The sermon was based on the passage from Ephesians 4:11-16, which gives plenty of instruction about the operation of the church.  Although it’s mostly thought of as an exposition about spiritual gifts, it describes some striking features (a picture) about what the church should look and act like. 

Proposition Statement: The church functions best when its people are faithful to follow Biblical precepts for ministry.

NOTE:  Though the word “church” isn’t found in this text, the essence of “church” is the body of Christ.  Also, we must be careful about our own presuppositions – our convictions are formed by our experiences!

I.          The church is endowed with gifted leaders (v. 11)

            -some say leaders are born; others say leaders are made; I say leaders are given by God & gifted to lead.  I also believe that God will provide everything we need (personnel, gifts, resources) to lead our church.

II.        The church is equipped for greater ministry (v. 12)

            -some say the church is for believers; some say the church is for the lost; I say the church is for both!  He gave evangelists, as well as pastors and teachers, for equipping the saints (but conversion is first)  I’m not a big fan of the Church Growth Movement – design church for the world (Ex. Willow Creek)

III.       The church is enriched by genuine unity (v. 13)

            -some say it’s all about diversity; some say it’s all about harmony; I say that both accomplish unity!  Unfortunately, though, the church has begun to be plagued by harmful disputes over petty differences.

IV.       The church is engaged in gleaning doctrine (v. 13-14)

            -some say that doctrine divides and love unites; I say that good doctrine taught with love unites! (v. 15).  There’s nothing wrong with being steeped in Biblical doctrine; how absurd to think that it’s harmful!

V.        The church is edified thru growing maturity (v. 13-16)

            -some say that growth is measured by numbers; I say that the best growth is evaluated by maturity!  The problem with using Biblical statistics for church growth is that they’re all about kingdom growth.

In case you didn’t know, missions is a big deal for us here at Maranatha Fellowship Church.  In fact, as affiliates with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, missions is part of our DNA.  We long to see people from all over the world come to know the Savior that we love so dearly.  Therefore, we give to the Great Commission Fund to help spread God’s message of hope to previously unreached places, and to support the missionary enterprise in areas where the work is ongoing.  But we also want to become more aware of other ways we can help the missions cause, either through prayer or by going ourselves if possible.  That’s why the Missions Conference is so vital for us, because we want our hearts and wills to be surrendered to the Lord so that He might use us in whatever way He chooses. 

The Alliance has begun to emphasize the desire to develop partnerships between domestic churches and international projects that could be equally beneficial.  The international projects could receive the much needed support, through our giving and going, and our churches in the United States could become more aware of needs outside of ourselves that could be life-changing.  It’s truly a win-win scenario!  Ultimately, we want the Lord to be glorified through all that we do or attempt to do for the missionary cause. 

The following is a schedule of our 2012 Missions Conference:

2012 Missions Conference (March 11-18)

Sunday, 10:30 am  - Keith and Krista Ellenberger (C&MA – Mali)

Sunday,   6:00 pm  - Keith and Krista Ellenberger (C&MA – Mali)

Monday,  7:00 pm  - Bill and Marge Veith (CAM - Retired, Guatemala)

Tuesday,  7:00 pm  - Bounoeuy Kes (CAMA – Cambodia)

Wednesday,  7:00 pm  - Susan Dube (CAMA – Southeast Asia)

Sunday, 10:30 am  -  Rev. Barry Peterson – Maranatha Missions Challenge

Sunday,   6:00 pm  -  Rev. Charles Hughes, Jr. - Church Multiplication

There are a lot of things that I’ve learned from God’s Word that I’ve wanted to pass on to the people of our church but have never found the right opportunity to do so until now.  I know that everybody has their own ideas about how the church ought to be run, but it’s more important what God has to say about it!  So, that’s where this series on the faithful church begins and ends.  It is intended to generate a lot of discussion amongst our people, with the hopes that we’ll evaluate our effectiveness in light of the Bible’s teachings, rather than the world’s philosophies. 

I don’t claim to have all the right answers.  But I hope that we’ve begun to ask the right questions!  If so, the answers will come as we remain faithful to God’s will.  Only then can we hope to be the church that He’s called us to be in our community and in this generation. 

