And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The answer to the disciples' failure is found at the foot of the mountain while Jesus was in glory above, when a father brought his son tormented by a dumb spirit to the disciples who had remained behind. Authority over unclean spirits to cast them out had been given them when sent to preach through Galilee, and going forth strong in faith they had seen evil spirits obey their word. Now commanding the torturing spirit in the name of Christ to leave his victim, they were met only with a fresh display of demonic power and could not account for their defeat, feeling they had brought dishonor upon themselves and their Master. Hostile scribes pressing around used the failure to question them, to accuse them and Christ of deception, and triumphantly declared an evil spirit that neither the disciples nor Christ Himself could conquer, turning the crowd toward contempt and scorn until Jesus approached.
This kind means that certain especially powerful forms of Satanic and demonic hold can come out by nothing except prayer and fasting. The disciples failed because of unbelief and carelessness toward their sacred work and holy office, since they had not fitted and prepared themselves for it by prayer and fasting. Satan cannot be vanquished except by power received from God, so success requires going to God in deep humility, humiliation and self-sacrifice to plead for strength to conquer the enemy of souls, with entire dependence upon God and perfect consecration and dedication to the work as the condition.
Those seeking freedom, especially from Spiritualism, should themselves humbly fast and pray and should ask experienced, faithful believers to plead with God for them. The prevailing prayers of God's people move Jesus to send holy angels to resist Satan, drive him back, and break his power over the afflicted. Evil spirits are cast out through faith joined to prayer, with the encouragement that faith as a grain of mustard seed removes mountains so that nothing is impossible. Christ may be asked in full assurance of faith to enlarge capacity for service and increase power to help souls, but power and effectiveness for service come through the Holy Spirit. When Satan's power oppresses believers and ordinary efforts cannot overcome him, they must trust God and then fast and pray, and through prayer and fasting triumph and victory over Satan are assured.
The answer to the disciples' failure is found at the foot of the mountain while Jesus was in glory above, when a father brought his son tormented by a dumb spirit to the disciples who had remained behind. Authority over unclean spirits to cast them out had been given them when sent to preach through Galilee, and going forth strong in faith they had seen evil spirits obey their word. Now commanding the torturing spirit in the name of Christ to leave his victim, they were met only with a fresh display of demonic power and could not account for their defeat, feeling they had brought dishonor upon themselves and their Master. Hostile scribes pressing around used the failure to question them, to accuse them and Christ of deception, and triumphantly declared an evil spirit that neither the disciples nor Christ Himself could conquer, turning the crowd toward contempt and scorn until Jesus approached.
This kind means that certain especially powerful forms of Satanic and demonic hold can come out by nothing except prayer and fasting. The disciples failed because of unbelief and carelessness toward their sacred work and holy office, since they had not fitted and prepared themselves for it by prayer and fasting. Satan cannot be vanquished except by power received from God, so success requires going to God in deep humility, humiliation and self-sacrifice to plead for strength to conquer the enemy of souls, with entire dependence upon God and perfect consecration and dedication to the work as the condition.
Those seeking freedom, especially from Spiritualism, should themselves humbly fast and pray and should ask experienced, faithful believers to plead with God for them. The prevailing prayers of God's people move Jesus to send holy angels to resist Satan, drive him back, and break his power over the afflicted. Evil spirits are cast out through faith joined to prayer, with the encouragement that faith as a grain of mustard seed removes mountains so that nothing is impossible. Christ may be asked in full assurance of faith to enlarge capacity for service and increase power to help souls, but power and effectiveness for service come through the Holy Spirit. When Satan's power oppresses believers and ordinary efforts cannot overcome him, they must trust God and then fast and pray, and through prayer and fasting triumph and victory over Satan are assured.