Nothing breaks the hearts of parents like seeing their child suffering or going down the wrong path. This father here had a child who would often throw himself into fire and water, to destroy him. It’s the demonic sprit that does the tormenting.

Mark 9:17–18 7 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 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.21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 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.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 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.” 26 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.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

The disciples couldn’t cast out the demon inside that child. First of all, before I go on to my main point, I want to emphasize to the world that demons exist, and there are demon oppressed people around, and even among some Christians. The problem is discernment. I have personally experienced in my early days of ministry in casting out demons from a woman, a man, and a couple of others. Let me tell you this, there is no use to argue over theological views on if this exists or not, I can tell you I cast out personally. And it’s somewhat scary, and its REAL. I suddenly ceased seeing this kind of oppression since I moved to the city for ministry. I suppose it’s less obvious, because it’s very cunning. Not many people know that there is so much mental oppression, depression, and even so many articles been written, including the Gospel Coalition, like this: 9 Things You Should Know About Mental Health—Gospel Coalition. While I appreciate so much their views from a gospel centered view, I seriously question why nothing has been written about the supernatural perspective, Afterall, our faith is very supernatural, not like what humanism painted it to be like this 4 Encouraging Truths for Christians with Mental Illness. I appreciate all the encouraging notes like , “You are not alone”, “It’s not your fault”, “God sees you through..” etc., but what about pulling some spiritual muscles here and pull no punches? Give a big punch to the demonic spirits! That’s what Jesus did! He gave a BIG punch to the demonic spirit, and he commanded the demonic to get out!!

25 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.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse,

That’s what I am talking about. Such miraculous is rarely seen and talked about or written about in Christian articles and taught in church, except the Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

So if there is a category for this, are we also categorizing Jesus into a “Pentecostal” now? If we base on such categorization like speaking tongues, casting demons, healings as “Pentecostal” or “Charismatic”, then Jesus is probably 95% Pentecostal and charismatic as we read in the 4 gospels!! Hello?

Then we have a special caveat built in now. Calling it miracles have ceased. Its only for Jesus, the Son of God, and the 12 apostles. Have you not read the miracles that God had performed through the centuries through his servants who prayed in the awesome name of Jesus Christ? Many cancers healed, blinds even see, crippled walk, and I don’t know if dead raised. But suffice to say that we can’t just rule out the supernatural in our modern age. It almost sounds like we reformed or evangelicals have been influenced but secular humanism, who wanted the values of Christianity, but rejected the faith of Christianity in Jesus. Isn’t that the same category? See Joe Carter’s good article on Secular Humanism.

The father cried out , “I believe, Help my Unbelief”

When I read that I felt the anguish of this father for his son being thrown into fire and foam in his mouth driven by the demon. Yes, it’s very graphic, and its real. I cried out to God many times in my prayers for my own children in my prayers to God daily. I haven’t seen as much answers as I want to, but I am pressing on. But my point is that this demon possessed son’s father, at least, had the glorious transcendent incarnated Son of God, standing physically right in front of him. The father tried the apostles but to no avail. Then he pushed his way to see Jesus, his final and only hope for his ravished son. When he said to Jesus “If you can…” Jesus immediately shot back, ‘If you can? All things are possible for one who believes.”!

Then the father cried out “I believe, help my unbelief!” . Jesus made a stunning universal statement, as he always does, and only God can make universal statement like that. Jesus said, “All things are possible for those who believe”. Then Jesus cast out the demon and set the boy free with a sentence right on the spot!!

The question I have is: The man with the young demon possessed son, was probably not even a believer in Christ, albeit heard of the fame of Christ as a healer and liberator. And just because he lived in the time when Jesus was around in this world, and at the same town, he was very lucky to have access to the Son of God personally. And he was supremely blessed as Jesus cast out the demon on the spot, and freed the boy!

Now think for yourselves, being born again Christians, walking with the Lord, even reformed, now facing some harsh realities in life, some with kids’ live problem, departed from Jesus, or some sickness or depression, and we haven’t seen an answer from the Lord, and been going on for years. It probably been years the boy suffered such throwing into fire, until they met Jesus. I Once they met Jesus, their prayer was answered in like a minute. How do you like that? If Jesus answered your prayers for your children from oppression in one minute?

I felt like Elisha saying by using Elijah’s cloak to strike the water and asked, “Where is the God of Elijah?”

Yes, come Lord Jesus. There is so much brokenness in this world, and answer our prayers. Why does it take so long time? When it took that father a few minutes? Because Jesus was there. Now where is Jesus now? He’s in heaven, praying for us Christians.

And we need help, we don’t have him on earth now, but we have the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit here. Can that happen the same? We have seen immediate casting out demons yes, but the prayers for changes takes time. Even in times of Paul, Peter, they prayed for a long time too, persevering. Even the early church, Christians were martyred for the Name of Jesus and they did it gloriously for the Name of Christ.

Different age, different purpose, let me conclude.

We pray to our God the Lord Jesus Christ, “For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for even Amen”.”