(Mark 9:14-29)
14 And when they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. 16 And He asked them, “What are you disputing with them?” 17 And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.” 19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20 And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23 But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!” 26 And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up. 28 When He came into the house, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why is it that we could not cast it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.”TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
I have definitely prayed that phrase, quite a few times- "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" Because why not?! The Lord wants us to go to Him with everything!
As well, I also understand what Jesus is saying in verse 29. Having been around someone during my childhood who was involved in the occult, I have seen, heard, felt, and sensed many things. On one occasion, I sensed a presence, and all I had to say was "Go away." But on another occasion, I was "paralyzed", and all I could do was pray in my head, "Jesus help! Jesus help!..." And, it wasn't immediate, but supernatural help came!!!
While we have been given authority over the spiritual realm, this is no joke. And never think that we can or should be some sort of demon hunter. After doing the Bible read-through for my devotion-blog specifically on the topic of spiritual warfare, I can say with confidence that God never asks us to do that. Simply put, in our personal relationship with the Lord, consider God as our bodyguard, in everything! We are not the ones who are able to fight, it is God, and God alone!
The Lord's salvation protects us from being possessed, and protects us from ever losing our salvation. The Lord's guidance through His indwelling Holy Spirit, and His word, will equip us with His righteousness, peace, love, faith, strength, truth and gospel message.
I've shared this before, but it's so poignant and helpful. A missionary in France spoke at our church. At the time when their group was about to hold an event, there was a heavy cloud of oppression over the entire city. For days, they kept praying that God would lift that cloud. It was only until they started to pray that the gospel message would reach the hearts of these people, that the cloud lifted!
Therefore, we are to stay focused on God and carrying out His will, in His guidance and strength, all to His glory... and NOT focus on sin and evil and trying to wage war against it. That's God's job! In our personal relationship with Him, He wants to do life with us, as a team... but listen, every team needs a leader! Let's let God take the lead, always! He is our heavenly Father, and He alone is sovereign!
Everything we need to know is given in scriptures, specifically in the following verses, that for everything, all we need is God...
(1 Timothy 6:11-12)
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.(Ephesians 6:10-17)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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