Powerful Faith

When Jesus went up on the mount of transfiguration, nine of his disciples had been left behind.  Because they were his disciples, the people came to them for help.  Matthew 17:14-16 describes what had happened.  “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” 

Everyone, including the disciples had expected them to be able to cast out the demon, because when the twelve went out they had been excited about being able to cast out demons.  The father of the child was really concerned that they could not do it, and asked Jesus if he could help him.  He was concerned that the boy was insane and frequently did self- destructive things.  Sooner or later he would probably die of one of them. 

Jesus wondered how long it would be before they finally believed in him.   He had no problem healing the child, in 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.  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.”  He was frustrated that the people had no doubt of his power cast out demons and heal the child, yet refused to believe he was the Messiah.   What would it take to convince them?  

“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21)

The disciples were concerned that they had been unable to cast out this demon when others had been no problem.  Jesus responded that the problem was a lack of faith on their part.  Even a small amount of faith would enable them to do anything.   Jesus was not scolding them for the lack of faith, but pointed out that such faith can only be obtained through prayer and fasting. 

Unfortunately most people are more concerned with casting out the demon or obtaining a desired result than they are with growing their faith.  As a result they fast and pray trying to get God to act.  Their fasting becomes no more than a hunger strike in an attempt to force God to give in, and their prayers are just nagging, in an attempt to wear him down. 

Isaiah 58:5-9 forbids fasting to try to get God to do something.  “Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.  Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity.” 

Fasting that pleases God is focused on getting to know him better and doing what he has commanded.   The parable of the unjust Judge points out that God is not like the unjust judge and does not need to be nagged to get a response.  When we pray in such a manner, it is because we lack faith, as we see in Matthew 6:7-8, and our praying becomes sinful.  “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”   I John 5:14-15 tells us, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 

When our prayers and fasting are focused on getting to know the Lord rather than on getting what we want, then the Holy Spirit produces faith in us that can face any challenge.   When we only pray for results, our faith does not grow.