"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

(17) Jesus answered, "How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me!" (18) Jesus gave a command to the demon, and it went out of the boy, and at that very moment he was healed. (19) Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked him, "Why couldn't we drive the demon out?" (20) "It was because you do not have enough faith," answered Jesus. "I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, 'Go from here to there!' and it will go. You could do anything!" (21) OMITTED TEXT

(23) "Yes," said Jesus, "if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith." (24) The father at once cried out, "I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!" (25) Jesus noticed that the crowd was closing in on them, so he gave a command to the evil spirit. "Deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "I order you to come out of the boy and never go into him again!" (26) The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a bad fit, and came out. The boy looked like a corpse, and everyone said, "He is dead!" (27) But Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him rise, and he stood up. (28) After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive the spirit out?" (29) "Only prayer can drive this kind out," answered Jesus; "nothing else can."

Good News Bible copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

This miracle teaches that it takes the power of faith to overcome the enemy (Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:19, 23-24). Why had the nine disciples failed? They had been careless in their personal spiritual walks and had neglected prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). The authority that Jesus had given them was effective only if exercised by faith, but faith must be cultivated through spiritual discipline and devotion. The apostle Paul uses Abraham as an example of this:

No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). (Romans 4:20-22, The Amplified Bible)

Half of the healings Christ performed happened due to the prayer of loved ones and friends. The father of the demon-possessed boy remains a monument of faith, timid yet true, through his love for his boy. His pleading, "Have compassion on us, and help us," was highly honored by Jesus.

The key to the exercise of such faith is not its quantity, but the God to whom it is directed; therefore, even the smallest faith—"like a mustard seed"—will see spectacular results (Luke 17:5-6; Matthew 17:20). Jesus says in Mark 9:23, "All things are possible to him who believes." Faith acts as an open door into a relationship with God and as a shield that protects God's people when they are under spiritual attack.

— Martin G. Collins

To learn more, see:
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Exorcising a Young Boy (Part One)



 

Topics:

Exercise of Faith

Neglected Prayer and Fasting




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