BELIEF AND PRAYER

MUSINGS - October 28, 2018

BELIEF AND PRAYER

Mark 9:14-29
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them. All the people were very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him. Jesus asked the scribes, "What are you arguing about with them?"

A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son. He is possessed by a spirit that won't let him talk. Whenever the spirit brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes exhausted. I asked your disciples to force the spirit out, but they didn't have the power to do it."

Jesus said to them, "You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!" They brought the boy to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell on the ground, rolled around, and foamed at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" The father replied, "He has been this way since he was a child. The demon has often thrown him into fire or into water to destroy him. If it's possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!"

Jesus said to him, "As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes." The child's father cried out at once, "I believe! Help my lack of faith." When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he gave an order to the evil spirit. He said, "You spirit that won't let him talk, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again." The evil spirit screamed, shook the child violently, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and everyone said, "He's dead!" Jesus took his hand and helped him to stand up.

When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we force the spirit out of the boy?" He told them, "This kind of spirit can be forced out only by prayer."

Let's recall the story. A boy who has seizures is brought to the disciples. They try and fail. An argument ensues been the disciples and the scribes (think lawyer). Jesus arrives and all were surprised.(why? I'll have to explore that later)

Jesus questions the scribes. They don't answer. The boys father did and then said, "If it's possible for you, put yourself in our place, and help us!"

To which Jesus responds, As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes." I have to think that Jesus was staring into each of the disciples eyes when he said it. The boy's father admits how small is his belief, but the disciples say nothing. Jesus was clear upset with them when he said,p"You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?

How much faith do we have and how much do we need? In Matthew 17:20
Jesus told them, "I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." And in Luke 17:5-6
when the apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith." The Lord said, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Pull yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea!' and it would bobey you."

I have never said to a mountain or a tree, "Move!" However, I have witnessed miracles after much prayer.
" (Matthew 21:22)

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