READING: MARK 9:14-27 TEXT: v24 [EVEN WEAK FAITH SAVES]
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
We are asking the great question this evening:
What is God looking for before He pardons the guilty sinner?
Basically there are 3 camps/make reply.
[1] The secular camp will dispute just about every concept in the question.
The atheists will challenge whether God exists at all…others
will work away at the thought of whether there is really such a things
as guilt etc? Not much use to anyone who knows full well there is a God
& who knows full well that they have sinned & are guilty.
[2] The religious camp will (in one form/another) attach a whole load of conditions here.
Along with faith…good works/church ordinances/regulations etc.,
& while this might please the sinner…yet only temporary.
He will soon learn: He can never attain to the standard.
No (true) feelings of pardoned sin with peace/joy…but more feelings of guilt as he continually falls short.
Paul’s argument: Galatians 3:10 Often it is those who are doing the most who have the least satisfaction.
[3] Gospel camp: Our reply is simple: What is God looking for in you before He will pardon you?
Ans: He is simply looking for you to put simple faith in the finished work/His Son upon the Cross.
Recognising: Christ has done all things necessary/your salvation
(without your help/contribution) & the moment you receive this in
your heart i.e. make it: sole grounds of your acceptance/God…
this faith will justify you in His sight (Romans 5:1)
Peace/God is what the guilty needs. What a burden is lifted!
Simple though this maybe…the guilty sinner still finds it hard to grasp.
He quits trying to analyse the worth of his works (no longer relevant) & then starts to analyse the worth of his faith.
He feels his helplessness.
Will his faith be strong enough? Is it the right kind?
Will it work? All the time…he is but delaying on the most important matter.
Picture a drowning man.
The lifebelt has been thrown to him.
He is being urged to lay hold upon it & so be saved.
Will he begin to analyse the situation & wonder about the quality
of his faith? Not at all! No...he just grasps the belt & is
rescued. Mercifully, God moves to reassure those who have a weak faith
that even this weak faith will save.
Incident/hand can hardly be surpassed for its relevance to the issue.
Grasp these 5 lessons & you will be assured that even the weakest
faith (if put in Christ) saves/soul.
1) THE MAN WHO SPOKE/WORDS WAS MOST DISTRAUGHT:
A/ He had a son possessed with a spirit which made him dumb (v17)
He never knew what it was to hear his son say: “Dad I love you” etc.,
B/ Furthermore this spirit had a very violent streak which led to all
kinds/heart rending situations which tore/father’s heart out
(v18)
C/ Again compounded: He lived in a faithless day/generation (v19)
The professing/established church: in terminal decline (v14/16/v19)
Picture this man as these circumstances are forced upon him.
Seeks the help of his church…but finds it powerless/help.
Endless running to the priest. Various prayers etc., offered…
but of no avail.
Now it seems that they are more interested in trying to discredit
Christ than see his darling son delivered from this awesome affliction.
D/ Worse again, he seeks the help of the disciples (Matthew 17:16) & these are powerless in this case.
How the darkness deepens. He is in despair. He is a man close to tears (v24) Heart is broken.
E/ Man: picture/sinner. His son (for: purposes/illustration) pictures his own soul: his own/precious etc.,
Under the influence/an evil spirit. Man, although not devil possessed yet is devil driven.
Sin has conquered every fibre/his being.
Thought patterns accord more with the flesh than the Spirit/God.
His actions & his speech betray whose he is & whom he serves…and it isn’t God!
A blacker picture can hardly be found in the whole/bible than what is confront us here.
2) IN HIS DISTRESS HE SOUGHT THE HELP OF CHRIST:
A/ Doubtless…tried elsewhere. His own church could not help him.
Religious camp cannot help the soul/God.
Often the case…religious camp keeps the soul from God.
To preach salvation/sacrament etc., is to preach another gospel. Scribes would not have pointed to Christ.
B/ As seen the disciples were helpless in the matter. Said so (v28)
Obviously…not as culpable/scribes but helpless nevertheless.
Teaches: salvation is not found even in faithful men.
Orthodoxy cannot save you. Identity/people of God cannot save the soul.
