as intense as a bolt of lightning. 00:08:49 Speaker 4: You crooked and perverse generation. 00:08:51 Speaker 1: His shout caused the religious men to quake in place. They took offense to the confident rabbi, but dared not respond. 00:09:00 Speaker 3: Hastily faithless, that is what you are. 00:09:04 Speaker 4: How long must I endure you? 00:09:06 Speaker 1: Jesus looked at the child. He was in much pain. The Pharisees would have their time of rebuking. There were more important matters at hack. Jesus' chest sank as he unclenched his fists. Bring me, the boy able stepped toward Jesus uneasily. He had already been let down at once. He was terrified it would happen again, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing his son, to be left alone under the world. He lifted his arms to hand the boy to Jesus. Just as he did so, the demon awoke from his slumber. He had felt the presence of the Messiah and knew his time was almost up. The demon was determined to do as much damage as he could. Within a few moments he had left, the boy leaped out of his father's arms onto the ground. The demon thrashed his body onto the floor, banging his head against the rocks. Form spied from the boy's mouth and his eyes rolled back into their sockets. The demon was determined to do as much damage as he could. The crowd recoiled, terrified that the boy might harm them too if they got too close. The father fell on top of his son, trying to restrain him, but the demon was too powerful. He threw the father off of him and leaped towards him, grabbing his throat. Abel's weathered hands cuffed the boy's wrists like shackles, but the demon's strength was too much for the exhausted father. The entire crowd could hear the slight cracking of the father's throat. The demon's unnatural strength coursed through Jeremiah's willowy body, Jesus stepped forward, Grabbing the boy from the top of his he restrained him in his arms. Despite the demon's strength, Jesus held him firmly. He had the arms of a craftsman, tight from years of working with wood and stone. The boy thrashed back and forth, screaming with blood curdling volume. The father gasped for air, sobbing at the sight of his son. The boy writhed in jesus arms. Yet Jesus remained calm, making sure not to harm him. He looked at the father and asked a simple but very necessary question. 00:11:39 Speaker 4: Do you believe I can heal your son? 00:11:41 Speaker 1: The father opened up his hands to Jesus and shook his head. 00:11:47 Speaker 5: I I believe good. 00:11:50 Speaker 1: There was a pause as the father stared at his son. For years, this demon had plagued him. He had begun to lose hope that anything could change. He was nervous, his heart weighed the sincerity of his answer. 00:12:07 Speaker 3: I believe, but help my unbelief. 00:12:12 Speaker 1: Jesus nodded. The man's response was honest and pure. He did not give any false platitudes or promises. He simply shared the state of his heart. He brought his real and honest emotions. Jesus held the boy close, hugging him as he struggled. Jesus's teeth clenched and his brow furled. He hugged the boy with the loving embrace of a father. Then, with authority, he spoke to the demon, deep within you. 00:12:51 Speaker 4: Mute and deaf spirit, hear the voice of your creator. I command you come out of this boy and plague him no more. 00:13:04 Speaker 1: The boy's screams increased to a deafening level. He convulsed and thrashed his body, until finally going limp, Jesus set him down gently on the floor. The boy seemed dead for a moment. However, Jesus grabbed his hand and lifted him up on two feet. Jeremiah's knees buckled, but he was caught by his father, who was weeping tears of absolute joy. 00:13:34 Speaker 5: Bye bye, You've returned to me. 00:13:42 Speaker 1: The boy was restored as his father embraced him. It felt like he was meeting his son for the first time. The crowd marveled at what they had just seen. Even the disciples gazed on with wonder. They had done all they could to rid the boy of the demon, but what they couldn't do After hours of trying, Jesus had done in mere seconds. Creation had indeed obeyed its creator without hesitation. Abel thanked Jesus before taking his son by the hand. They talked and laughed as they walked along the Sea of Galilee back to their home. Abel looked across the water. The calm, blue currents shimmered in the sun. For the first time in years, he no longer looked the sea with terror, wondering if it would be his son's watery grave. Jesus had rescued him from his greatest fears, and now he was able to see the beauty of life once more. As the two headed off, the disciples circled around Jesus. John motioned to the father and son on the horizon. 00:15:04 Speaker 4: Master, why weren't we able to cast out the demon? 00:15:07 Speaker 1: He had been afraid to ask the question, but Jesus smiled a good sign that he wasn't upsettlately. 