"Help My Unbelief"

I give God all the honor, credit and glory for TGN.  Thank Him for all that you receive through it!

PRAYER THEME: Let's continue to talk to God about OUR faith and trust in Him - especially where it is lacking.  Be honest - where are you depending on yourself or people, and not on God.  Ask God to speak to you in that area from the Word today.
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www.biblegateway.com
Mark 9:14-29 (NKJV) *part 2*
emphasis: v. 21-27
"All things are possible to him who believes."

21 So (Jesus) asked (the boy's) father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

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So first I want to check and see how "Praying & Fasting" was received in your spirits this weekend.  Did it begin to make sense to you at all?  Just in case you missed it, the corporate focus was: "building our faith."  The power comes from our faith.  Don't forget Jesus told the people in verse 19, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you..."  Without faith, nothing can be done. 
If your faith is small right now; this is a good start; faith starts small.  BUT don't let it stop there.  It's important, and your responsibility to not allow faith to disappear.  Each and every moment of our lives, we have the opportunity to build on our faith.  Praying and fasting are huge tools; but so is reading the Word every day (as you're doing now).  BUT don't stop there.  Implement (USE) the Word in your life now.  It's no good to just store it up for that second; put it into action.  This is how we consistently renew our faith in Jesus Christ.
To reiterate some points from last week:  The attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls belief or faith (Hebrews 11:1,6) is not something we can obtain without help.  Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8,9).  He gave it to us.  But, no matter how much faith we have, we never reach the point of being self-sufficient.  Faith is not stored away like money in the bank.  You can't store some away for a rainy day.  Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewal of our trust in Jesus.  This is why Jesus knew the Word, and took the time to pray and fast, this is why He shared and lived the Word each day - because this continuously renewed His faith in our Father.  This isn't just a lesson for today; it is a Truth that we need to take throughout all the days of our lives.  For those of us who have yet to realize the importance of doing this; for those of us who never really understood how to build faith - if it's starting to make sense to you today; then there's no better day than today to start living a lifestyle of faith.  
The faith of a mustard seed will move mountains, NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE- Jesus said (Matthew 17:20).  Again, emphasizing the value of faith to us all.  In verse 23, Jesus says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  His words do not mean that we can automatically obtain anything  we want if we just think positively (isn't that The Secret? Well, it's not Jesus).  Jesus meant that anything is possible if we believe, because nothing is difficult for God.  We cannot have everything we pray for as if by magic, but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve Him.  What do you need (to serve God)?  The "to serve God," is often lost in our requests.  Our requests are usually to serve ourselves.  It is time to change our thinking.  The world thinks "me!"  We should  be thinking "Kingdom of God."
If your need (to serve God) seems impossible; if that vision that He has given you seems impossible - that's good, because it gives God the opportunity to show you what only He can do.  I believe God likes to show out on our behalf; remember the Red Sea??? Ha!  It allows you to know without a doubt that He is the one who deserves the glory and honor.  By His acts alone, all will know the Name of the LORD.  Don't take or give God's glory to anyone - but God.  This is His command.  Let's bring others and ourselves into the awareness of Who our God is, and all that He can do by taking living by faith seriously today.

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Daily Prayer:  Jesus, I believe!  Thank You for the gift of faith.  But I need Your help.  Help me with my unbelief!  Where am I lacking trust in all that You can do?  Where am I fooling myself?  Where am I not trusting You to do the impossible in my life today.  LORD, I need Your help and Your guidance.  I submit to You and Your all-knowing Spirit.  I ask You for forgiveness in this area, and thank You for the freedom to admit this to You.  To leave this in Your hands to correct and make anew; because this is what You do!  New mercies every day.  I can't do this alone; not in my power; only Yours!  In Your Name I pray, Jesus.  Amen.

Please step out on faith and share with us how the Word is reaching you; or not reaching you.

Let's connect!  Let's fellowship!