Help My Unbelief!

Read Luke 17:5 and Hebrews 11:1. What do these verses teach usabout faith? How does it apply to your life today?

There is a commotion when Jesus comes down from the mountainwith Peter, James and John (Mark 9:14). Jay Sklar says: “The coreproblem of the opponents of Jesus, the spiritually oppressed, andthe disciples (cf. 2 Kings 4:31) is faithlessness - particularly, lack oftrust in Jesus (cf. Mark 6:6; 9:23; Luke 24:25), together with a lackof prayer (Mark 9:29).”

Why does Jesus call the Scribes and his own disciples an unbelievinggeneration (Mark 9:19)? What had they done? What had they notdone?

How might people take Mark 9:23 out of context? What does Jesusmean in this verse?

Can belief and unbelief both be present in our hearts (Mark 9:24)?Why or why not?

What does Jesus do for the boy in v. 25-27? How is this important?

What is the lesson the disciples needed to learn in v. 28-29?

Several authors comment on the importance of prayer:R. Kent Hughes: “Jesus was teaching them that the faith that bringspower is a faith that prays.”Jay Sklar: “Jesus calls his followers to believe and trust the powerfuland sovereign God as the object of their submitting faith and to prayto that same God in a humble and ongoing way.”Bonnie McKernan: “Pray desperately and expectantly — the belief wedo have is the only means of vanquishing the enemies of our peace.Let your weak faith cling to our mighty God. Repent and pray fordeliverance from unbelief even before praying for deliverance fromyour circumstances.” Henry Nouwen: “We have fallen into the temptation of separatingministry from spirituality, service from prayer. Our demons say: ‘Weare too busy to pray, we have too many needs to attend to, toomany people to respond to, too many wounds to heal.’ Prayer is aluxury, something to do during a free hour, a day away from work oron a retreat.”

Jay Sklar says: “There are many OT examples for such faith,some of which are mentioned in Hebrews 11:1–40. They include, forexample, Abraham (Gen. 22:1–5; 26:5; Rom. 4:3) and Daniel (Dan.9:2–19). Prayer and faith should never deteriorate to a sheerdemand placed before God whereby his majesty, purity, andsovereignty are glibly dismissed for the sake of gaining what isdemanded. The heart of faith and prayer is worship in all areas oflife.”

Read John 20:24-29. What happened with Thomas? What did hedoubt? What does Jesus teach us in v. 29?

Three obstacles of faith in God:

1. Belief in myself How do you see this in your life? What will you do the change?

2. Hardness of heart (see Hebrews 3:7-12) What will you do to change your heart today?

3. Prayerlessness What will you do to increase prayerfulness in your life this week?