Friday, September 25, 2015

Help My Unbelief – Mark 9:23-24



“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’”

There had been quite a dispute between the disciples and the scribes about this person who was tormented from childhood by a spirit.  No one yet had been able to heal him.  Jesus said within earshot of the disciples, the scribes and the father that they were a ‘faithless generation.’  When the son is brought before Jesus, he asks the father a few questions.  The desperate father explained to Jesus that the spirit often threw his son both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  Make no mistake, Satan will harm us as much and as often as he can – thank God that Satan cannot harm us as much and as often as he would.  In this case Satan had accomplished the torment of two individuals, the son possessed by the mute spirit, and the tender hearted father who is just as afflicted to see his son in such torment.  The father states that if Jesus can do anything, have compassion on them and help them.  

That “if” the father placed before Jesus is now placed before the father.  If you can believe.  So Jesus turns the question around.  But with that question Jesus provides encouragement, showing the limitless possibilities for those who believe.  All things are possible.

The father’s response, his cry, was at once and tearful.  He confessed a belief in the person of Jesus Christ, in His works.  He called Jesus ‘Lord’ in a public setting that included the scribes.  “I am not saved because I believe the Scriptures, or because I believe the doctrines of grace, but I am saved if I believe Christ; or, in other words, trust in him. Jesus is my creed. He is the truth. In the highest sense the Lord Jesus is the Word of God. To know him is life eternal. By his knowledge he justifies many.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Yet with the father’s confession of his belief, he also confessed the sin of unbelief.  Scripture says unbelief is the pathway to a hardened heart, an evil heart.  “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”  (Hebrews 3:12)  “While men have no faith, they are unconscious of their unbelief; but, as soon as they get a little faith, then they begin to be conscious of the greatness of their unbelief.  …having made a confession of his unbelief as you observe, the father, in the narrative, prayed against it, and an earnest prayer it was. It was, "Help thou mine unbelief." It is very noticeable that he does not say, "Lord, I believe; help thou my child." No, nor does he say, "Lord, I believe; now cast the devil out of my boy:" not at all; he perceives that his own unbelief was harder to overcome than the devil, and that to heal him of his spiritual disease was a more needful work, than even to heal his child of the sad malady under which he labored. This is the point to arrive at, to feel that there is no deficiency in the merit of Christ; no lack of power in his precious blood; no unwillingness in Christ's heart to save me; but all the hindrance lies in my unbelief.  Go, any of you who are in trouble about this matter, go where you gained your first faith, go there to get more. If you first obtained your faith at the cross foot, go there again to end your unbelief.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

We might assume that this father’s traces of unbelief arose from the repeated failures of anyone to heal his son.  It may have been spurred by the scribes’ lack of comforting words.  Maybe something similar has happened to you.  A church leader has disappointed you, or maybe another church member.  Maybe things have failed in your life and their effect was to insert a fracture in your belief.  Friends, the only solution for any unbelief is found in Jesus.  Look deep into the One who cannot lie.  Turn not to yourself or to your friends.  Turn to Jesus, the One who never fails.  Your past defeats have no impact on His faithfulness.  His power is still invincible.  Confess the belief you have and pray to God to help your residual unbelief.  “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.”  (Isaiah 59:1)

I have said that prayer of this father many times since I comprehended this passage of scripture.  I do believe.  I believe I am a child of God.  I believe that I have eternal life through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes, though, fear enters me while I am in service to God.  I wonder, will they still be my friend if I tell them His truth?  Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus prompts us what to do, and we must do it and trust Him with the consequences.  Besides, what kind of friend am I if I do not tell them the truth?  It is not OK to have unbelief.  But it is OK to ask God to help you with that unbelief, and then press on in faith.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Friday, September 18, 2015

Showdown at Mount Carmel – 1 Kings 18:19



“Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.’”

We do not know why Ahab consented to this gathering.  Maybe he thought the people of Israel would do Ahab’s dirty work by killing Elijah out of anger about the drought.  Maybe he thought Elijah was going to remove the drought in the presence of the gathering of these folks.  We do not know the thoughts of Ahab, but it did appear he was reticent to harm Elijah.  As to Elijah’s thoughts, it is clear he was led by God to create such a contest, as he would otherwise be in disobedience with “You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.” (Deuteronomy 6:20)  In other words, do not try this at home. 