C/ He turned to Christ. Now, we’re getting places!
Is there anyone can help us…who can give the sinner peace
When his heart is burdened down with pain & woe?
Who can speak the word of pardon that affords a sweet release
And whose blood can wash & make us white as snow?
Yes there’s one…
God has not provided many Saviours & many mediators for us.
There are not many doors or many paths…only one: Jesus Christ alone.
The moment we start looking elsewhere or try to introduce others, we start to lose out.
Indeed: we negate any advance we have made!
He will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8)
If it is not Jesus only…then it is not Jesus at all.
D/ No matter how distressed the sinner may be…he may seek the help of the Lord Jesus.
3) THE LORD JESUS GAVE HIM EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT:
A/ Appears: this man butted in with his request (v16-17)
In polite society: rude to butt in…but in issue/eternal soul there is every reason to do so.
Extreme circumstances call for extreme measures.
Someday this spirit could so rend his son that death would pursue.
Someday…the wages/sin (death) will totally envelope the soul
& the offers of gospel mercy/gospel pardon will be too late.
Urgency.
B/ Was not turned away (v19) but clearly instructed: bring him to me
Never turn you away. Always room: John 6:37
Bring your soul with its dark past to the Lord Jesus.
Bring your present difficulties & your doom laden future.
Bring this whole sin question to Jesus now!
C/ Expect, if you do so, Satanic opposition (v20)
Perhaps not as open or as dramatic…but remember: Satan wants to retain your services.
By fighting back…even hell recognises: cannot serve both masters.
But listen to the voice/Jesus: bring him here.
Satan tries to keep sinners away from the Lord Jesus.
What barriers he erects. The word is effectual: bring him here.
D/ Recognition of the need/mercy (v22)
This is no father angry with God.
No stamping/feet & demanding of rights.
Sinner forfeits his rights.
Only right/sinner has is to die.
Sues for mercy. Again…getting places.
First he sought Christ…now he seeks Christ’s compassion.
Can’t go wrong here. He’s almost there.
E/ Christ sets forth the condition/healing (salvation): faith (v23)
Already dealt with this. Bible/clear: Ephesians 2:8-9/Acts 16:30-31
Faith recognises our own helplessness & Christ’s provision.
Christ died on the Cross to pardon your sins.
These words of Christ (v23) are just what this man needs: all things are possible i.e. even the healing of your son.
Or/sinner: even the pardon/sins.
Even the giving you a new heart & a new nature which will help you live: God/holiness.
4) HE DID NOT LET HIS WEAK FAITH HOLD HIM BACK:
Remember/introduction? Sinner problems: the simplest commands? “Believe?
But my faith is so weak…I am not an Elijah here…I can scarcely find faith at all.
My wicked heart holds me back so much”
A/ This man brought this to Jesus: “I believe…help thou my unbelief”
Honest. No bluffing. Tear ridden eyes. He brings his additional problem to Jesus.
At the Cross…bring your unbelief as well as what faith you have.
Ask God to rid you of any doubts you may have & to take what little
faith you have & use it as the channel to bring you to salvation.
Faith is not the cause/source of salvation.
No merit in faith. Faith is not Christ. Faith in Christ is the channel.
Source of salvation is in the mighty power/Christ Himself: Hebrews 7:25
A very thin, sorry, little piece of wire if plugged into the national
grid will illuminate the bulb & bring to me all the energy/power
station.
So too even a faltering faith if put in Jesus Christ will bring me all that He has for me in His covenant/redemption.
5) HIS WEAK FAITH OBTAINED WHAT HE NEEDED MOST:
A/ His son was healed (v25-27)
Father’s tear ridden prayer & cry of anguish was heard.
Faith of whatever calibre/degree cannot be refused by God.
God cannot deny Himself. Pledged to accept faith.
B/ Faith in Christ’s work/Calvary will save the soul.
No exceptions to the rule.
No disappointed sinners/hell who can say “I sought but I did not find”
All that Christ has for sinners can be yours through faith in His son.
Cry out & say: I believe…help thou my unbelief.
THE END