Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
The disciples came to Jesus privately and alone after they had failed to ask why they could not cast the demon out. Power and authority over unclean spirits to work miracles of healing had previously been conferred upon them. They had succeeded when they went out in faith, but on this occasion the spirit resisted them. The failure they asked about was their attempt before many witnesses to deliver the boy with the dumb spirit. The public defeat left them humiliated, mortified and distressed before the people, unable to account for or explain it.
The cause of the failure was unbelief and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them. Their faith had been weakened by lack of deeper sympathy with Christ, and by discouragement, jealousy, and attention to personal grievances. They had not fitted and prepared themselves for their holy office by fasting and prayer.
They could vanquish Satan and conquer the enemy of souls only by receiving power and strength from God, going to Him in humility of heart and self-sacrifice to plead for it in fervent prayer. Nothing but entire dependence upon God and full and perfect consecration to His work would insure success, so as to receive the Spirit's aid in conflict with the powers of darkness. Even faith as small as a grain of mustard seed makes nothing impossible.
The disciples came to Jesus privately and alone after they had failed to ask why they could not cast the demon out. Power and authority over unclean spirits to work miracles of healing had previously been conferred upon them. They had succeeded when they went out in faith, but on this occasion the spirit resisted them. The failure they asked about was their attempt before many witnesses to deliver the boy with the dumb spirit. The public defeat left them humiliated, mortified and distressed before the people, unable to account for or explain it.
The cause of the failure was unbelief and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them. Their faith had been weakened by lack of deeper sympathy with Christ, and by discouragement, jealousy, and attention to personal grievances. They had not fitted and prepared themselves for their holy office by fasting and prayer.
They could vanquish Satan and conquer the enemy of souls only by receiving power and strength from God, going to Him in humility of heart and self-sacrifice to plead for it in fervent prayer. Nothing but entire dependence upon God and full and perfect consecration to His work would insure success, so as to receive the Spirit's aid in conflict with the powers of darkness. Even faith as small as a grain of mustard seed makes nothing impossible.