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’  But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)  In place of or in addition to the ‘worship’ of Jehovah by the people of Israel the worship of Baal was added to their religious repertoire, either as a backup plan or to appease the harsh rulers of the land.  “At some point, we have to make up our minds: Will we serve God or not? Is He who He claims to be, or not? We have to take a stand and move on from there. No one can “Keep their options open” forever.” (Charles Stanley)  Today there are some who attend church who have still not committed to God.  They try to serve both sin and to serve God.  They have not yet submitted to the dominion of Christ and remain under the dominion of lust.  Jesus said “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)  “God demands no more from us than He can make out a title to.” (Matthew Henry)  Yet the people seemed to be convinced Elijah presented a fair and reasonable trial…”It is well spoken,” they said, and agreed to the contest.

From a worldview, Elijah was the underdog.  He was outnumbered: 450 priests of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah against one prophet for Jehovah.  Those priests and prophets were well fed, from the table of the royal court even.  Elijah was sustained on a daily basis with bread and water.  The priests got to choose the bulls and they got to go first.  But we know better.  It is not how well you look to the world, it is all about the God you serve.

What a riotous noise and scene the priests must have made; 450 men leaping about and calling out to their god.  Time wore on and there was no fire.  At noon, Elijah began to mock them, telling them to cry louder, maybe their god is on a journey, or ‘busy’ – which some scholars say is a term to mean he is indisposed in the bathroom.  “The worship of idols is a most ridiculous thing, and it is but justice to represent it so and expose it to scorn. This will, by no means, justify those who ridicule the worshippers of God in Christ because the worship is not performed just in their way. Baal’s prophets were so far from being convinced and put to shame by the just reproach Elijah cast upon them that it made them the more violent and led them to act more ridiculously.” (Matthew Henry)  The priests begin to cry aloud and cut themselves, but there was no voice, no one answered, no one paid attention.  It is not about sincerity of the worshipper, it is about the validity of the God you worship.  I am so glad our God does not require us to undergo the physical sufferings demonstrated by the priests of Baal.  God is actually against it.  “You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.” (Deuteronomy 14:1)

Elijah waited until the time of the evening sacrifice – as it would be in Jerusalem.  He repaired the altar of the LORD, a model of repairing the faith of the people.  Elijah’s faith was so strong, he had the opposing team pour water on his bull, the wood, and even dug a trench around it all so that all the sacrifice was standing in water.  His prayer was simple.   He asks God to let the people know that He is God in Israel, that Elijah is His servant, and that all things he did were at God’s direction.  He asks God to hear him, again so that the people will know He is the LORD God and that the people had turned their backs on Him.  “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” (1 Kings 18:38)

The people’s hearts, at least at this moment, were turned back to God and they killed all the priests of Baal in accordance the law (Deuteronomy 13:5).  Before God would bring rain to restore the land, He first gave this demonstration of fire.  Fire is used in scripture to show judgment.  We must first see the judgment of God before we will see the healing of God.  Does that mean God first needs to punish you for your sins?  No.  He has already punished Jesus for your sins and all you need to do is surrender to Jesus.  Then the spiritual healing can begin.

God had His purposes for this particular showdown.  We do not see other examples of it in scripture.  What we do see is that there will come a time – and pray all those you know have surrendered to Christ before this time comes – when the devil will deceive many by bringing down fire.  “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lives.”  (Revelation 13:13-14)  Those who have not surrendered to Jesus, who do not hear the voice of their Good Shepherd, will be deceived into worshipping a false god.  Take heed that you not be deceived.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Friday, September 11, 2015

O Troubler of Israel – 1 Kings 18:



“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, O troubler of Israel?’”

