Deliverance

Mark 9:26-29 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
 
PRAYER becomes powerful when it is your persistent weapon against penetrating evil. The demon had grossly disturbed the boy’s health and behavior. Its violent reaction to Jesus’ presence illustrates our sin nature’s great discord against God’s Word. To avoid God’s commands, the human race throws itself into all types of convulsions. The apostle Paul listed some of these in Galatians 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions. Sin casts us into fear and keeps us from Jesus’ blessed fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).  
   Jesus once more used this healing as an opportunity to show the unbelieving generation (v.19) their Lord had come to save them. The crowd watched the healing. They heard the evil spirit shriek, and they saw the boy become still as death. Sin is angry when righteousness commands it to go.
   Then joyfully they watched the Lord take the boy’s hand to help him stand. The God who speaks is the God who comes to you when you pray, “Help my unbelief.”
   Some manuscripts continue with Mark 9:29 “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.” Jesus taught his disciples to be deliberate with their spiritual disciplines. Prayer is an effective means of grace if we purposefully and regularly use it! Effective prayer requires you have a relationship with God. He is your Father. He is your Counselor. He is your Savior. Real communication with him requires you really speak your love to him and listen to his love for you.
   Remember, being a “disciple” is about “discipline”. The disciplined life of prayer leads you into a more personal communication with the holy Trinity. The God who speaks wants you to speak to him. As he did that day before the crowd, the teachers, the father and the disciples, the Living Christ wants to glorify his name as he answers your petitions and praises.
   The apostles would learn Jesus’ lesson. Prayer became one of the marks of the early church: Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Prayer opened the door to God’s power then, and it does so today. You won’t see the Lord respond to you until you respond to him. Seek God and say, “I believe.”