Remove the boundaries (Part 2)
There was a man in Israel who was desperate because his son was possessed by a dumb demon which agitated and threw him into the fire and into water to kill him. After hearing that the disciples of Jesus performed miracles, he approached them and asked them to heal his son. Unfortunately there was no disciple that could deliver him. He decided to approach Jesus because the disciples failed. Here are the words of the child's father speaking to Jesus: "Often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But IF YOU CAN do anything, have compassion on us and help us"(Mark 9: 22).
I need your attention to the part "If you can" because it shows the boundaries of the faith of the child's father. He did not have the confidence that Jesus could heal him, but he believed he could still try as the disciples had tried. He was discouraged by the failure of the disciples as we are often discouraged by our bad experiences.
The "If you can" was an insult to Jesus. See his reaction: " ‘If you can?” said Jesus, Everything is possible for one who believes" (Mark 9: 23). Jesus could not do the miracle because of the unbelief of the child's father. Fortunately, he quickly understood and corrected his language and his conception of things. The next verse says: "Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”!" (Mark 9: 24). It is from that moment that Jesus commanded the unclean spirit that came out of the child (Mark 9: 25).
Each of us has special needs in his life. Even the people you envy have some unsatisfied areas in their lives. If we had everything we would like, it would be difficult or even impossible to persevere in prayer.
During the prayer time, most of the time we are like the child's father as we approach God with the thought of "If you can”! Many Christians approach God in prayer without complete confidence that God will do what they ask. It is as if they just try because they have nothing to lose after all. God does not like a prayer similar to a lottery or gambling. This is why I always encourage you to ask (in prayer) something that is in connection with the will of God because it is the only prayer that He listens. John wrote, saying: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5: 14). Therefore, it is not enough to ask but you also have to remove all kinds of boundaries.
To be continued in Part 3
Chris Ndikumana
