Lord Help My Unbelief (Mark 9:14-27)

HELP MY UNBELIEF!  (Mark 9:14-29)

YOUR FAITH DOES NOT HEAL OR SAVE
IT IS GOD WHO HEALS – He sometimes uses faith as an instrument in healing, and that faith is so closely tied to healing that it may be said that faith “heals” – (James 5:15)
IT IS GOD WHO SAVES – not faith.  Faith is not the ground of salvation, but the instrument of salvation.  We are not saved by faith, but we are saved through faith.  (Eph. 2:8-9)

THE GOSPEL IS THE GROUND OF OUR SALVATION – the cross, the resurrection. “The doing and dying of Jesus" is the basis of salvation. "Weak faith in a strong plank will get you across the river, but strong faith in a weak plank will land you the river!"

FAITH IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT 
FAITH IS THE INSTRUMENT OF OUR SALVATION: Are you content with doubt? (Mk. 9:22-24)
JESUS COMMENDED STRONG FAITH (Mark 5:34; 10:52; Matt.8:10; 15:28; Luke 7:50; 17:19; Heb. 11:1-2; 30-40)
JESUS CONDEMNED WEAK FAITH (Mark 4:40; Matt.14:30-31; Mark 9:19; Matt. 17:19-20; Mark 6:5-6; Matt. 8:10; 13:58)
JESUS CONDEMNS FALSE FAITH (James 1:17; Acts 8:13)
FAITH IS OUR CONNECTION WITH  CHRIST (Psalm 77:7-15)
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE TO THE WORLD, AND IT OFTEN SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE TO US.  

THERE ARE DEGREES OF FAITH
FAITH HAS A BIRTH, GROWTH, AND MATURITY (Phil.1:6).
“FAITH IS NOT “CONVINCING” YOURSELF of a certain answer (I John 5:14)
WE MUST NOT BOAST OF OUR FAITH.
FAITH AND UNBELIEF ARE MIXED TOGETHER IN THE SAME HEART (John 21:17)
AT THE SAME TIME YOU CONFESS YOUR WEAK FAITH, YOU MUST FIGHT  YOUR UNBELIEF.

FAITH IS A GIFT – must plead with God for it.  "Lord, increase our faith!”
"HELP" ME  IN MY UNBELIEF  (v. 22--"help us!"  v.24--"help my unbelief; " Matt. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:18)
IF WE HAVE FAITH--GIVE ALL CREDIT TO GOD. (Rom.1:24,26,28; Deut. 29:29)  
AT THE LORD'S TABLE (L.C., Q. 172)