(Audio)
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.
The attempt of the disciples lacked faith and it lacked genuine prayer. From the sound of the result it also lacked humility.
As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
They were in a posture of defensiveness. They had something to prove. Maybe it was something about their own worth and power. But perhaps it wasn't anything that obviously self-centered. Perhaps what they wanted to prove was about who Jesus was. Yet it was not by faith or pray that they sought about proving this. They were still too reliant on themselves.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
How do we respond when our faith is weak? Do we press in with our own efforts or run away in despair? Both of those choices lead only to cycles of ever deepening doubt and despair. Instead we must learn from the father of this possessed child. He made no assumptions about himself or his own abilities. He was jaded by years of seeing his son suffer. But he did not give up.
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
The faith we have can grow if it is faith on which we rely. If we offer the seed of our faith to Jesus he himself will water it and make it grow.
“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!”
We must be careful not to confuse faith with desires stemming from jealousy or selfish ambition. The result of faith is never greatness for ourselves but rather for God, that he might be glorified.
Let him show his works by a good life
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Humility is the essence of the prayer that can work wonders. It is a humility that is able to ask for the LORD's Kingdom to come rather than our own. It is content to see him exulted and requests only daily bread and mercy for ourselves.
He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
Let us cultivate peace. Peace is stability for genuine humility. Peace is the ground for sincere prayer.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.
We believe, LORD, heal our unbelief!
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