Quote:
Originally Posted by Arphaxad
in vs. 23 when the man says "I do believe, help my unbelief'', does that mean he thought that the disciples could not cast out demon but only Jesus Himself could. Is that something that is happening in the modern church(not only pertaining to casting out demons), that we believe in Jesus but have unbelief that we can actually be a conduit for His power?...just something that came to me just now....
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Clearly Jesus reprimands this father and his disciples for being faithless .... after the father brings his request to Jesus and states they were unable to do so ... Jesus addresses all of them saying:
19 He said to
them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.
Of course this father had to be pretty desperate by the time he came to Jesus ... after seeing that his disciples had been ineffective.
He couldn't even muster enough faith ... he first says after this reprimand "if you can .... have compassion ...."
Jesus says "Everything is possible if you have faith"
The desperate father
cries out .... "I believe, help my unbelief"
Interesting type of faith displayed here ..... Now does Jesus act on this man's belief ... or his unbelief??? Good question A.
Perhaps the concept of having just enough faith ... even if it is the size of a mustard seed applies here
The biggest problem may not have just been faith also... but lack of prayer also.
Jesus tells his disciples as much.