One time Jesus was approached by a rich young ruler who asked what he had to do to gain eternal life. Jesus diagnosed his problem and saw that money meant more to him than God. He told him to sell everything he had and then follow Him. The rich man went away sad he was not ready for the diagnosis. The father in our story however was and it is our key verse:
The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (NLT)
Now meditate on this for a moment. The father comes to Jesus after the Disciples fail to cast out the demon that has plagued his son for nearly all of his life. The world will paint this father as the victim. That is the mindset the world sells us. When he brings the child to Jesus however the diagnosis is that it is the unbelief of the father that is preventing the miraculous work of God to be done in his child's life. How would you react to such a charge? Many would be wounded and react defensively.
And that is how the enemy continues to keep us circling the same mountain time and again. That is how the enemy prevents us from living the victorious Christian life. Too often we are begging God to deal with the symptom we are suffering from while God is trying to get us to focus on the problem. God is bigger than whatever mountain you are facing. He is bigger than whatever wilderness you find yourself in. He is bigger than your addiction, He is bigger than your medical report, He is bigger than your spouse, He is bigger than your depression, He is bigger than your anxiety, He is bigger yesterday, today and tomorrow because while the world will change in the blink of an eye God never will.
Thankfully the father recognized that you cannot argue with the master diagnostician. Instantly he cries out what appears to be an oppositional statement. It is a statement many of us today need to get on our knees and admit to God. It is incredibly humbling to do so in our walks, especially when we think we have it together. That statement is "I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief." There is a difference between believing and applying that belief to your life. This father believed but at the same time, he had unbelief to overcome in his heart that was preventing God from moving in his life and the life of his son. He believed God on a macro level but just had some doubts in the situation he was facing. Once the father humbled himself to realize that he had unbelief in his life to overcome Jesus cast the demon out of his child.
What promise do you find yourself waiting on God for today beloved? What mountain are you circling, just praying that God would remove? What demon has controlled your life for far too long now seemingly trying to kill you? What has sapped the joy out of your walk the peace out of your spirit - the eternal out of your life? Have you sought the advice of the world and the "experts" it has to offer only to be left like the woman with the issue of blood bankrupt and desperately seeking Jesus? Have you even taken it to the Disciples been in every prayer line been anointed in every church only to find it could not be cast out? Jesus is still saying to you today "Bring it to me." But if you do, approach Him with the humility of the father in this story, not the pride of the rich ruler. Be ready for the master diagnostician to look into your heart and show you the level of your faith. Be ready to respond with the possibility that while you believe you may need His help to overcome your unbelief. There is freedom in Christ.
Reverend Anthony Wade March 25, 2010
