Where our power comes from

After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive [the demon] out?”

And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29)

The disciples were embarrassed. Many times before they had cast demons out of people. But this time, they couldn’t. Why not?

I think it was because after casting so many demons out, they were starting to think that their power to do so came from within themselves.

Oh, maybe they didn’t actually say so, but their attitudes and actions showed it.

Frustration that the demon wouldn’t leave. And a failure to come to God in prayer.

Often times, the more we do ministry, the more our confidence grows. We start thinking, “I can do this!”

But what is our confidence in?

In ourselves? In our gifts?

Or in God?

If we put our confidence in ourselves and our gifts, things may go well for a while. But in the end, we’ll face frustration and failure just like the disciples did.

Remember where your power comes from. As Jesus said, without him, we can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)