I’ll be posting the notes for each of the sermons, one at a time for successive weeks starting this Friday, February 3rd.  For those of you who have never heard these messages, please consider every point in light of the Scriptures offered.  I only hope they will be of service to each of you.  For those of you who have already heard them, I hope they’ll serve as a reminder of the things that we should already be engaging in.  Either way, we should always be willing to revisit the truths about the Lord’s church that are found within.

It’s difficult to define postmodernism because it’s not really an organized system of thought at all!  It has more to do with what its proponents stand against than what they stand for.  You could say that postmodernism is a reaction against, or a drift beyond, modernism.  In other words, the younger generation has become increasingly disenchanted and disenfranchised with the modern way.  They have lost faith in modern formulas and modern convictions about truth, values, and other important elements of what we believe.  

For example, modernism is all about symmetry and balance in art or architecture.  But postmodernism is asymmetrical.  For moderns, all truth is absolute.  But for postmoderns, truth is relative.  Moderns still have firm convictions about life, while postmoderns have lost all conviction.  That’s precisely why it’s so difficult to define.  They’re hard to nail down because there are no convictions or claims with postmodernism.

In seeking to understand their worldview better, I’ve read a lot about postmoderns and postmodernism.  There are many helpful books to guide you through understanding their language and culture.  It’s really eye-opening if you’re able to put yourself in their shoes, to navigate through their complex process of thought and emotions.  The sad truth is that they didn’t get there all by themselves – we helped them by the way we have dashed their hopes and dreams. 

Postmoderns have grown up in a world of dysfunction.  Although we make promises and say that they can count on us, more children than ever are being raised in broken homes.  Therefore, they’ve learned that our promises really don’t mean anything.  Furthermore, there is an epidemic of abuse in our so-called civilization.  A whole generation of children have experienced a far greater level of abuse than any previous generation. 

Postmoderns have grown up in a world of pluralism.  There is no longer one dominant religion or ideology to follow.  There are multiple options.  And the media is using its influence to level the playing field, or even stack the deck toward secular humanism.  Our children have grown up with a confusing array of beliefs and practices to choose from. 

Postmoderns have grown up in a world of illusion.  It’s becoming harder and harder for them to distinguish between that which is real and that which is artificial.  The age of information and technology has completely transformed our culture.  And we have lost something in the process. 

One of the best books I have ever read on the subject of postmodernism is Above All Earthly Pow’rs: Christ in a Postmodern World, written by David F. Wells.  I highly recommend anyone wanting to appreciate the postmodern position to read this book.  Perhaps if the church can learn about what makes them tick, we’ll have better success in reaching them for Christ.

My earliest recollections are of my parents and the happy home environment that they created.  It was a home of love and laughter, of contentment and joy.  We didn’t have much, at least not by other people’s standards.  But as a child, I don’t remember feeling like we were missing anything.  Because we had each other – Dad and Mom and siblings as well.  We had good health and great memories.  What more could we ask for?

I distinctly remember the times that my father led us in family worship.  There was something special about having everyone together reading the Bible, singing songs of praise, and taking time to pray together.  Although my parents never reached the level of full consistency, they sewed the seeds of what would become a concern of mine as a father.  I’ll always be indebted to those values that were instilled in my life.

My father was a truck driver by occupation and he wasn’t always able to be home every evening.  However, he never wasted his time on selfish and trivial pursuits that otherwise took him away from his family.  We always knew that he loved us and worked very hard to provide for our needs.  And we’re grateful that the times away were far less than the times at home. 

As a result, life wasn’t always easy for my mother.  There were times when she would have to deal with four high maintenance children all by herself for days (and sometimes weeks) at a time.  She always bore the bulk of the burden of responsibilities around the home.  And I’ll be forever thankful that she sacrificed opportunities to be a stay-at-home mom while we were growing up, a decision that is not understood by some today. 

When my mother did re-enter the workforce, it was as a teacher for the class of her youngest child. (my brother)  Because each of us children attended the same Christian school that she taught at, she was immediately available for any one of us if necessary.  Mom wanted to make sure that in addition to receiving a good education, we were also receiving a foundation of instruction in the ways of the Lord.

In a very real sense, I can say that if it weren’t for that event 50 years ago, I wouldn’t be here today.  My life was formed out of the union that was created by God on that day.  Each of my family members have been blessed by the legacy of our dad and mom. 

