Mark 9:1 7-29, “And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground’ and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And-the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.”

The victory cannot be won without a fight. Boxers, wrestlers, and everyday business people meet barricades that must be removed. Whether it be a hindrance in one’s life or a hurdle that must be crossed, the fighters will break the obstructions and win the victory. A person determined to break the barriers that hinder him from progress will press on until the walls scatter into a thousand pieces.

The sound barrier is an example of perseverance. A sonic boom is a shock wave produced by an object moving through the air at supersonic speed – faster than the speed of sound. An airplane, moving through the air generates sound. When the speed of the object exceeds the speed of sound, the object forces the sound ahead of itself faster than the speed at which the sound would ordinarily travel. The piled-up sound takes the form of a violent shock wave propagating behind the object.

Scientists realized that the application of aerodynamics was important to breaking the sound barrier. The design of the wings with a curved upper surface and a flat lower surface produced the ability to
crash through to a sonic boom. The discoveries necessary for this great accomplishment was not easy. Months and years were spent on designing new possibilities. Thanks to those who would not give up, aircraft are now able to easily break the sound barrier.

Poliomyelitis or polio, acute viral infection that, in its severe form, invades the nervous system and causes paralysis. Scientists broke down every medical barrier to create the Salk vaccine and the Sabin
vaccine nearly eradicating Polio from developed nations. In 1985 the World Health Organization began an effort to eradicate polio worldwide by 2000. The last reported case of polio in the Americas was in 1991.

Another example of overcoming obstacles is the fight for an AIDS cure. The World Health Organization reports that twenty-five million people are afflicted with AIDS. “WHO” does not give any hope of a
better situation because more people are afflicted with AIDS each day. It is estimated that by the year 2000 that one hundred and twenty-five million men, women, and children will have been infected. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa the pandemic’s overall social and economic impact is already enormous and is bound to become more devastating still. The health and social support infrastructure is inadequate to handle the clinical burden of HlV-related disease, which includes an upsurge in
tuberculosis.

The deaths of millions of young and middle-aged adults, who include members of social, economic, and political elite as well as professional health workers and teachers, could lead in some societies
to economic disruption and even political turmoil. Through the deaths of young men and women, innumerable children and elderly people are already being left without support. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 10 to 15 million children will be orphaned by the year 2000 as their mothers, or both parents, die of AIDS. A similar scenario can be expected in Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the developing world in the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Prevention is indisputably the most important objective of a global strategy, since it is the only way to avert all the human, social, and economic costs of HIV infection, which is lifelong and, in the absence of curative drugs, believed to be ultimately fatal. A universally effective and affordable preventative vaccine is unlikely to be available before the year 2000.

With no cure in sight, scientist are working-day and night to find a cure for AIDS. Many barriers are faced each day. Some of the barriers have been broken, but others block the way for a successful
cure. Will a cure be forthcoming, or will entire nations die? Will all of the barriers be broken down?

Our Scripture reading in Mark 9:17-29 tells us of a child that was deaf and dumb. His father heard about the healing power of God that was working in the apostles. The man brought his child to the disciples in hopes of a miracle, but none came. This no doubt discouraged the man greatly. He then took the child to Jesus with questions concerning the fact that his child was not delivered. Jesus rebuked the disciples who came with the man for their lack of prayer and fasting. Then he said to
the man, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to them that believe.” The man answered, “Lord I believe, but help thou mine unbelief.” The man was confronted by a doubt barrier.

The child began to act strange and an evil spirit caused a violent reaction. This did not help the man’s faith to increase. Yet, in the midst of doubt and fear, he overcame with his faith and Jesus performed a miracle of deliverance. The child returned to his right mind. I am sure that this was the most exciting time of the man’s life. It all happened because he dared to believe. What will happen in your life if you follow his example.

Two blind men came to the door of the house where Jesus was staying. They were emotionally upset with their condition because the Bible says that they cried and pleaded for mercy. The Lord ask them if
they had faith for Him to do the work. Their answer was yes. This moved the heart of Jesus Christ into a realm of total compassion. The doubt barrier was moved out of place and healing took place. As he performed the miracle Jesus stressed that healing comes according to your faith.

A religious man came to Jesus in the midst of a desperate situation. His daughter was sick and was very near death. No doubt he and the medical profession had done all that they could do and this was
a last straw effort to get help from any source. The man spoke to Jesus. Mark 5:35 “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why
troubles” thou the Master any further?” What a discouraging moment! The ruler of the synagogue must have felt that there was no hope outside of Jesus.

Jesus responded immediately. “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken.” The Lord is always on time. He is never too late. Faith will move Him to action in your case as it moved Him in the
ruler’s case.” He (Jesus) saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid. only believe.”

Notice this verse of Scripture found in Mark 5:37, “And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and lames, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to
scorn. But when he had put them all out.” Before Jesus could work, every doubter was removed from the house. Perhaps he put them out against their will. Some of them were surely complaining, but Jesus knew that the rules of Heaven demanded total faith for a miracle such as this. This proves that Jesus puts the unbelievers on hold until he can work miracles through the faith of believers.

“He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel (believers), and them that were with him (more believers), and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.” The people that Jesus allowed to remain in the house while He healed were astonished This meant that they believed and yet, they had some doubt in their minds that Jesus would do it. The Lord removed their doubt barrier and performed the miracle. In the midst of our fear and doubt, Jesus is able to increase our faith by doing what he said he would do.

The Church received several powerful promises found In Mark 16:15-20, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe.” the word “shall” is emphatic. It means that without a doubt it will be done. Jesus went on to say, “In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” When Jesus says that it shall happen, it shall. That’s enough for me.

The story of the woman with an issue of blood found in Luke 8:43-46 is a powerful faith builder. “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians (Notice that the woman had spent all she had on doctors. She was searching for an answer, but could not find it), neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: (She forced her way through the crowd thus removing every doubt) and immediately her issue
of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me?” The slightest touch in faith attracts the attention of God. “When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” The woman was healed because she fought her way through the crowd to touch the master. There was nothing that could stop her active faith.

Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

It is true! Jesus will perform those things that we ask. Supernatural power is available to heal and save. It is within the power of a Christian to accept or reject this power. Will you remove the doubt barrier and receive your miracle from the Lord Jesus Christ?