Not only had Ahab persecuted and killed many of the followers of Jehovah, but Ahab had also diligently, though unsuccessfully, searched the country for Elijah for the last three years.  What a surprise for Ahab when Elijah presents himself.  Upon meeting Elijah, Ahab’s response is the opposite of Obadiah’s response.  Obadiah feared God and showed respect for God’s prophet.  Ahab, likely Israel’s most wicked king, blamed Elijah for Israel’s troubles.  “One may guess how people stand affected to God by observing how they stand affected to his people and ministers.” (Matthew Henry)

“But it is interesting how that somehow we want to live our own lives, we want to ignore God, we don't want any part of God in our lives until calamity comes. And then somehow we want to blame God for the calamity. Why would God do this to me? As though God actually owed me something when I've been totally ignoring Him.” (Chuck Smith)

When you are in service to God and speaking the truth, do not be alarmed at the harsh response you may receive from those who are not reconciled to God.  They may have never even met you, yet they know you trust God (what a testimony!)  Because of their enmity with God, they will resent you in some way, and likely take out their frustration on you.  Even Christ and His apostles were misrepresented, “but when they did not find them (Paul and Silas), they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.’” (Acts 17:5)

Understanding the origin of their rude comments should inspire you to pray for them to be reconciled to God.  God is our absolute authority and He tells us how He will deal with such enemies, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Jeremiah 5:20)  Pray fervently and earnestly for them to see the holiness of Jesus, their need for a Savior, and the wonderful gift of mercy.  Only then will they say “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Friday, September 4, 2015

Who Do You Say That I Am – Mark 8:29



“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ.’”

Jesus was on the road with His disciples and had just asked them who other men said that Jesus was.  They responded that some thought He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others thought He was one of the prophets.  Then Jesus made it very personal.  ‘Who do YOU say that I am?’

Have you ever met anyone in the world that does not know the name of Jesus?  Everybody knows about Him.  Amazing, is it not?  But most people in the world know of Jesus as something other than the Christ.  We hear so often that Jesus was a great teacher.  I have heard my Hindu and Buddhist friends say as much.  The Muslim community says Jesus was a prophet.  These groups hold Jesus in an elevated but limited status.  It is like a high opinion, but short of the truth.

Jesus is still the most controversial person to have ever walked the earth.  Just ask anyone you know and even some folks you do not know.  They may say something complimentary about Him, but most of the time it is inaccurate.  You cannot be right with Jesus until you are right with who He is.  Further, you also need to know what He did.  “Now the time has come when Jesus is going to reveal to the disciples His true identity. Up to now, He has not declared Himself to His disciples His true mission.”  (Chuck Smith)

The miracles and words of Jesus, as well as the testimony of the demons and the blundering arguments of the Pharisees, correspond with Old Testament scripture that Jesus was the Messiah (Hebrew word for ‘anointed one’).  Still, Jesus had not yet clearly confessed this to His disciples.  Before He confessed, He first asked them this key question.  He sought their confession of who they thought He was.  Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ (Greek word for ‘anointed one’).  “To be a Christian indeed, is, sincerely to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and to act accordingly; and that he is so, plainly appears by his wondrous works.   Is the record of those things designed only for an amusement, or to furnish us with matter for discourse? No, certainly these things are written, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”  (John 20:31); and this discourse which Christ had with his disciples, will assist us in making the necessary reflections upon the miracles of Christ, and a right use of them.”  (Matthew Henry)

I cannot think of a more important question in this lifetime.  The answer to this question will determine whether you have eternal life with God, or eternity in hell.  The answer must be acted upon in this lifetime.  When we die, we will know without a doubt who Jesus is.  I speculate that once we pass through this life, Jesus will ask this question in the past tense.  ‘Who did you say that I am?’  Jesus said “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

It is prudent to point out that the demons believed and confessed Jesus as ‘the son of the most high God.’ (See Mark 5:7)  James points out for us: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!”  (James 2:19)  So what is the difference?  The demons knew who Jesus was, but they did not call Him their Messiah, their anointed one, their King. 

Once we know who Jesus is, once we realize His claims, we must do something with that realization.  We either choose Him as our Savior, or we reject His gift of eternal salvation.  Friend, it is as simple as that. 

Is Jesus a good teacher, a prophet, or the Christ your King?  Do not wait until it is too late.  There is nothing more important in this life than your response to this question:  Who do you say that Jesus is?

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.