Today there are four children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.  I’m happy that my children have gotten to know their grandparents and have had the privilege of being able to spend considerable time with them through the years.  As I was reviewing pictures lately, I was pleased to see that my parents had been there for all the significant events in our lives.  Thanks, Dad and Mom for making those things a priority!

There’s another blessing that I have to share with Dad and Mom.  They attend the same church that I pastor!  Consequently, my family gets the experience of being able to worship together with them each week.  And my kids get to see the fruit of a Godly heritage being passed down from generation to generation.

I love you Dad and Mom.  I hope you have a wonderful 50th anniversary.  May God’s richest blessings continue to be made manifest in your life.  And may you enjoy many more years of blessing in your marriage.

To the casual observer at the midpoint of the twentieth century, Jim Elliot might have seemed like an ordinary, bright, clean-cut, all-American boy.  He had good looks, knew how to work hard, got good grades…and could easily have achieved “the American dream” of a successful career and family.  But Jim Elliot was anything but ordinary.[i]

In 1945, Jim Elliot left his home in Portland in order to attend Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.  It was at Wheaton that Jim met and fell in love with Elisabeth Howard, the woman that would one day become his wife.  But Jim wanted to wait to be sure that it was God’s plan for his life, especially in light of his undeniable calling.  Since he had given his life to Christ, he wanted to serve God with his whole heart and life.  Now he was sure, though, that God wanted him to become a foreign missionary.  After he graduated college, he prayed and waited patiently to discern exactly where God was leading him.  Finally, he knew that God wanted him to join a team of missionaries in Ecuador, (in South America) where he would sacrifice his time and talents to help translate the Scriptures for the primitive Quichua people.  Little did he know at the time, though, about the kind of sacrifice that he would ultimately give.  Years earlier, Jim had written these words that would one day come to define him:  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”[ii]

When the time came for him to set sail for Ecuador in 1952, he remembered the boyhood wish  to one day sail the seas.  He realized that even in this eighteen day journey God was fulfilling one of his grandest wishes.  By the time he arrived at his destination, he felt confident that he was where the Lord had called him to be.  He was eager to settle in and begin his work because he felt that God had special plans for him in Ecuador. 

The next year, Elisabeth joined him and became his wife.  She shared her husband’s passion to live and work among the Quichua people in order to bring the gospel message to those who did not yet know Christ and His redeeming love.  Together, they plunged into their translating and teaching assignments with joy.  They were blessed to be among other young missionary couples, located throughout their region, who had common goals and interests.  God had providentially brought together Pete and Olive Fleming, Ed and Marilou McCulley, Roger and Barbara Youderian, and the Mission Aviation Fellowship pilot Nate Saint with his wife Marjorie to team up with Jim and Elisabeth Elliot for an important mission.  They had no idea then, but their names would soon be forever linked together in the pages of missionary history.

While working among the Quichua people, Jim and some of the other missionaries learned about a savage tribe of stone-age warriors just miles to the East who lived completely unaffected by modern progress.  They were so fierce that they were known by the Ecuadorian people as the “Aucas,” which means “killers” in their language.  Years later, missionaries came to know them as the Waodani tribe.  The Waodanis’ reputation had come from centuries of native accounts from those rare few who had escaped their jungles or who had tried to make contact before.  They were extremely hostile to outside invaders.  However, Jim Elliot and his missionary friends would not let these stories keep them from their secret mission to reach the Waodani people for Jesus Christ.

One day Jim was introduced to a native girl named Dayuma who had escaped from the Waodani tribe just years before.  Before long, Jim was quizzing her regularly for information about her people, along with words that they would use to communicate to one another.  Dayuma was afraid of Jim’s interest in speaking the Waodani language and tried to warn him not to attempt making contact with them.  According to her, they were brutal warriors who would instinctively kill.  But all the missionaries agreed that this was a risk that they were willing to take.  When discussing the imminent danger with his wife, Jim replied, “I’m ready to die for the salvation of the Aucas.”[iii] (as they called them at the time)

“Operation Auca” officially began in October of 1955.  Nate Saint had flown some of the missionaries over the Waodani region several times in his conspicuous yellow plane in order to scout the territory.  Eventually they began to notice some inhabited villages and even made some close encounters with the Waodanis themselves.  They were careful to take things slowly, dropping gifts and pictures of each of the men, in an effort to show goodwill and make a more favorable impression.  Nate had devised a bucket dropping system that would lower items down to the ground on a rope as he circled the plane overhead.  The Waodanis had also sent their own gifts back to them in the bucket, including an Indian headdress and even a live parrot. 

