“I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.” – Mark 9:24 (Mark 9:14-29) (Matthew 17:14-21) (Luke 9:37-43)

When tha Son and Old Pete, James, and John come off tha mountain and down ter whar tha other disciples be, they seen a large crowd, tha rest of tha Twelve, and tha teachers of tha law all arguing. Soon as all tha people seen tha Son, though, they rushed ter greet him.

“What are you arguing with them about?” tha Son asked.

A man in tha 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. This evil, demon spirit is destroying my only child. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

“You unbelieving, perverse, generation,” The Son said in disgust. “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought him. When tha spirit seen tha Son, it immediately threw tha boy in ter a convulsion. Tha lad fell ter tha ground and rolled around, foaming at tha mouth.

Tha Son asked tha boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood. That spirit has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.” The father dropped ter his knees and said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said tha Son. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

“I believe,” tha boy’s father said. “Only, help me overcome my unbelief!”

When tha Son seen tha crowd running ter tha scene, he rebuked tha impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of the boy and never enter him again.”

Tha spirit shrieked, convulsed tha lad violently and came out. Tha boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But tha Son took him by tha hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. All were amazed at tha greatness of Skipper.

After tha Son had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out that spirit?”

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. If you have faith as big as a mustard seed nothing is impossible. But this kind can come out only by prayer.”

If ya ‘ave an only child ya know how desperate ya be ter care fer it. Parents care fer all youngins, but an only child back in tha Son’s day, ‘specially a boy, be tha one who carries on tha family business as it whar. So ya kin understand why tha boy’s pop be desperate fer help.

Think on this a wee little bit. Tha Son called tha crowd an “unbelieving, perverse, generation.” In this case perverse might possibly meant that folks had turned away from what be right or good, which be Skipper, fer he be right and good and full of love. 

Then tha Son asked tha lad’s dad “How long has he been this way?” Could be tha Son be looking ter understand if thar be a generational curse at work in tha boy or some other curse. Our sins kin bring down curses on us and our offspring. Getting ter tha root of tha issue be one of tha first things tha Son ‘ill do when he be dealing with uncleanness.

“I believe,” tha father said. “Help me overcome my unbelief.” Well now we come ter tha crux of tha matter: tha disciples and tha dad believed in that Son a little but they believed in thar unbelief more.

Once tha lad be back in his right mind and free of tha unclean demon spirit, all whar amazed at the greatness of . . .  Skipper. Ya might think they be amazed at tha Son and they whar, but all knowed that tha only way tha Son could cast out an evil, unclean spirit be through tha power of his pop, Skipper.

How ’bout ya? Doth ya ‘ave a little faith, a little belief? Would ya like ter have more faith? Faith big enough ter overcome yer unbelief?

Fall at tha feet of tha Son and beg him ter come closer ter ya. Tha more we draw ter tha Son, that bigger we see him ter be.

Far off tha sun in tha sky looks small among all that clouds, but whar ya ter get up close ter it ya would know its vast bigness. Same with Skipper and his Son. Thar power and might be more’n we kin imagine.

Get close ter tha Son and yer faith ‘ill beat back yer unbelief, of this ya kin be sure.