"This Kind Comes Out Only By Prayer and Fasting.”
These verses are Jesus’ explanation and solution to His disciples following their failure to bring healing to an afflicted boy. Though they were willing, they were unable to help him. The father brought his son to Jesus and said, “So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus healed the boy and made it a teachable moment for His disciples—and for us—when they asked Him why they were unable to help the boy. Jesus plainly stated the problem, “Because of your unbelief.”
Unbelief is not believing that something can’t be done. The disciples believed in the power of God to heal, because they tried to help the boy become healed. Unbelief is more than not believing, unbelief is lacking sufficient spiritual ability to get something done. Jesus expected that they should have been able to bring God’s healing to the boy. He went on to explain how faith works by saying: “If you have faith as a mustard seed.” He did not talk about faith the SIZE of a mustard seed, He talked about faith AS a mustard seed.
Faith in God is something that must grow and develop...like a muscle. Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.” Muscles grow and develop from exercise and good nutrition. Your faith in God grows the same way.
The disciples’ inability to help the boy was an issue of their need to grow and develop. A mustard seed starts small but grows to become a tree. When Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,” He did not refer to “this kind” of demon or illness. He referred to “this kind” of faith, which is a GROWING faith that comes from a GROWING relationship with God!
This is where prayer and fasting help us. Prayer connects us to God which causes growth. Fasting disconnects us from the world which is the source of stunted spiritual growth. Seasons of not eating or indulging in some routine activities helps us focus on God and grow in grace. Anything that helps you become more aware of God’s power and grace increases your spiritual abilities, not to mention other aspects of life.
Let your faith operate “as a mustard seed” so that when someone calls on you to do something important and life-changing, you’ll be able to access the grace and power of God to get it done!
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