How Can I Pray with Greater Power?

“When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’ And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.’”
— (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 8:28-29)

There is no doubt that we need power – and greater power – to overcome the work and attack of the enemy all around us.

The question is, “Is there any way for us to be more effective in the place of prayer? Is there any way for us to pray with greater power?”

The short answer is, “Yes,” but, of course, the real question is, “How?”

To answer that, let’s turn to Mark 8, where we read of a man desperately seeking healing for his son.

In order to see the significance of Jesus’ conversation with his disciples, we need to back up and get the fuller context.

“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, ‘What are you discussing with them?’ And one of the crowd answered Him, ‘Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out…’”
— (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 9:14-18)

This is such a heart-breaking and disturbing account. The enemy is after this man’s son. It is clear the enemy is out to maximize his agony, suffering and pain, and there is no doubt his aim remains the same as he attacks today.

Sadly, what comes next is also hard to read. Continuing on the man says, “... I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 9:18)

They could not do it.

The disciples lacked the power needed to see this son set free, and we are going to get to why in a moment; but before we do, let’s pay attention to something.

Did you catch what the man said to Jesus? He did not say, “Teacher, I brought your disciples my son.” No! He said, “Teacher, I brought You my son…” (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 9:17)

Although the disciples were technically the ones praying for the son, things are not muddled or muddied in the mind of the father. By bringing his son to Jesus’ disciples, he was bringing his son to Jesus.

Church, make no mistake about it, people come to church in the same way today.

They may come to us, but they are looking to God and they are looking for God, and as they interact with us, they are coming to conclusions about Him.

Make no mistake about it, they are asking:

- “Is this God I’ve heard about alive?”
- “Is this God I’ve heard about able?”

And they are certainly taking cues and clues from what they see and observe among us and in us.

In the account in Mark 9, what happened when the father came to the disciples?

…“I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 9:18)

Imagine if the father had gone home after that moment. Imagine the conclusion He would have come to about who Jesus was and what He was capable of.

Thankfully, the man didn’t leave, and the story didn’t end there. Jesus commands for the boy to be brought to Him, He heals him, and then a little while later, Jesus' disciples come to Him with a question.

Mark 8:28-29: When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” (New American Standard Bible, 1995, Mark 8:28-29)

Ok. What did Jesus say it takes to have this kind come out?
Prayer.

And when the father brought the son to the disciples, what happened?
It didn’t come out. Showing what? Prayer was lacking.

But when the father brought the son to Jesus, what happened?
It did come out. Showing what? Prayer was present.

Now some will say, “It doesn’t show that at all. It shows that Jesus was the Son of God, and the disciples were not.” But to come to that conclusion is to ignore what Jesus said.

Jesus did not say, “This kind cannot come out for man but only for God.” If He had, then surely He would have been making such a statement. But He didn’t say that. He was clear. This kind can only come out by prayer.

Can you see how a prayerless church contributes to God’s glory gap?

And, it’s worth us pressing into what Jesus means by prayer here.

Clearly, Jesus is not referring to the prayer of that moment. After all, the disciples did pray and command the demon to go in that moment, but it didn’t obey.

The prayer that Jesus was alluding to was not the prayer of that moment, but a prayer of preparation, a readying prayer.

How can I pray with greater power? By preparing in the place of prayer, and of course, we know that fasting added to prayer is also a part of a life of prayer.

So often, we turn to prayer and fasting as a counter-offensive, something to respond to tough situations and cases with – addictions that won’t break, strongholds that won’t let go, oppression that won’t lift. And it’s not that we shouldn’t press into prayer and fasting for these things, but what if prayer and fasting for these things was a counter-offensive but a preparatory measure?

What if we prayed and fasted in advance of the gathering?
What if we prayed and fasted in advance of small group?
What if we prayed and fasted in advance of post-service prayer?

What if we lived a lifestyle of prayer and fasting so that when we encounter one looking to Jesus for a miracle His power flows more freely and powerfully through us?

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