Asking for Faith
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Asking for Faith (Contents)
Part 1 – The Father Who Cried, “Help My Unbelief” (Mark 9:14–29) Part 2 – The Apostles Who Prayed, “Lord, Increase Our Faith” (Luke 17:5–6) Part 3 – The Disciples Who Cried, “Lord, Save Us! We Perish!” (Matthew 8:23–27) Part 4 – Gideon: “If You Will Save Israel by My…
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Part 1 – The Father Who Cried, “Help My Unbelief” (Mark 9:14–29)
1. Name & Context A desperate father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not heal him. When Jesus arrived, the man turned to Him as the last hope. His heart was torn between belief in Jesus’ power and fear from long disappointment. 📖 Mark 9:17–18 (ESV)“Teacher,…
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Part 2 – The Apostles Who Prayed, “Lord, Increase Our Faith” (Luke 17:5–6)
1. Name & Context The apostles, Jesus’ closest followers, had already witnessed countless miracles — healing the sick, walking on water, feeding thousands.Yet when Jesus taught them about forgiving others repeatedly, they felt the task was beyond their strength. 📖 Luke 17:3–4 (NKJV)“If your brother sins against you, rebuke him;…
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Part 3 – The Disciples Who Cried, “Lord, Save Us! We Perish!” (Matthew 8:23–27)
1. Name & Context The disciples of Jesus were travelling with Him across the Sea of Galilee after a long day of ministry. Many of them were fishermen familiar with the sea, yet when a sudden storm arose, they were overwhelmed by fear.This incident took place early in their discipleship,…
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Part 4 – Gideon: “If You Will Save Israel by My Hand, Show Me a Sign” (Judges 6:36–40)
1. Name & Context Gideon, son of Joash, lived during a time when Israel was oppressed by the Midianites because of national disobedience. He was hiding in fear, threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid detection (Judges 6:11). When the Angel of the LORD appeared, calling him a “mighty man…
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Part 5 – Moses: “If Your Presence Does Not Go with Us, Do Not Send Us Up from Here” (Exodus 33:12–15)
1. Name & Context Moses, called by God to lead Israel out of Egypt, had already witnessed extraordinary miracles — the plagues, the Red Sea crossing, and God’s voice at Sinai. Yet, after Israel’s grievous sin of the golden calf (Exodus 32), Moses faced a crisis of faith and leadership.…
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Part 6 – David: “Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God; and Renew a Right Spirit Within Me” (Psalm 51:10–12)
1. Name & Context David, Israel’s greatest king and “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), reached one of his lowest points after his grievous sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11).When confronted by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:7–9), David was…
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Part 7 – The Centurion: “Lord, I Am Not Worthy … Only Say the Word” (Matthew 8:5–10)
1. Name & Context The Roman Centurion was a Gentile officer in charge of roughly one hundred soldiers — a man of rank, discipline, and authority.Despite being an outsider to Israel’s covenant, he had heard about Jesus and believed in His divine power to heal. His servant was gravely ill…
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Part 8 – Abraham: “He Believed the LORD, and It Was Counted to Him for Righteousness” (Genesis 15:1–6; 22:1–18)
1. Name & Context Abraham, originally Abram, is known as the “father of faith” (Romans 4:11–12).He was called by God to leave his homeland, his family, and his security to journey toward an unknown land and promise (Genesis 12:1–4). Though he obeyed, the promise of a child — through whom…
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Part 9 – Job: “Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust Him” (Job 1–2; 13:15; 42:1–10)
1. Name & Context Job was a man from Uz, described as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1).He was wealthy, respected, and deeply devoted to God, offering sacrifices continually on behalf of his family. Unknown to Job, a heavenly dialogue permitted Satan to test…
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Part 10 – Hannah: “In Bitterness of Soul She Prayed to the LORD and Wept in Anguish” (1 Samuel 1:9–20)
1. Name & Context Hannah, the beloved wife of Elkanah, lived in the hill country of Ephraim during Israel’s pre-monarchic period.Though deeply loved, she was barren, while her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, mocked her repeatedly (1 Samuel 1:6–7).Childlessness was a social reproach in that culture, and Hannah’s grief was profound.…
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Part 11 – Mary: “Let It Be to Me According to Your Word” (Luke 1:26–38)
1. Name & Context Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, was engaged to Joseph when she received the most astounding message ever given to humanity: she would conceive and bear the Son of God. She was probably a teenager of humble background, living under Roman occupation and Jewish law —…
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Part 12 – Peter: “Lord, If It’s You, Tell Me to Come to You on the Water” (Matthew 14:22–33)
1. Name & Context Peter, originally a fisherman from Galilee, was one of Jesus’ closest disciples — bold, impulsive, and passionate.This incident occurred shortly after the feeding of the five thousand, when Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee while He went to pray. A violent storm arose,…
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Part 13 – Thomas: “Unless I See the Mark of the Nails, I Will Not Believe” (John 20:24–29)
1. Name & Context Thomas, also called Didymus (“the Twin”), was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.He is often labelled “Doubting Thomas,” but his story actually reveals how faith grows through honesty and encounter. After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were hiding in fear.When Jesus first appeared to them on resurrection evening,…
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Part 14 – Paul (Saul): “Lord, What Do You Want Me to Do?” (Acts 9:1–22)
1. Name & Context Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, was a zealous Pharisee, a scholar of the Law, and a fierce persecutor of Christians.He believed he was serving God by destroying the early Church (Acts 8:1–3).On his way to Damascus to arrest believers, Saul’s confident religiosity was shattered…