After three months of flights, they found a clearing along the river that they called “Palm Beach.”  The missionaries decided it was time to make their first face-to-face contact.  So they planned everything out and made several trips with supplies to build themselves a small tree fort by the river to shelter them from weather and wild animals.  Then they waited for the Waodanis to come to them.

On January 6, 1956, the missionaries’ hopes were realized.  Three Waodani natives, a young man and two young women, stepped out of the jungle and into the clearing.  During the next several hours, the five missionaries communicated the best they could, trying to arrange a meeting with the village leaders.  They gave their guests insect repellant, treated them to their first ever hamburgers, and even took the young man (who they named “George”) on a ride in the plane. 

At the end of the day, Nate took Pete back to the missionary headquarters to gather up some more necessary supplies.  They shared the wonderful news of their successful contact with the Waodanis and were looking forward to more positive events in the days to come.  When they left the next day, they asked the wives to pray because they hoped that a bigger meeting was soon to happen.  On the day after that, they spotted a delegation of men heading to their camp.  They radioed the wives that this was going to be the big day, and that they would radio them back at 4:30 p.m.

But they were never heard from again.  The next day a search party was sent to the missionaries’ camp at Palm Beach.  There, they discovered the five bodies of the slain missionaries, killed at the hands of the Waodanis.  At that moment, it must have seemed to everyone that Jim Elliot and the other missionaries had failed in their mission.  As the newspapers reported the story around the world, some said it was a waste of lives.  Some might have felt as if God had failed to protect them.  Maybe some would have even questioned whether God always wins.  Perhaps some doubted if He existed at all.  But God was in control, and He used the experience to bring the entire tribe to Christ just a few years later.  This was God’s plan all along.  God always wins, even when it appears he’s losing! 

[ii] Elliot, Elisabeth, Through Gates of Splendor (New York, NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1957), p. 172.

[iii] Ibid.

Pastors, Youth Pastors, Theologians, Church Historians, and even youth themselves are interviewed in an attempt to answer the haunting question that plagues us all, “Why are so many young people leaving the church after high school?”  Some statistics reveal that up to 88% of all young people that are raised in the church will walk away by the time they’re adults.  Many people challenge this percentage, saying that the numbers are a little inflated.  But what if the numbers are only 75%, or even as low as 66%?  This trend is staggering by anyone’s best estimates! 

Could it be that because of the practice of dividing the sheep into age-segmented groups, and particularly by giving the teenagers their own special, “hip” kind of church, we’ve unwittingly created a faithless generation?  These are the kinds of questions that this young film-maker is asking.  And all of us who are church leaders need to pay very close attention.  Some of you may not agree with the conclusions, but you have to appreciate the concerns!

The documentary brings out the history of age-segmented practices in the church, citing the Sunday School movement of the late 18th and early 19th century as its beginning.  It also reveals that the church, although critical at first, began to adopt worldly methods of education which has become accepted as the norm today.  As a result, the responsibility of raising the children (and teaching them about the things of God) has been taken out of the hands of the parents and put into the hands of the so-called experts.  And this has happened with the parents blessing! 

Almost everywhere we go and in everything we do we remove children from their parents.  When children are born, we make a show of dedicating them to the Lord but then we give them to child-care facilities to nurture them.  When they become school-age children, we give them over to the state so that they can indoctrinate them into budding secularists.  And even in the church, we would rather put them into a class with someone else who will babysit them for a couple of hours rather than take the responsibility upon ourselves.  By the time they reach adolescence, they don’t feel any connection with the church at all, nor with the parents who have delegated these crucial, formative opportunities to someone else all their lives. 

I feel like I’m becoming a stronger advocate than ever for the importance of families.  This is because I can’t imagine any callling more important in this life than to shepherd my family in the faith.  I think it’s time that we begin to examine some of our age-old practices in the church in light of the testimony of Scripture. 

