Matt 17:14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,
Matt 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
Matt 17:16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Matt 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
Matt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
Matt 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
Matt 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matt 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Hello all, in Matthew 17:14-21, there is profound revelation that the LORD gives us on faith, prayer and fasting that many people miss, but will change our lives, if we understand the power of faith, prayer and fasting! Let’s take a look at it, line by line as we exposit the text.
In verse 14-15, a man comes to Jesus kneeling down, asking Jesus to have mercy on his son because he was sick. The scripture says that he was lunatick or epileptic depending on the translation you read.
Regardless of the translation, notice that there was a problem or situation. The man’s son was sick in verse 15, and he wanted Jesus to help him.
Truth be told, we all have situations and circumstances in our lives that we deal with, and sometimes we need help from the LORD.
In verse 16, the scripture says the man brought his son to the disciples, and they could not heal or cure the man’s son. Sometimes we wonder why we can’t accomplish things in our lives and in the church, but the LORD gives us the answer.
In verse 17. Jesus calls the disciples faithless and of a perverse generation!
Why would be do that? The word perverse in the Greek is “diastrephō” which means to distort, that is, to misinterpret, or (morally) corrupt. In other words, they were trying to do something spiritual without faith and doing it the wrong way.
Could this be the reason why we can’t accomplish many things?
Because of our lack of faith and we distort, misinterpret, or corrupt things, by trying to do it in our own way?
In the natural, you can do things and possibly get many results. But when you are doing something spiritual for God, it must be God’s way! Wow!
In verse 18, the Bible says Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him.
The scripture says it was a demon that caused the young man to be epileptic or lunatic. Don’t miss that! Most of the things we deal with in the natural have a spiritual connection behind it!
But Jesus healed him! How many of us know, that, there are some things that only Jesus can do!
In verse 19, the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they couldn’t cast out the demon?
Wow! This is such a profound question. The question that many people have today! The very question we have in churches today! Why can’t I accomplish this or that? Why can’t I get results? Why can’t we do it Jesus?
In verse 20, Jesus says something so profound. He that has an ear to hear, let him hear!
Jesus said, “BECAUSE OF YOUR UNBELIEF.” The very source of why we can’t accomplish anything spiritual, physical, financial or personal is unbelief! Question? Do you really believe?
Did you hear that? But Jesus said, “If you have FAITH as a mustard seed. You can move mountains” The LORD said just a little faith moves mountains!
In verse 21. Jesus then drops some heavy revelation on us. However! This kind goes not out, but by prayer and fasting!
In other words, there are some mountains you can move with your faith, and others you have to go a little deeper to move, through prayer and fasting!
This is why prayer and fasting is a powerful spiritual virtue that brings breakthrough and blessing.
This is why the devil will fight us in our faith, prayer and fasting. Times of prayer and fasting should never be taken in vain, because if they are, we will not see the powerful results!
Listen, whatever you do in life, Remember to keep the faith, have faith, walk by faith, live by faith and when necessary, go a little deeper through prayer and fasting in Jesus name!
God Bless, Pastor Quinn