SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:25-29
This kind can only come out by prayer… are their kinds that can come out in other ways?
I am not sure what went wrong with the disciples healing attempt, or why they were arguing with the religious leaders.
I am not sure why “this kind” of spirit was different, and how “this kind” needed prayer (what were the disciples doing?).
But one thing I do sense is that there are different causes for different conditions.
The secular world only recognizes physical causes for health issues, everything is treated with medication, as if all health conditions can only come out with pills.
Jesus does not discount medical (physical) healing (as far as it went in His day), but He also recognizes spiritual conditions that require spiritual treatments… prayer.
Prayer does not heal, neither does faith, God heals; faith and prayer are ways that we open ourselves to God’s power and purpose.
I do not believe that ‘prayer works’ or in ‘faith healing’; I believe that God works, in God healing.
God is at work in both physical and spiritual healing, but pills and therapy do not resolve all issues – which is why despite all of our medical advances, we are still a deeply sick and troubled generation.
What our world calls ‘mental illness’ does have physical conditions, but it also has spiritual conditions, and no amount of pills and chemicals will heal this.
We need God, we need prayer, we need faith, for though pills and chemicals can alleviate some of our concerns, our real problems can only be addressed in a spiritual way, with prayer (opening ourselves to God, His power and purpose).
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for doctors and pills. And thank You for prayer, for forgiveness, for hope. I pray for physical AND spiritual healing, and help people to see where they need prayer too.
Observations/Application
The people ran in expectation and once again they were not disappointed. The evil spirit came out at His command. Satan once again had been defeated and lost. The boy looked like a corpse because of the life lost and life reborn by the power of God. There was no hope for the ‘demon’ ever to return.
After this Christ went into a house to escape the crowd or to re-energize or to rest or to . . . and there alone with the disciples He told them that they were not able to cast out the demon because it could only be done by prayer . . . something they didn’t do? Even though the disciples had done this before they were unable at this time because . . . they had not observed prayer and fasting . . . or as Matthew states . . . their unbelief. ‘Doubting Thomases.’
Prayer
Lord, keep me near to You by my prayers and devotions and Your Spirit to guide me on my way.. Let me walk with You each day anew. Take the doubt of my life away and let me see You this day.
O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
O Master, let me walk with Thee,
Before the taunting Pharisee;
Help me to bear the sting of spite,
The hate of men who hide Thy light.
The sore distrust of souls sincere
Who cannot read Thy judgments clear,
The dullness of the multitude,
Who dimly guess that Thou art good.
Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.