Mark 12: 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the
crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
Genesis 4:3-5 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD
of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of
their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for
his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
Every time that faith is needed for a present situation, unbelief rises inside us.
John 11:17, 21 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four
days… “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
vv. 23-24 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
v. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said,
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Matthew 14:28-31 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he
saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did
you doubt?”
Unbelief occurs when we focus on anything in our life but what God has promised us.
Mark 6:2-3 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard
him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given
him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?
v. 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and
Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
vv. 5-6 And He could not do any miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick
people and healed them. And He was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 9:17-19 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed
by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground.
He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out
the spirit, but they could not.”
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I
put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
vv. 22: if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
When you come to God and beg, it shows that you don’t know anything that God has said
about you.
Miracles and healings are always a result of partnering with God with a promise God has
made to us in our covenant with Him.
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Just two things are necessary for your miracle: a promise from God and faith.
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Faith is being fully persuaded that God will do what He said He would do.
Romans 4:21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not
see.
A second sign that you are in faith is joy and expectation.
A third sign that you are in faith for something is that you should also be able to defend
your position spiritually.
James 1:6-8 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
The most common reason that our faith short-circuits and doesn’t come to pass is because
we are double-minded.
James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his
face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks
like.
Promises from God carry a picture in our heart and mind.
Mark 6:5-6 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and
heal them. He was amazed at their unbelief.
Matthew 17:20-21 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we
drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as
small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will
move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Mark 4:30-32 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable
shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches
that the birds can perch in its shade.”
The mustard seed-God’s picture in your mind- only grows when you meditate and focus on
it to the exclusion of other thoughts and pictures.
Mark 4:28-29 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature
grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the
harvest has come.”