00:15:16 Speaker 4: It's all a matter of faith. You cannot drive out demons with human force. It must come from having faith in the power of my spirit. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to dare and it will move. 00:15:36 Speaker 1: The disciples stared at the ground, embarrassed, but Jesus next words allowed them to lift their eyes with renewed hope. 00:15:49 Speaker 3: Imagine descending from a mountain top experience. Quite literally, Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, had just come down from the mount of Transfiguration, where they witnessed his divine glory. As they return to the valley, they step into chaos, the crowd, scribes arguing with the other disciples, and a distraught father whose son is in dire straits. The father approaches Jesus, kneeling and pleading, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely Matthew, chapter seventeen, verse fifteen. The boy is afflicted with seizures that throw him into the fire or into the water, symptoms that we might diagnose to day as epilepsy. However, the gospel accounts reveal that a demon is the root cause of his suffering. This isn't just a medical issue, it's a spiritual battle. The demon has robbed the boy of speech and hearing, making the situation seem even more hopeless. The father adds, I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him. Matthew, Chapter seventeen, verse sixteen. Jesus responds with what seems like frustration, Oh, faithless and perverse generation, How long shall I be with you? Matthew Chapter seventeen, verse seventeen. He's addressing more than just the disciples. He's speaking to a generation that struggles with unbelief. It's a wake up call. The disciples had previously been given authority to cast out demons in Matthew Chapter ten, verse eight, So what went wrong here? Why couldn't they help this boy? Jesus identifies the culprit unbelief. After Jesus rebukes the demon and heals the boy, the disciples ask privately, why could we not cast it out? Matthew Chapter seventeen, verse nineteen. Jesus tells them because of your unbelief. For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew, Chapter seventeen, verse twenty. A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus says, that's enough faith to move mountains. It's not about the quantity of faith, but the quality and the object of that faith. Even a small amount of genuine faith in a great God can accomplish the impossible. Even a small amount of genuine faith in a great God can accomplish the impossible. In Mark's account, Jesus adds, this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. Mark chapter nine, verse twenty nine. Prayer and fasting aren't magic formulas. They are disciplines that draw us closer to God, align our will with his, and demonstrate our total dependence on him. The Disciples may have taken past successes for granted, relying on their own abilities rather than God's power. They needed a reminder that spiritual victories require spiritual dependence. So how does this ancient story speak to us today. First, we must learn to identify the real enemy. Just as the boy's ailment was more than physical, some of our struggles have deeper roots. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians chapter six, verse twelve. Are we recognizing the true battles in our lives? Second, we have to confront unbelief head on. Jesus pinpointed unbelief as the obstacle. Doubt isn't the absence of faith, but faith in the wrong things. Do we trust in our abilities, our resources, or our wisdom or understanding more than we do in God's power? Third, embrace dependence on God through prayer and fasting. Cast all your anxieties on him because He cares for you First Peter, Chapter five, verse seven. These disciples aren't about These disciplines aren't about earning God's favor, but expressing our need for him. They position us to be conduits of his power. When was the last time we earnestly sought God through prayer and fasting? In this story, the disciples faced a mountain of their own, a demon they couldn't cast out. Jesus teaches them and us that faith unlocks divine possibilities. But it's not faith in faith, it's faith in Jesus, the one who has authority over all things. Perhaps you're facing your own demon to day, the persistent problem, a broken relationship, an insurmountable obstacle. Remember that Jesus invites us to bring these challenges to him, and he doesn't just offer solutions, he offers himself. Let's not be part of the faithless generation. Instead, let's be people who, even with mustard seed sized faith, trust in a mountain moving God. Let's commit ourselves to prayer and perhaps even fasting, not as rituals, but as expressions of our deep dependence on him. In doing so, we'll find that no mountain is too high, no demon too strong, and no situation too hopeless when Jesus is in the equation. In doing so, we'll find that no mountain is too high, no damon is too strong, and no situation too hopeless when Jesus is in the equation