“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”-Mark 9:21-24
We all have gaps! How many of you, if we are honest, believe God can heal, but struggle with His willingness or ability to heal you? How many of you believer God can restore broken relationships, but struggle with His willingness or ability to restore yours? How many believe God can save, but struggle with His willingness or ability to reach your loved one? How many of you believe God can provide, but struggle at times with His willingness or ability to show up in your situation?
Isn’t that what was basically happening in this man’s life. He believed that Jesus could heal, save and deliver; that’s why he came looking for Him. However, he still had some doubts about whether Jesus, could help him with his particular set of circumstances. “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can?”
Jesus jumped on that! “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?”
Jesus recognized a gap in this man’s faith. Although he believed enough to bring his son to Jesus’ disciples to be healed, he still struggled with Jesus’ willingness and ability to help in his situation. Jesus declared to him, “Anything is possible if a person believes!”
The man’s response to Jesus captures the very essence of many of our struggles: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
How do you fix these faith gaps? The concept implies precisely what is written. There is a gap in our faith that needs filled. We fix the issue by first acknowledging the problem and then employing a plan that fixes the issue. If you struggle with healing, studying about tithing doesn’t address the issue. If you struggle with insecurity, focusing on other people’s gaps doesn't fix your problem. The Bible says in Romans 10:17:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
If we are struggling in the area of healing then we must strengthen ourselves from God’s word in the area of healing. We must study God’s word and rightly divide God’s truth becoming an expert in the area of our weakness:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”-2 Timothy 2:15
Some people think that they can overcome their problems, by simply believing more. However, belief doesn’t fill gaps; faith fills gaps. The man who brought his son to Jesus believed, but there was still a gaping hole in his faith that needed addressed. To fill the gaps in our faith we must “hear the word of God.” The Word of God produces faith!
Just as Nehemiah surveyed the walls of Jerusalem looking for the breaches, we too, need to survey our lives and identify the gaps in our faith. Then we must look to God’s Word to give us faith in the areas we are most vulnerable.
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
