Jesus gained victory through prayer when He rebuked the evil spirit that controlled a young boy. The disciples had tried to exorcise the spirit earlier but failed. Later, when they were in private, the disciples wanted Jesus to explain what had happened. Mark 9: 28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, …
Jesus prevails over the demonic spirit in a boy. The father had brought the boy to the disciples for deliverance, but they had failed. Then Jesus appeared and told the man, who was struggling with unbelief, that anything is possible if a person believes. Next, Jesus demonstrated His authority over the demonic realm. Mark 9: …
At some level, the father of a demon-possessed boy understood that it takes faith to deal with the spiritual forces. Mark 9: 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” [1] He had …
The shift from “if you can” to “all things are possible” is the narrative in Mark 9:21–23, a raw, deeply human story. A father stands before Jesus, worn down by years of watching his son suffer. His words are not polished theology. They are a mixture of hope and hesitation. Mark 9:22Have mercy on us …
The demonic recognizes Jesus before the religious leaders do. This is puzzling yet revealing. This happens early in Jesus’ ministry. Mark 1: 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who …
The enemy of wholeness in Jesus is satan and his minions, who work tirelessly every day to prevent God’s plans from unfolding in our lives. After the transfiguration, Jesus, Peter, James, and John descended the mountain and met with a spiritual battle. They found the rest of the disciples surrounded by a crowd and arguing …
From the mountain top to the valley is what Peter, James, and John experienced after seeing Jesus’ transfiguration. In life, we definitely prefer mountaintop experiences over valleys — the air is fresh, the sun is bright, and the view is stunning. But the truth is, we will go through valleys. It’s unavoidable. On the mountain, …
Deliverance does not cancel the battle, as seen when the Egyptians pursue the Israelites after their escape. This is true for us today. When Pharaoh learned the Israelites had fled, he and his officials regretted it. They questioned, “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” Pharaoh then prepared his chariot, summoned …
Ps. 56: 13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.[1] David had run from one danger to another. He looked to God for help. We can get insight into David’s heart by reading a song …