The Power of Prayer Mark 9:14-29

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 509: Power

On Wednesday, October 11, 1994, NASA’s Magellan space explorer fell silent. The Magellan had circled Venus more than fifteen thousand times since arriving at the planet in 1990, but on this day NASA scientists intentionally changed the satellite’s course and sent it veering into the planet where it burned to a crisp in the atmosphere.

Why would NASA send the Magellan—which cost nine hundred million dollars—plummeting into the planet? Because the Magellan was virtually out of power. One final experiment had drained its batteries to the point where it could no longer transmit data.

Without power, even the highest technology is worthless. Without the power of God, even the most committed Christian can bear no fruit.

-Disciples of Jesus Connect to the Power of God Through Prayer.

I. A Powerful Problem vv. 14-18

When we pick up our story, Jesus and His inner circle are coming down from the mountain of transfiguration.

When they arrive, they find the rest of the disciples, surrounded by a crowd

They walk into an argument, between the disciples of Jesus and the scribes

Seemingly, Jesus is going to be able to settle the matter

There are three major problems Jesus encounters here:

Possession- there is a young man or boy who is possessed by a demon, which causes him to be deaf, mute, and gives him seizure-like symptoms

Powerlessness- there is an assumption that the disciples of Jesus will be able to deal with this situation, as they have in the past. Unfortunately, in this instance they are unable to cast out the demon. They don’t have the power to do it

Prayerlessness- While we do not know all that took place in that moment, it does not appear that the disciples of Jesus are chastened or humble. Rather than repentance or seeking after God, they lean into arguing with the scribes.

While we may not face the first issue, possession, the other two are a present challenge for all of us:

You will not experience the power of God in your life unless you are pursuing it through prayer

Jesus is going to use this experience to teach His disciples something of the meaning and power of prayer

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Prayer, Unanswered

George Muller wrote concerning his orphan ministry: “The funds are exhausted. We had been reduced so low as to be at the point of selling those things which could be spared.…” Then a woman arrived who had been traveling four days, bringing with her sufficient funds for the orphanage. Muller and his co-workers had prayed those four days for something God had already answered.

Under these circumstances, Muller made the following observation: “That the money had been so near the orphan house for several days without being given, is a plain proof that it was from the beginning in the heart of God to help us; but because he delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to pray so long; also to try our faith, and to make the answer so much sweeter.”

II. A Powerful Promise vv. 19-23

Jesus responds with a bit of frustration, calling them a faithless generation. It turns out that there are three groups here who do not have faith:

The scribes, whose lack of faith comes from unbelief. They refuse to believe Jesus.

The disciples, whose lack of faith comes from presumption. They assume that Jesus will work through them.

The family, whose lack of faith comes from ignorance. They are not sure how to believe Jesus.

They tried to come to Him, by His disciples

Unfortunately, that didn’t work out and their son is still afflicted

They just are a little uncertain of how any of this stuff is supposed to work

I want us to be careful here, not to give the family too hard of a time about this.

This is not a minor issue and it is not their fault. They do not know what they do not know!

Jesus treats them with incredible empathy, showing compassion to the father.

Jesus delivers a promise: all things are possible for one who believes:

There is a hope that this boy can and will be delivered

This is not a promise that you can control God and always get what you want

It is, however, a promise that “impossibility” is off of the tray of options.

You learn, by faith, that God can do it

What if God doesn’t do what I want or ask? Does that disprove Jesus’s statement here?

No. When I believe that God can (and He certainly can) I will better learn to accept His decision when He doesn’t!

If all things truly are possible, there must be a good reason when He does not pursue my wisdom on the subject

This is not a belief in God for healing, this is a belief in God, even if He doesn’t!

Daniel 3:16–18

[16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. [18] But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (ESV)

III. A Powerful Prayer vv. 24-29

I love the father’s response, because I believe that it perfectly expresses the space that most of us are living in: “I believe. Help my unbelief”

Jesus answers the prayer and does not despise the humility to pray with integrity

There are three prayers on display here:

A prayer for deliverance: I believe that Jesus can heal my Son

A prayer for faith: Jesus, help me to believe.

A prayer for power: Jesus, cleanse me and empower me for Your purpose!

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Prayer, Importance Of

“The church has many organizers, but few agonizers; many who pay, but few who pray; many resters, but few wrestlers; many who are enterprising, but few who are interceding. People who are not praying and praying. The secret of praying is praying in secret. A worldly Christian will stop praying and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. Tithes may build a church, but tears will give it life. That is the difference between the modern church and the early church. In the matter of effective praying, never have so many left so much to so few. Brethren, let us pray” (Leonard Ravenhill).1030