This Kind Can Come Out By Nothing But Prayer and Fasting

Over the last several weeks, I have been reading the works of E.M. Bounds.  In Bounds work The Necessity of Prayer, he reminds his readers an event in the life of Jesus found in Mark 9.  Immediately following the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus, Peter, James, and John return to the other apostles to discover them overwhelmed by a man whose child is afflicted by a demon.  This man brought his son to the apostles for them to help him, but they could not cast him out.  Jesus, after meeting the need, returns to the home he is staying in.  The apostles ask him why they had been unable to cast out the demon, and Jesus responds with these words, "This Kind Can Come Out By Nothing But Prayer and Fasting."

I wonder how often we forget these words of Jesus.  In the church today, we have programs, methods, studies, and strategies to assist us in reaching people, preaching more effectively, make better disciples, and growing our children into effective Christians.  However, we as a church are reaching fewer people, preaching with less faithfulness to the Scriptures, making poor disciples if we are truly making any at all, and seeing our children wander from the faith like never before.

Perhaps we need to be reminded that hearts and lives are not changed because of leadership strategies and marketing formulas.  Instead lives are changed as a result of the faithful prayer and fasting of God's people.  Think for a moment of one lost soul you have been praying to see come to faith in Christ.  If there is not a name that comes to mind, then perhaps we can begin to understand why the lost around us still walk in darkness.  If a name does come to mind, then I want you to ask yourself what have you ever given up in order to spend time in focused prayer for their salvation?  Have you fasted a meal, an hour of television time, a Sunday afternoon football game, or any other thing of value in your life to seeking the salvation of this soul on your knees in prayer?

Think of the ministry and work of the church.  When was the last time you spent any time praying for your Sunday school class or your Sunday school teacher?  When was the last time your spent time in prayer for your Minister of Music or your Deacon chairman?  If you do not have to dust off the cobwebs of your mind to remember that time, then ask yourself when was the last time you fasted in any way over the work and ministry of your church to the membership of your church or in its battle against the lostness of your community?

Could we be losing the war for souls and failing in the creation of disciples because we have forgotten the essential place of prayer and fasting within our lives?  Could we see a fresh move of God within our lives, our families, our church, and our communities if we would find our place before the throne of God in deep prayer?  Would we see the deliverance we have long sought if we would commit to come to God in fasting of our desires in order to pursue Him in prayer?

I will not guarantee that fasting and prayer will bring forth the move of God that we seek, but I can guarantee that the failure to remember that this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting will assure that we will not see the move of God that we are starving for.

Take time this week to pray.  Pray for the lost, pray for your church, pray for your family, and pray for yourself.  Surrender a meal, an hour of television, or some other item of value to you in your week and invest that time in genuine heartfelt prayer.  As we take the words of Christ seriously in the face of our present circumstances, I do believe that he will respond seriously to our pleas and that he will be glorified within our lives.

God bless