PRAYER AND FAITH

THERE IS NEVER A TIME IN OUR LIVES THAT OUR FAITH AND PRAYERS ARE NOT NEEDED!

THERE IS NEVER A TIME IN OUR LIVES THAT OUR FAITH AND PRAYERS ARE NOT NEEDED!

WITHOUT FAITH WE WILL NOT PRAY AND IF WE PRAY WITHOUT FAITH IT IS USELESS.

OUR FAITH LEADS US TO SEEK GOD AND OUR PRAYER ARE A VITAL PART OF RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

“EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO THE ONE WHO BELIEVES”

THE DISCIPLES’ FAITH IS CHALLENGED.

- JESUS’ DISCIPLES “COULD NOT DO IT.”

Mark 9:14–17 ESV

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

Mark 9:14–19 ESV

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 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.”

WHY COULD THE DISCIPLES CASTE OUT THE DEMON?

- JESUS’ REACTION GIVES THE ANSWER.

Mark 9:19 ESV

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.”

YOUR FAITH WILL BE CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGED THROUGH LIFE.

HAVE YOU EVER FACED A TRIAL AND FELT THAT YOU “COULD NOT DO IT?”

- OUR LITTLE FAITH SOMETIMES SAYS LORD “IF YOU CAN.”

Mark 9:21–23 ESV

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

WHEN WE FACE NEW OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES REMEMBER JESUS’ WORDS.

THE DISCIPLES WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY COULD NOT DO IT.

- BECAUSE OF “YOUR LITTLE FAITH.”

Matthew 17:20–21 ESV

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

- THEY DID NOT PRAY

Mark 9:25–29 ESV

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 9:28–29 ESV

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

WHICH WAS IT THEIR LACK OF PRAYER OR LACK OF FAITH?

“ONLY BY PRAYER”

WE SHOULD NEVER FACE LIFE OR ITS CHALLENGES WITHOUT PRAYER

- THE DISCIPLES DID NOT PRAY IN THIS SITUATION.

DO WE FACE SITUATIONS WITHOUT PRAYING ABOUT THEM?

DO WE CONSIDER PRAYING TO BE A SOLUTION.

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Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

PRAYER AND FAITH GO HAND IN HAND!

THE DISCIPLES PROBLEM WAS A LACK OF FAITH AND A LACK OF PRAYER.

WE CANNOT HAVE PRAYER WITHOUT FAITH AND WITHOUT FAITH WE WILL NOT HAVE PRAYER.

REMEMBER THESE TWO PHRASES OF JESUS WHEN YOU FACE NEW CHALLENGES:

“EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO THE ONE WHO BELIEVES.” -

THIS CAN BE FACED “ONLY BY PRAYER.” -