Breakthrough | March 12, 2021
Day 2: Dependence
It was in the midst of chaos that a weary Father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples for healing. His hope was first met my disappointment because the disciples lacked the power to bring healing to this young boy. It was in this moment that Jesus showed up to not only show His supernatural authority but also to give wise spiritual instruction.
Mark tells us that after the boy was delivered, “[Jesus’] disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (
Mark 9:28b-29 ESV
Jesus taught His disciples that spiritual dependence on God is rooted in hearts that are dependent upon Him. Prayer and fasting are actions that reveal this dependence, draw us near and put our hearts and minds focused on Him.
During these 21 days, one of the best outcomes is to become more and more aware of your absolute dependence on God. No matter who you are, you cannot do what God has called and created you to do without His empowering presence!
What in your life do you need to surrender to God? Where have you been relying on yourself instead of depending on Him?
Mark tells us that after the boy was delivered, “[Jesus’] disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (
Mark 9:28b-29 ESV
Jesus taught His disciples that spiritual dependence on God is rooted in hearts that are dependent upon Him. Prayer and fasting are actions that reveal this dependence, draw us near and put our hearts and minds focused on Him.
During these 21 days, one of the best outcomes is to become more and more aware of your absolute dependence on God. No matter who you are, you cannot do what God has called and created you to do without His empowering presence!
What in your life do you need to surrender to God? Where have you been relying on yourself instead of depending on Him?
Scriptures
Mark 9:14-29 ESV
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
John 15:4-5 ESV
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
John 15:4-5 ESV
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
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