Countering Unbelief

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

Ref. vs. 20

Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

And many times when we are observing the power of Satan and the work of the enemy by just our observation, unbelief begins to fill our hearts. We are so amazed at the power of Satan to destroy a life, that we forget the tremendous power of God, which is greater.

There are some very interesting stories of demonic activity even in this twentieth century. One of the most outstanding of all of them was of Theresa, who was in protective custody in the Bilibibe prison in the Philippines, because of these demons that would attack her, and bite her all over her body. When the attack was over she would end up with bite marks on the back of her neck, and on her back, places where it was totally impossible for her to bite herself. She was in solitary confinement, in a padded cell, but yet these attacks would take place.

The finest psychiatrists in all of the Philippines were brought to treat her, and none of them could do her any good. They finally suggested that they call for an American missionary, and at this time Reverend Sommeral and Bob McAllister were brought in to deal with the girl, Theresa. As they came in, these demons began to attack her. They saw her in one of these fits, and these bloody bite marks began to break out all over her body. And you look at something like that, and I tell you, suddenly unbelief begins to arise. I mean you believe in Satan and Satan’s power, and you think, "Wow, that’s horrible. Look at that." And it begins to strike sort of fear and terror in your own heart.

But these men fasted and prayed, and they were able through the power of the name of Jesus to command these evil spirits to leave her. When Theresa was freed, she told then Lester Sommerall and Bob McAllister how these demons had been molesting her sexually. And how that whenever any man would approach her, that’s when they would attack her because they were insanely jealous of any man approaching her, and that’s when they would begin their attack on her body. And they warned her that when demons are cast out, they will come back and try and re-inhabit the body. And when they come back, that she was just to claim the victory of Jesus, and call on the name of Jesus and all. Which in a couple of days, these demons did come back, and she began to go into this fit, calling upon the name of Jesus and all, and she was delivered completely.

A very interesting and fascinating story. It was written up actually in Life Magazine, not her deliverance, just her case, because it was in the psychiatric annals. And her deliverance, of course, is told by Lester Sommerall in his book called, "Bitten by Demons." He was the minister that God used, he and Bob McAllister to set Theresa free.

But when you see this kind of demonic activity, you become sort of captured by the power of demon activity that has a tendency of just sort of diminishing your faith. But thank God, greater is He that is in us, then he that is in the world. And we do have authority over all of these forces and powers. And as children of God we don’t need to fear, we don’t need to be in a position of, "oh, my, did you see that," or, "oh, isn’t that awful." But we have authority and power through Jesus Christ over every force and power of darkness.

So Jesus said, "it’s because of your unbelief, that’s why you couldn’t do it. Because if you just had the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to the mountain over there, be removed and cast into the sea." It makes you wonder just how much faith do we have. "Howbeit," Jesus said, "This kind only goes out by fasting and prayer". That is, this kind of faith, or it could refer to this kind of demon; it could have been a demon of greater authority and power, because demons are ranked in authorities and powers.

Howbeit...

δέ

de

deh

A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now [often unexpressed in English].

this...

τοῦτο

touto

too'-to

Neuter, singular, Nomitive or accusative of the, he, she, it, that is, this or that; that thing: - here [-unto], it, partly, self [-same], so, that (intent), the same, there [-fore, -unto], this, thus, where [-fore].

kind...

γένος

genos

ghen'-os

From to cause to be, gen-erate, that is, to come, come into being; “kin” (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively, individually or collectively): - born, country (-man), diversity, generation, kind (-red), nation, offspring, stock.

Implying different kinds of demons and different degrees of power to cast them out. See, John 3:34.

goeth not out...

ἐκπορεύομαι

ekporeuomai

ek-por-yoo'-om-ahee

From denoting orgin, the point whence motion or action proceeds, and to traverse, that is, travel; to depart, be discharged, proceed, project: - come (forth, out of), depart, go (forth, out), issue, proceed (out of).

οὐ

ou

oo

Also οὐκ ouk ook used before a vowel and οὐχ ouch ookh before an aspirate.

A primary word; the absolutely negative (compare qualified negation expresses an absolute denial) adverb; no or not: - + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, [can-] not, + nothing, + special, un ([-worthy]), when, + without, + yet but.

but...

έἰ μή

ei mē

i may

From if, whether, that and qualified negation expresses an absolute denial; if not: - but, except (that), if not, more than, save (only) that, saving, till.

by...

ἐν

en

en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between to or into, of place or time and from, out of place, time or cause); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

Jesus said their problem was their little faith (cf. the “great faith” of the Roman centurion [Mat. 8:10] and of the Canaanite woman [Mat. 15:28]). Even a small amount of faith, as small as a mustard seed (cf. Ref. The mustard seed in Mat. 13:31), is adequate to move a huge mountain, assuming, of course, that the “move” is in God’s will. Nothing is impossible with God (cf. Mat. 19:26; Luke 1:37). (Mat. 17:21, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting,” based on Mark 9:29.) Jesus was instructing the disciples about their future ministries. Their problem often would be lack of faith and failure to seek their Lord’s direction. His Word would be sufficient to produce the desired healing but their actions would necessitate great faith and constant contact with the Lord through prayer. When these elements are combined, there is no limit to the works the disciples could accomplish, following His will.

prayer...

προσευχή

proseuchē

pros-yoo-khay'

From to pray to God, that is, supplicate, worship; prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel): - X pray earnestly, prayer.

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

Fasting and Prayer—The Cure for Unbelief.

fasting...

νηστεία

nēsteia

nace-ti'-ah

From to abstain from food, fast; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specifically the fast of the Day of Atonement: - fast (-ing.)