“ And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 NASB
The ninth chapter of Mark begins with the remarkable account of Jesus taking Peter, James, and John atop a high mountain where Elijah and Moses appeared and Jesus along with them was majestically transfigured into a heavenly appearance. Meanwhile, the other disciples remained at the bottom waiting for Jesus and the other disciples to return. While they were waiting, a desperately hurting father brought to them his son who was possessed by a spirit that was trying to destroy him.
When Jesus returned instead of finding His disciples ministering to a hurting father or praying for a demonically possessed boy He found them arguing with some Sadducees. The topic of their argument was so important that the Bible doesn’t even bother to tell us what it was. This shows us how easily we can be distracted from real ministry. When Jesus asked what was going on the father of the boy stepped up and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” When Jesus heard this He said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Jesus didn’t speak these words to the father, rather, to the disciples who were distracted from prevailing in prayer and ministry. When we truly believe, we will prevail despite the immediate outcome.
The father then brought his son to Jesus and said, “If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus responded, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Jesus said all things are possible, we just need to believe. The key ingredient to prayer is faith. Faith is believing God can despite how humanly impossible the situation is. The Bible then says, “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The father demonstrated genuine faith. He was saying to Jesus, “I believe you can help my son, and I believe you can help me in my shortcomings of faith.” Jesus then cast the demon out.
Later the disciples, who had cast demons out in Jesus name before, asked why this one wouldn’t come out. Jesus said, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” Jesus isn’t talking about quickie generic prayers. He is talking about specific, focused, prevailing prayer. Again, if we truly believe the promises of God, and that He can, we will prevail in prayer. We are now setting our heart to prevail in prayer for revival and a great awakening. That’s what our petition will be. Recently I have heard a multitude of Christians say things like, “We just have to get use to the way things are,” or, “We will have to learn to accept society for the way it is.” NO WE DO NOT! God forgive this unbelieving generation. Do they not believe? Is God not almighty and all-powerful? Didn’t Jesus say “All things are possible to him who believes?” Last time I checked all means all all the time.
We are prevailing in prayer for revival and a great awakening so we pray in faith that He can. When doubt arises ask God to help you in your unbelief. He’s not only able, He is more than able. Let us join together and believe in God for the restoration of our churches, and for the salvation and transformation of our nation. He can!
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