“Help My Unbelief”

By Jeff Curtis

Many in the Bible struggled in their walk with Gd. We may be able to identify with some of these individuals. Elijah became discouraged (1Kings 19:10). Jeremiah wept and felt that his work had been fruitless (Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17). Peter often spoke before he thought (Luke 9:33). We can share in the plea of the father who said to Jesus, “I… believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). When the man asked the Lord to heal his son, Jesus replied, “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). That is when the man cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

No topic is more central to Christianity than faith – and no need is more critical than the strengthening of faith. Paul wrote; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

The NIV has “a righteousness that is by faith from the first to the last.” The New Century Version says that God’s righteousness “begins and ends with faith.”

“Without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb.11:6). “By grace” we are “saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8).  We walk the Christian pathway “by faith, not by sight” (2Cor. 5:7). Faith is the shield that protects us from the devil (Eph. 6:16). Faith “is the victory that has overcome the world” (1John 5:4). The ultimate “outcome” of faith will be “the salvation” of our souls (1Peter 1:9).

As we consider the importance of faith, we also, may be tempted to cry, “We believe; help our unbelief!” In a study of the man who first made that request, we should consider the factors that weaken faith. Above all, we want to learn how faith can be made strong.

At the beginning of the story, Jesus, Peter, James and John had just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, from the mountaintop pf peace to the valley of conflict. This is life, and that is how God has willed it. Like Peter, we may prefer to dwell on the mountaintop with the Lord (Matt.17:4), but life has to be lived where the people – and the problems – are.

When Christ and His group of disciples reached the place where they had left the other nine, “they saw… some scribes arguing with them” (Mark 9:14). The scribes were probably challenging Jesus’ credentials and the legitimacy of His ministry. Watching the debate was a crowd of curious people, the kind sightseers that might strain to see a car crash or other disaster today.

Jesus was disturbed by the scene, the bothersome crowd, the arguing scribes, the baffled disciples and the confused father.

Jesus responded to the father’s request, not “according to the poverty of… man’s faith, but according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1:7). He said to the father, “Bring your son here” (Luke 9:41; Matt.17:17; Mark 9:19).

Jesus turned to the boy and “rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again’” (Mark9:25). This verse says that Jesus did this “when He saw the crowd rapidly gathering.” This might indicate that He had taken the man and the boy to the side to avoid any undue publicity.

The demon didn’t leave quietly. He cried out and threw the young man “into terrible convulsions” (Mark 9:26). R. Alan Cole called this display “the important rage of a defeated enemy.” Finally, the reluctant demon “came out” (Mark 9:26). The added command “do not enter him again” must have been a comfort to the father. The tragedy would not be repeated.

Men had failed, but Jesus had not.

The Requirements of Bearing Fruit

By Jeff Curtis

Bearing fruit has been established in the New Testament. So, let’s look to discover some practical requirements of bearing fruit. Some think that evangelistic fruit bearing – that is, sharing the gospel with others – requires a persuasive tongue, the ability to be a good salesperson, or a remarkable amount of wisdom. In John 15, the passage says nothing about any of these. Rather, it suggests four prerequisites.

1. A submissive spirit. God is the vinedresser (Jn.15:1), He owns the vineyard.

He prunes even the fruitful branches (Jn.15:2). Christ said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (Jn.15:10).

2. A studious mind. Jesus told His disciples, “You are already clean because of

the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn.15:3). The word “clean” is from the same Greek word as “prune” (Jn. 15:2). One of God’s primary “pruning tools” is His word. Christ told the eleven, “if… My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (Jn. 15:7).

     A knowledge of God’s word is essential for bearing fruit – especially regarding evangelistic fruit bearing. Bible study and soul winning go hand in hand. If one knows the Word, he will share it and also feel the need to learn more about it. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt.5:6). Nothing improves the flavor of food like hard work, and nothing improves the “flavor” of God’s Word like being busy for the Lord – especially in the matter of sharing the truth.

3. A committed heart. We must commit ourselves to staying with Jesus. His

message in John 15 is “Abide in Me” (Jn.15:5). In verse 7, He said, “If you abide in Me” you will receive certain blessings. We noticed that, in many ways, our relationship with the Lord is like that of branches to a vine. But, in one respect the comparison breaks down: Branches have no choice regarding whether or not they stay attached to the vine – but we do.

    The Bible teaches the security of the believer, but not the impossibility of apostasy. John 15 teaches that, even after a person has been attached to the vine he can still be removed and “cast into the fire.” If one is to be saved, he must abide in the Lord. In the Day of Judgment, a person can’t pull out their baptismal certificate and say, “Look, I was baptized on such and such a day. You HAVE to let me in.” Baptism is essential to salvation, but so is remaining faithful to the Lord (Rev. 2:10). Not only is being baptized “into Christ” important (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal, 3:26-27), but remaining “in Christ” is also vital (Rom. 3:24; 6:11,23; 8:1,39; 2Cor.2:14; Philippians 4:7,19; 1Thess. 4:16).

4. A determined attitude. The nature of branches is to grow. Once they stop

growing, they die. Someone wrote, “If there are no new shoots at the top of the tree, then death has struck at its roots.” With God’s help, we will grow in the matter of bearing fruit. John 15 speaks of “fruit” (v.2), but it also speaks of “much fruit” (vv.5, 8) and “more fruit” (v.2)

     What are some positive results of bearing fruit?

     We will grow spiritually. We will be cleansed; we will produce “much fruit” (Jn.15:5-8) and “more fruit” (Jn.15:2).

   Our prayers will be answered (Jn.15:7). If our prayer life is not what it should be, we need to examine our relationship with Jesus and see whether or not we are bearing fruit.

    God will be glorified. (Jn.15:8). The vineyard is His and He is the vinedresser. As the branches bear fruit, He is glorified.

    We will show ourselves to be true disciples of Jesus (Jn.15:8).

    We will have joy (Jn.15;11). Paul called those who he converted his “joy and crown” (Phil.4:1). John said that he had “no greater joy” than to hear that his “children” in the faith we “walking in the truth” (3Jn.4).

    Souls will be saved – ours and others.