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There is a report in the gospels of an event that took place somewhere below Mount Hermon after Jesus and three of his followers came down from that high mountain, Hermon, on which something supernatural had happened, which is known as the transfiguration.
Talk about coming down to earth, they walked straight into a bitter argument, involving a large crowd and Jesus's other disciples. When Jesus strode onto the scene people were (it says) overwhelmed with wonder. "What's the argument about?" he asked. A man in the crowd replied: "It's my son, he's possessed. He is suddenly plunged into terrifying fits, mouth foaming, teeth like iron, and it's life threatening.I brought him to be healed, and your disciples can't do it."
Jesus was surprisingly stern with his men - asking when would they learn ...? The boy went into a convulsive fit, which smashed him to the ground, foaming at the mouth. "How long has he been like this?" Jesus asked the father, and the answer "Since he was a baby. If you can do anything, help us". Jesus said " 'If you can' -everything is possible for him who believes."
The father said "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief".
Isn't that precisely where most of us are right now? We do believed and we can rattle off the Christian creeds, 'I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in his Son Jesus Christ our Lord ...' and so on. But is that enough? It's like teaching someone to swim. Once you get them in the water (it's amazing how many think that they can learn to swim sitting dry at the side of the pool) you can ask "Do you believe that the water will support you?". "Yes, it supports all those others". So you hold out a hand under the learner's body and they swim happily: withdraw your hand, and it's blind panic. "Don't let me go ... I'll drown. Help me", as you are throttled ...
I tell you the truth, 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. Matthew 17:20
A Prayer:
Lord, I do believe - help me overcome my unbelief."
Now read Matthew Chapter 17.
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