Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17: 20, 21, NKJV.
Gracious God, today we come before You, willing, and eager, to learn. Please help us as we study, to understand, and accept, Your teachings; in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
We are continuing where we left off yesterday. We will re-enter the story to be able to identify the possible “mountains” that may have prevented the disciples from casting out the demons from this boy. It is important that we recognize that these are not “mountains” from without, but from within! Luke’s account of the gospel reveals that it was “on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him” (37).
While Jesus and three of His disciples were on the mountaintop, in touch with heaven; the adversary of our souls was busy, attempting to pull souls down to the depths of hell! “Mountains” of discouragement and jealousy, were building up in the hearts of the nine disciples. In the gospel according to Mark, the boy’s father approaches Jesus and tells him the entire story. He explains how the disciples were unable to cast out the demon. It is obvious that the inability of the disciples to overpower this evil spirit, has had a negative effect on the father’s faith. The following statement seems to demonstrates this, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9: 22)! If You can do anything…? He is in the presence of the Life-giver! The Healer par excellence! The Creator! Hadn’t he brought his son, for Jesus to heal him? And now he has begun to question Jesus’ ability to help his son? Why not! After all, the Healer’s best friends could not help his son; perhaps He won’t be able to do anything for him either!
Many times we pray, but our prayers cannot make it beyond the ceiling because they are deterred by mountains of every description: doubt, envy, gossip, covetousness, hatred, lying, pride, jealousy, discouragement, and the mountains keep multiplying! These mountains are quite invasive, and therefore, dangerous. They hurt not only us; but others as well, as we saw in our study today. But thank God, in Christ, there is always a way! Permit me to share with you a quotation from the book, The Desire of Ages, p. 380:
“The words of Christ pointing to His death had brought sadness and doubt. And the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances. In this state of darkness they had undertaken the conflict with Satan. In order to succeed in such a conflict, they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith-faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work-can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.” Emphasis provided.
In this way, our faith is enabled to move the mountains that prevent us from receiving answers to our prayers!