You can watch this movie online for free for a limited time.  It’s about 55 minutes long and is worth every minute.  If nothing else, you’ll get a glimpse of the church from a young person’s perspective.  You’ll have to ask yourself whether or not the church has lost its relevance for an entire generation.  Here’s the link:  www.dividedthemovie.com

The trends that he points out focus on the two biggest and most significant generations in our day, the Baby Boomers and the Millennials.  The Baby Boomers are usually defined as those that were born after World War II, from approximately 1945 to 1964.  When the soldiers came home they settled down (for the most part) and the population quickly increased as a result of these young, growing families.  The Millennials are those born between approximately 1980 and 2000, largely the children of the Baby Boomers. 

The implications for the church, from this important study, are staggering.  Consider the trends Rainer mentions:

1.  Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in more than a century.  He goes on to provide statistics about the Millennial generation, estimating that only about 15% of them are Christians.  Depending on how they define their “Christianity” may mean that there’s even a smaller percentage.  Either way, the numbers are pretty daunting.  The problem is bad enough to suggest that the church in our postmodern culture is in critical condition.  Remember, that the Millennials are made up mostly of teenagers and twenty-somethings.  They’re not children anymore.  They’re mostly old enough to begin forming their own religious convictions.  But, to a large degree, their not choosing Christianity! 

2.  The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent.  Rainer states it well when he says that, “they simply ignore us because they do not deem us as meaningful or relevant.”  The problem with this statement is that nothing could be more relevant than Christ and the gospel message.   But these Millennials don’t see that to be the case because (I believe) their parents have not lived a life that showed genuine relevance.  So I don’t blame the Millennials for being disenchanted with Christians.  I blame us Christians for shattering the faith of our children!

3.  Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines.  This is not because there will be no more senior adults.  In fact, all the demographic trends reveal that as the Baby Boomers reach the age of retirement, there will be more and more need for healthcare and other senior concerns.  But us Baby Boomers just don’t want to be identified with senior ministries, at least not with the traditional senior adult ministries of the church we’ve observed.

4.  The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel.  Let’s hope that this trend does indeed become reality.  In my experience, there is a lot of cynicism toward the church from people among the Boomer generation.  They’ve usually had a bad encounter with the church sometime in their past and, therefore, have given up altogether.  Incidentally, it’s strange that people are so quick to give up on the church whenever something like this happens, but they don’t do it with their favorite ball teams or other organizations they’ve been associated with. 

5.  Family will be a key value for both of the large generations.  According to Rainer, even the Millennials who don’t value church very highly still have a high regard for their family.  Almost 8 out of 10 say that their families are an important issue in their lives.  In fact, family ranked as their most important value.  This is significant!  We may think that the Millennials place a lot of importance on their friends and peers, but the family is still the dominant influence.

I’m especially interested in this last of the five trends.  My wife and I are dedicated to our family, and committed to family ministry in the church.  Consequently, we’ve embarked upon a new course for families and children this summer.  Instead of hosting another traditional VBS, we’re having what we’re calling a “Family Workshop” later this month and the early part of August.  The Family Workshop will be an interactive seminar which offers practical training on relevant issues for the entire family. (you can read about it on my previous blog)

With every challenge comes incredible opportunity.  The current American church had better wake up to these trends.  I’m not suggesting that we start from scratch in the church, but that we address each of these matters with the glory of Christ’s unchanging gospel.

The idea was borne out of a desire to expand our limited focus to include whole families.  We’ve never done this before and I’ve never heard of it done anywhere else.  There are VBS programs that are designed for the whole family, but all of the ones I know of divide everyone into separate groups according to age and circumstance.  However, we’re keeping the whole family together during our sessions, except for a period during the Family Training session. 

Family Workshop is a fun and interactive learning experience to strengthen key areas in the home.  Children, parents, and grandparents are welcome to participate together as we discover God’s purposes for the family.  Each of the sessions will feature a particular matter that parents and families struggle with.  So, our intention is to give insights that speak to these matters from a uniquely Christian and thoroughly Biblical perspective. 

