Is there power in prayer? Do we need the power of prayer for service? What happens when there is an absence of power? How can we get power in prayer? How will we know why we do not seem to have any power? The Bible has the answer to these questions.
Matthew 17:14-21 says, “14) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17) Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18) And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, 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. 21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Look at verse sixteen. The key words here were “could not.” None of the nine disciples that were present at the time could cast out the demon from this man’s son. When our work as Christians has no power, this is a reflection on our Savior. See how the inability of the disciples to cast out the demon reflected on Jesus. The father said to Jesus, “I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” Jesus, why could these men not cure my son? They are thy disciples.
Sadly, many churches today could have these same words written above their doors, “They could not.” Why? Because they do not have the power of God.
Take a look at verse fifteen. The boy was in need of help. He would fall into the fire and into the water and the evil spirit would vex him. However, Jesus’ disciples made no difference. How many churches are operating today without the power of God and make no difference in the community around them?
Whenever the work of God is being done, there will be resistance. Luke 9:42 says that “the devil [evil spirit] threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” Mark 9:26 says, “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, he was not dead, because the Scriptures go on to say, “Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” (Mark 9:27) The demon came out, but it tried to do damage to the boy as he was leaving. Evil always rages when it knows its time is short. When Jesus heals, His healing is permanent. As He cast out the evil spirit, He said, “I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.” (Mark 9:25)
The power of God, when it is displayed, amazes the lost. In Luke 9:42 and 43, we read, “And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.”
What causes failure in our service? Why is it that there are times when we “could not”? The disciples wondered the same thing. Later, “when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?” (Mark 9:28) It does not hurt to ask God “why?” when we fail. This shows that we know we had a shortcoming for some reason and it causes us to humble ourselves before God.
Notice that the disciples asked Jesus privately. In some instances of failure, the less that is said in public, the better. It never hurts to spend time alone with the Lord. In Mark 9:28, we see that the disciples were confused about their failure. Jesus had given them power to cast out devils, and they had done so on other occasions (See Mark 3:15), so why did they fail this time? Jesus gave them two reasons. We find one in Matthew 17:20 and the other in Matthew 17:21. First, Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief.” Unbelief often keeps God from doing a work He otherwise would have done. Mark 6:5,6 shows that when Jesus came to His own home area, “5) He could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.” If we want to see the power of God, we must believe He has it and can do the work. Even a little faith is enough. Jesus told the disciples, “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.” (Matthew 17:20b)
In verse twenty-one, Jesus gave the disciples a second reason why they could not cast out the evil spirit. He said, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Some battles are bigger, and they require extra power. They require more time spent in the presence of the Lord seeking His face.
(above article was based on sermon notes from a sermon preached by our Pastor, Bob Reeise)
One area in which we seem to be failing to see the power of God in recent times is in the area of health – local and worldwide. Consider this pandemic of corona virus. In January thousands of people went to Washington DC on a Sunday to protest about the mandates. There is nothing wrong with petitioning the government for redress of grievances. As American citizens we have the right to do so, and we should take advantage of it. However, consider what effect might it have if just as many thousands would humble themselves and seek God in our trouble? Thousands can go to DC, but how many are in our churches each week? Thousands can blame the politicians and criticize the policies, but how many are pleading with God? What if we petition the King of kings for help? When the streets are full, but the houses of worship are empty, there is a serious problem. We are looking for power and answers in the wrong place. O may we turn to the Lord and seek God as a nation before it is too late?