He answered Him, and saith, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I suffer you?  Bring him unto me."  And they brought him unto Him and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him: and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.  And He asked his father, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" And he said, "Of a child.   And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."             Mark 9:19-24

A man brought his child to Jesus.  The child was going through seizures and was deaf.  The father asked, "If you can do anything, please help my child.

As a minister of the Gospel, I look at the issue of faith very often.  I know it is our faith that brings us into a relationship with Christ.  It is impossible to please God without faith, but there are times when our faith is weakened.  While looking at others with a crisis it is easy to say, "You hold on; I am praying for you.  You trust in God and keep holding on."  But what happens when a crisis hits home?  It's easy to tell others to hold on when you're on the outside looking in. 

Trials shake our faith.  My faith has been shaken before; I've walked through dark valleys and I've wept bitter tears.  I've known what it is like to cry out to God in the midnight hours -- my faith was shaken.

"No, Preacher; not you!"

Oh, yes.  Me.  Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.  You've been there before, too.  But it didn't make us weak and pathetic because our faith wavered.  The "old adversary" likes to tear down our faith.

"Do you believe in the devil, Preacher?"

Oh, yes.  I do.  Jesus told the people to watch out for Satan.  The apostles said Satan is like a roaring lion. 

I have three points I want to make today.  I could have ten, but I will settle for three.

• First point: When the crisis hits home -- be ready.  You might say, "Oh, Preacher, my family is healthy; my kids are doing well in school.  I have a good wife/husband.  I'm doing well on my job.  I've got everything I need."  Well, bless your heart, honey, be ready!  Trouble is just beyond the horizon.  Storm clouds are brewing.  It might come in the form of a hospital room, a troubled child in the making.  I hope not, but it may be.  A job you've had for the last twenty years may shut down tomorrow.  So you had better stay on speaking terms with Jesus Christ every single day of your life.  He will not forsake you, Child of God.

• Second point: Jesus will not rebuke you.  He may have rebuked the disciples, but he didn't rebuke the father of the child.  He didn't say, "Go home and don't come back until your faith has become stronger."  The father said, "Lord, help my unbelief."  Why did Jesus not rebuke him?  Because He knew the father's weakness.

• Third point: Jesus knows our weaknesses.  Jesus knows more about you than you know about yourself.  "No, He doesn't."  Yes, He does.  He knows about your past; He knows your present; He knows about your tomorrow.  You don't know that!

We don't need a mountain of faith but just enough to get us through the crisis.  Doesn't the Bible say that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can speak to the mountain and it will be cast into the ocean?  Speak and the sycamore tree will be moved.  He knows our hearts.  He knows how much burden we can bear.  He knows how much can be stacked on our shoulders and how much we can carry.  He know our limits.  Thank God we have a Savior in Heaven that said,  "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

Being a pastor does not make me a super-man; but I have a Super-Jesus.  The great High Priest knows our weaknesses.  He knows our hearts.  He said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  When it is your crisis, He will not rebuke you.  He knows your weakness -- rest in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  We are absolutely helpless, but today I leave you with good news.  During your helplessness you have access to all the power in Heaven through Jesus Christ.

Bro. Jr Fields........July 9, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King