The workshops will take place on four Tuesday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, beginning July 19th.  (The dates are 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, and 8/9)  We invite anyone in our area to join us as we sing songs, make crafts, enjoy snacks, play games, and explore Biblical truths with our families.  There is no cost for registration or for any of the activities.  The topics and speakers are as follows:

Tuesday, July 19     “Family Ties”     (Rev. Barry Peterson)      

Discover God’s grace in the creation of families and strengthen the ties that unite us together.  The discussion will begin with the origin of the family and how God ordained it to be central in our lives.  This session will be led by Barry Peterson, Pastor at Maranatha Fellowship Church.

Tuesday, July 26     “Family Wellness”     (Mrs. Leora Bock, R.D.)

Experience the joy of living well and learn about ways to improve the nutrition and health in our homes.  There will be valuable information about preparing delicious, healthy and inexpensive meals for your family.  This session will be led by Mrs. Leora Bock, R.D., who works as a Clinical Dietician for Florida Hospital in Orlando.

Tuesday, Aug. 2     “Family Training”     (Dr. James Coffield)

Renew the passion for Biblical parenting and be equipped with tools for better success.  Our discussion will involve matters pertaining to shaping the character of your children and using appropriate discipline.  This session will be led by Dr. James Coffield, the Associate Professor of Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo.

Tuesday, Aug. 9     “Family Worship”     (Rev. Barry Peterson)

Consider the importance of developing and maintaining a special time for family devotions.  We’ll look at ways to reduce the obstacles and increase the confidence for practicing regular family worship times.  This session will be led by Barry Peterson, Pastor at Maranatha Fellowship Church.

Please consider the opportunity for your whole family to learn valuable insights about these important matters.  We look forward to what the Lord has in store for us during our Family Workshop.

Now this request sounds pretty lame, asking the Son of God, the Messiah, the omnipotent Lord if He can do anything about the problem.  Of course He can!  Everyone knew that He was a miracle worker.  Perhaps this father had heard of others that He’d healed – maybe even seen it for himself.  Jesus was (and still is) more than able to deliver the boy and any other circumstance in this world. 

But let’s not be too critical of the boy’s frustrated father.  He had inevitably become discouraged after years of disappointments.  And now his hopes had just been dashed as the disciples attempted to perform the same miracle in Jesus’ name.  For him it seemed that nothing would work to liberate his son from the bondage – not even at the hands of Jesus’ chosen representatives.   

Jesus chose to address him tenderly, while at the same time employing the man’s own words for an unforgettable lesson in faith.  Jesus responded by saying, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  And just as He did time and time again in the Gospels, Jesus precisely and pointedly cut through to the heart of the matter. 

But now comes the man’s next response that has long captivated me.  Mark 9:24 says that he immediately cried out with tears saying, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”  And that was all there was to say.  The man was obviously moved with emotion.  It seems that the Lord had pierced his heart and illuminated his mind.  So, as a result, he uttered this honest confession that every one of us can learn from.

When the boy’s father said, “I believe,” he was making a clear statement of faith.  He must have known enough of who Jesus was and now had experienced His holiness and compassion face to face.  He was visibly (for those that were there) affected and altered by Jesus’ presence.  And his hope was in Jesus as the one who could bring about deliverance.  This is how it should be for any of us who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

But when he says, “help my unbelief,” he is also confessing his weakness and limitations.  He’s a man ready for a new beginning, but recognizes his inability to help himself.  So he’s casting his cares upon Jesus, with the hope that he will receive God’s grace to overcome the obstacles of faith.  And he’s pleading with the Lord to work in His life that which is well-pleasing in His sight.  He’s actually beginning to put his faith to work as he asks the Lord for divine help. 

This is exactly how I feel sometimes, even after years of serving the Lord.  There are times when I want to say, “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.”  I can absolutely affirm that God is sovereign over all areas of my life, and that I have faith that He will deliver me from my sin, but I also confess that I don’t have as much faith as I ought to have to live the victorious life at all times.  I want to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ as Peter instructs us at the end of his 2nd letter.  And I want to see the faith that I have increase to a greater abundance as I walk with Him. 

This is how we can apply this confession to our own lives.  We must surrender to the Lord daily and seek to live by His will.  We should approach God in prayer honestly and earnestly, as the father of this suffering boy did. 

You know what Jesus did with the boy, don’t you.  He lovingly and miraculously healed him.  And not only was the boy healed that day, but the boy’s father was too, as he received Jesus’ tender words of compassion and grace.