The Truth of the Gospel
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). If healing could be obtained merely based on a certain procedure or formula, the whole world would be healed. Instead, we receive healing based on faith in Jesus Christ (Mark 9:23). We certainly cannot make God heal us against his will, but we can obtain healing from the Lord by exercising faith in him (1 John 5:13-15). The writer of Hebrews explained the nature of our faith, saying, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). When you hope for something or place your hope in someone, but you have no observable proof for your hope, this is faith. Faith should be built upon truth, but by its very nature faith is not observable (Romans 8:24). In other words, God is real, and this truth is factual, but we have no way of empirically proving God’s existence. Therefore, we experience the reality of God and all his blessings by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the primary requirement for healing. But what do we do when our faith is weak (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31)? After all, some needs are greater than others and exercising faith can be more challenging at times.
In Matthew 17:14-21, a man came to Jesus, kneeling, and pleading for his son to be cured. The nature of the problem was spiritual – his son was possessed by a demon that mentally and physically tormented him. Matthew described him as a “lunatic, and sore vexed;” Mark explained that he had a “deaf and dumb” spirit that often convulsed him and attempted to destroy him (Matthew 17:14-15, 18; Mark 9:17-18, 20-22, 25-26).
The man first brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cast out the demon and cure him (Matthew 17:16; Mark 9:18). Jesus responded with great disappointment, saying, “O faithless and perverse generation” (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19). Likewise, when Jesus called upon the father to exercise faith for the healing of his son, the father cried, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:23-24). After Jesus cast out the demon and cured the son, the disciples asked, “Why could not we cast him out” (Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28)? Jesus blamed their failure on lack of faith – “because of your unbelief” (Matthew 17:20). Jesus taught, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not . . . ye shall say unto this mountain, "Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea"; and it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:21-22). Jesus said, “And nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). However, if we find ourselves in the position of the disciples or this father, needing to believe God for spiritual deliverance but lacking in faith, is there a way to build up our faith in God? Jesus instructed us to pray and fast for spiritual deliverance. Some satanic strongholds are so strong and powerful that exercising faith to cast out the demons requires prayer and fasting.
Satan has many captives, people who are spiritually bound, not only by sin but by demonic strongholds in their lives. Spiritual bondage keeps them sick, oppressed, and tormented physically, mentally, and emotionally. They need Spiritual deliverance and healing that comes by prayer and fasting.
In Matthew 17:14-21, a man came to Jesus, kneeling, and pleading for his son to be cured. The nature of the problem was spiritual – his son was possessed by a demon that mentally and physically tormented him. Matthew described him as a “lunatic, and sore vexed;” Mark explained that he had a “deaf and dumb” spirit that often convulsed him and attempted to destroy him (Matthew 17:14-15, 18; Mark 9:17-18, 20-22, 25-26).
The man first brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not cast out the demon and cure him (Matthew 17:16; Mark 9:18). Jesus responded with great disappointment, saying, “O faithless and perverse generation” (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19). Likewise, when Jesus called upon the father to exercise faith for the healing of his son, the father cried, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:23-24). After Jesus cast out the demon and cured the son, the disciples asked, “Why could not we cast him out” (Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28)? Jesus blamed their failure on lack of faith – “because of your unbelief” (Matthew 17:20). Jesus taught, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not . . . ye shall say unto this mountain, "Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea"; and it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:21-22). Jesus said, “And nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). However, if we find ourselves in the position of the disciples or this father, needing to believe God for spiritual deliverance but lacking in faith, is there a way to build up our faith in God? Jesus instructed us to pray and fast for spiritual deliverance. Some satanic strongholds are so strong and powerful that exercising faith to cast out the demons requires prayer and fasting.
Satan has many captives, people who are spiritually bound, not only by sin but by demonic strongholds in their lives. Spiritual bondage keeps them sick, oppressed, and tormented physically, mentally, and emotionally. They need Spiritual deliverance and healing that comes by prayer and fasting.
Zion Publishing House
Copyright (C) 2025
Copyright (C) 2025
