Bible Reading: Genesis 18; Nehemiah 7; Matthew 17; Acts 17
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Jesus had been on the mountain with Peter, James and John. They had seen Jesus transfigured before them and had seen him talking with Moses and Elijah. They were certainly excited about this 'mountain-top experience' they had with the Lord. When they got down from the mountain, they found that the other disciples were at war with the enemy and were losing!
A man had brought his son who was possessed by a devil that had troubled him severely since he was a little boy. This had gone on for years. The disciples had tried to cast out the devil, but they could not. This was surprising to the disciples because they had dealt with devils before.
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
His disciples received a rebuke from the Lord for their lack of faith. And Jesus cast the devil out of the boy.
Matthew 17:17-18 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
When the disciples asked why they could not cast the devil out Jesus informed them it was because of their unbelief. They were not able because they were not walking in faith. It does not take great faith to do the works of Jesus. It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed. It is a great God that the faith is in! They encountered a devil that had been in his 'home' for a long time. It took much prayer and fasting to cast him out.
Now let's put two and two together. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and told them this kind of devil only comes out by prayer and fasting. The reason they did not have sufficient faith is because they were cut off from the source of faith – God. In order to walk in faith, it takes time alone with the Father. To deny the body food in order to spend time in prayer is a practice that is necessary for the disciple. They were not prayed up. They were caught unprepared. Jesus knew this because they were not able to cast out the devil. Are you prepared for what might come your way today? Are you prayed up so that when you have the opportunity to do the work of Jesus you are ready? It wouldn't hurt to miss a meal every now and then to feed upon God's word instead!
In Christ,
Rody
