Jesus Promises Power in Prayer - Part 3

Mark 9:25-29 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 persistent. The demon had grossly affected the boy’s health and behavior. Its violent reaction to Jesus’ presence is symbolic of 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: 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. These sins cast us away from Jesus’ benevolent care. They blind us and bind us to keep us from communicating with God.
   Sin can only come out by prayer. We cannot ignore it or fail to confess if intrudes into our mind to block our thoughts of God.
   As Jesus wearied of the unbelieving generation, he once more used this healing as an opportunity to show the Jews their Lod had come to save them. The crowd watched the healing. They heard the evil spirit shriek and saw the boy become still as death. Sin is angry when righteousness commands it to go. They watched the Lord take his hand to help him stand. The God who speaks is the God who comes to you when you pray, “Help my unbelief.”
   Some manuscripts state 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 and fasting are effective means of grace if we use them! Prayers of haste and convenience to call on God only when you are in trouble are ineffective. A relationship with God requires you love him and listen to  him. Remember, being a “disciple” is about “discipline”. The disciplined life of prayer leads you into a more personal communication with Jesus. 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, he wants to glorify his name as he answers your petitions and praises.
   Jesus was training his disciples to become apostles. When he left them, they would need to rely on all he had taught them. And they did so. 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 opens the door to God’s power. You won’t see him respond to you until you respond to him. Seek God and let him know you have faith to say, “I believe.”