Help Thou Mine Unbelief - Mark 9:24

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Having some small degree of faith, this poor sinner did not boast of his believing, but with tears repented of his unbelief. In a day where religious men and women brag of their great faith, the true child of God repents for their lack of it. The greatest desire of every believer is to believe and trust more in their glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have faith enough to know that they need more. They have faith enough to ask for more. They understand enough to know who to ask for faith. Even though they believe, their chief concern is their UNBELIEF. Their desire is for HELP with their unbelief, for they know that Christ is worthy and deserving of love from their whole being. It absolutely breaks the believer’s heart to give Christ any less than ALL! Is it so with you? If it is, then simply pray, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Pastor David Eddmenson

Real Trials

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you” (I Peter 4:12).

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials; knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3).

David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes.” Martin Luther declared, “I never knew the true meaning of God’s Word until I came into affliction. I have always found trials to be the best schoolmaster.”

1). Real trials touch us PERSONALLY – our flesh, our hearts, our homes, our children! This is not something we read about concerning others and then offer high-blown advice, but something we EXPERIENCE.

2). Real trials go to THE ROOT OF THE MATTER and reveals the truth of our nature. It shows whether repentance, faith, love for Christ, and confidence in His purpose and providence are realities or whether they are pretense. Trials do not produce faith; rather, they either reveal the faith that is there or they reveal sham and hypocrisy.

3). Real trial tests A MAN’S GRACES. We talk of love for one another, but not until real trials come can we be sure that we do love. We talk of forgiveness and mercy, but not until forgiveness is needed and mercy is required can we be sure that we have it to give! Some of the best religious “talkers” are the poorest “doers” when it comes to putting their theology into practice.

4). Real trial gives us AN OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER TO OTHERS: first, by equipping us with necessary abilities. None can enter into a brother’s sorrow like one who has actually been in the same situation. Second, by bringing us to the brother’s side at this particular time. “I’m sorry that you are burdened in such a way, but I rejoice that the Lord affords me the OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE of helping you bear your burden.”

My brethren, don’t fumble the opportunity to relieve the distressed, forgive the fallen, or feed the hungry. You just may not pass this way again. (Read immediately Matthew 25:41-46).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan ( Bulletin1989)

“The fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. These things are not traits and characteristics the believer strives to produce. These are the natural traits of that Divine nature of which all believers have been made partakers. The fruit of the Spirit is not perfect in any believer upon the earth; but it is present in all believers. Pastor Don Fortner

THE GOSPEL OF JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 15:13).

These words of inspiration encourage my weary heart. The gospel of God in Christ is so designed to give God all the glory for the salvation of sinners (1Cor. 1:30-31). But thank God, it is also designed to give to broken, sinful and weary sinners joy and peace through the gospel (Rom. 5:1). Notice this also, it is; “Joy and peace in believing,” not working, not ceremony and the traditions of men, but by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may abound in hope (2 Thes. 2:16; Heb. 11:6).