FAITH CAPSULE: To operate just as Jesus did, fasting and praying is not an option but a must.

Mark 9:14-29

It is not enough to follow Jesus if He does not operate in your life. Every believer that claims to be following Jesus should have the power of Him in every area of their life. The disciples followed Him enough when they could not heal the boy with the mute spirit. At a point when Jesus was away from His disciples, great multitude and scribes surrounded the disciples. When Jesus came to them, He wanted to know why they were surrounded when he asked, “…What are you discussing with them.” (Mark 9:16) In response to Jesus’ question, “…one of the crowds answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” (Mark 9:17-18) The cause of the dispute between the disciples and the multitude was the inability of the disciples to represent their Master. They were following the Master healer and they could not perform as healing disciples. The disciples failed to heal the boy with the mute spirit after having been following Jesus. Evidently, Jesus could not operate through them. Are you a follower that could not have the power of Jesus to operate in your life? The same power in Jesus was left behind for us to operate as a follower of Jesus. Jesus knew the reason for the failure of the disciples’ inability to heal the boy with the mute spirit. The Bible recorded, “He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” (Mark 9:19) Following and not being able to operate in Him is the evidence of lack of faith. Wherever there is absence of faith, the ability to operate as a believer becomes null and void. Jesus also reacted and called on the father of the boy with the mute spirit, “…If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) The mute spirit departed and the boy received his healing. Following Jesus requires faith to do what Jesus did. Following Jesus requires consistent fasting and praying. To operate just as Jesus did, fasting and praying is not an option but a must. In following Jesus, we are to be engaged in all His word and become that which will enable us to flow in Him. As regard to healing, Jesus told His disciples, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29) Follow Him fully and perform like Him.

Prayer for today: O Lord my God I ask for Your enablement to follow You fully.