BELIEVING PRAYER

Mark 9:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 9:28–29 ESV

28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

I. A TRANSFORMATIONAL ENCOUNTER

II. A BATTLEFIELD ENCOUNTER

Mark 9:19 (ESV) — 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

Mark 9:19 ESV

19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

Mark 6:7 (ESV) — 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits…13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Mark 6:7 ESV

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Two truths that should shape us every day:

Luke 1:37 (ESV) — 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 ESV

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Mark 9:23 (ESV) — 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23 ESV

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

III. A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER

Mark 9:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 9:28–29 ESV

28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Up to this point the account has emphasized the necessity of faith. Here the idea of prayer is injected. The two are closely related. Prayer, especially a whole life of prayer, is the avenue to faith. [1]

The implication is that emboldened by their earlier successes, the disciples depended on their own power and neglected to pray. The lesson for them was that humble, dependent prayer is the highway that faith takes to the power of God.[2]

Spiritual power is not something which once possessed will always be available. It must be maintained and renewed. Disciples then and now must constantly learn and relearn this lesson.[3]

[1]Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 148). Broadman & Holman Publishers. [2]MacArthur, J. (2015). Mark 9–16 (p. 30). Moody Publishers. [3]Brooks, J. A. (1991). Mark (Vol. 23, p. 147). Broadman & Holman Publishers.