READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Trust not in the strength of our faith, but put our reliance on the Giver, Author and Perfecter of faith! Though we may not see His hand at work in our distressing situations, know that God sees us and that’s ALL that matters.
Like any troubled parent whose child is dangerously unwell, physically or behaviourally, Mark 9 tells of the anguish of a demon-possessed boy’s father. He had brought his son to be healed by Jesus, to be freed from the destructive demon that was robbing him of speech, and causing him to foam at the mouth with convulsive seizures since childhood. Seeing the disciples’ inability, the father became doubtful. Yet desperate to believe, he cried out to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (v22)
Jesus addressed the man’s doubt – “‘If you can’?” then assured him that “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (v23) To which the boy’s father exclaimed with renewed hope, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (v24)
How should we view FAITH in God our Saviour to help us believe better?
1. Authentic Wrestle of Faith – There is a place for genuine doubt where one lacks certainty and confidence to believe due to feelings of disappointment and defeat. God understands our honest struggle to trust His ability to rescue. Seeing how desperately the boy’s father needed hope and His compassion, Jesus redirected his thinking from a doubtful “if you can” to a hopeful “I believe” in the One who can make all things possible. Our God of amazing grace hears us too when in our hard circumstances, we humbly admit that we need His help to believe without a doubt. It is in praying agonizingly, “God, help me believe in Your deliverance!” that we build a strong and firm foundation for our faith.
2. Necessary Surrender Through Faith – When exercising faith, it is never about the use of some special technique; rather, it is about where we direct the focus of our faith. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (v28-29) It is further recorded in Matthew 17:19-20 that Jesus taught the same disciples, “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” So, it is not the size or quantity of our faith, but how BIG and MIGHTY God is to us that we should surrender our will to Him when praying, as Jesus Himself did with His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Faith is flawed when we think highly of our own effort or ‘technique’. We should instead be fervently asking God to have His way and purpose in our situation; seek His will for His glory through our struggles. Faith the size of a mustard seed is enough when we surrender our will to God’s omniscience and glory – believing that everlasting victory comes from the LORD when we align our pleas to His way.
3. Journey of Obedience in Faith – After the evil spirit left the boy, he appeared dead. But “Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” (v27) The boy was raised up and given new life. By recording this symbolic act, Mark foretold of the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. Obedient faith prays for God’s help to trust Him to lift us to our feet. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Encountering Jesus through His Word reveals His identity and increases our capacity to believe in Him as our Deliverer and Strong Defence. Even when we do not see God’s hand at work, we can obey Him with confident hope that He has His best plans for us, and will never leave nor forsake us.
It’s not about the size of my faith but how awesome God is to me. “I can see you!” God says. Let us learn to rest believingly in the LORD, for He is always enough!
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Take time to reflect on the Scripture text. Put yourself in the shoes of the father, how was he feeling?
- Now imagine you are one of the disciples. You tried and tried but still the demon wouldn’t leave the boy. How would the disciples have felt?
- Why is it important not to ignore the wrestle of faith?
- “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Is this something you can resonate with? What is one area of your life you are wrestling with God where faith is concerned?
- What could have been wrong with the disciples’ approach to healing? Why was their faith flawed?
- In the similar account as recorded in Matthew 17:14-20, Jesus was telling the disciples that if they have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing is impossible. What did Jesus mean by that?
- What does surrender in faith mean?
- Why is Mark 9 a decisive point for Jesus’ journey?
- What is your journey of obedience this Lent? What does having faith mean for you in this season of your journey?
- Pray for each other, that faith may arise we walk in true surrender with our Lord.
