Text: Mark 9:17-24
Memory verse:
”above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.“ ‭‭
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV

Most often, it is not that believers don’t have faith, but we allow satan to fire his fiery darts of doubt and unbelief into our hearts (Eph‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬). These are two deadly enemies that render our faith powerless if we permit them in our hearts.
It’s okay if they reach the head, but they must never get to your heart, that is your spirit. Through faith, the believer can speak to remove a mountain as long as “…he does not doubt in his heart” (Mark 11:23).
Doubt and unbelief are like interferences that cause network failures in mobile devices, disrupting our communication with God.
There are two kinds of unbelief mentioned in the Bible. One kind of unbelief is doubt, which is faith under questioning or that which is accompanied by a desire to believe, as implied by the father of the afflicted son in our text, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). The other kind of unbelief is an obstinate, hard-hearted refusal to believe (Heb 3:12). Our focus today is on doubt.
According to our text, the father had a measure of faith, which made him bring his son to Jesus’ disciples to be healed. However, the inability of the disciples to heal him created doubt in his heart. He began to question his faith in believing that his son could be delivered of the seizure.
You see, the opposite of faith is unbelief. You doubt because you once had faith. Thus, the father went to Jesus with faith corrupted with doubt as he begged “…Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!” (Mark 5:22 GNT). Did you notice that, “if you possibly can!” What an obvious expression of the doubt in his heart! Jesus’ response in verse 23 indicated that the power to heal was always available but that he couldn’t access it for lack of faith. Realizing his error, he cried out desperately, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NLT). The MSG Bible makes it clearer, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
Friends, have you experienced failure or disappointment in your walk of faith? Don’t allow the devil to fire his fiery darts of doubt and unbelief into your heart. Don’t accept the lies of the devil that your case is impossible. Don’t accept ’No’ for an answer. Take the shield of faith and extinguish all the flaming arrows of doubt and unbelief. You will laugh again. Amen!

Prayer points
1. Father, I thank You that You have not changed and that Your power hasn’t reduced. Glory!
2. I take the shield of faith and I quench every fiery darts of doubt and unbelief shot into my heart, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I believe and therefore nothing will be impossible for me.
2. My faith network won’t suffer failure as long as I don’t permit doubt and unbelief in my heart.