The Death of Demons

“After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it [the demon] out?” And He told them, “This kind can only come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29).

Where there is tension, there can be transformation.

Think about this: in times of turmoil and struggle, a fast was not far behind. When people prayed for a miracle, when they were hungry for the impossible, the improbable, and the supernatural, there was a fast.

Why? Because where there is tension in your soul, there’s an opportunity for transformation. Your soul gets stirred up—it’s not sleeping; it’s on high alert, and the hand of God is hard at work re-shaping your heart because now, it’s not stiff—it’s yielded to His will.

In Mark 9, a man runs up to Jesus and asks Him to heal his son who has had a demon in him since childhood. The man tells Jesus that he had asked His disciples to heal him, but they couldn’t do it. Jesus casts the demon out of the boy, and afterward, His disciples ask Him why they failed to cast the demon out after He had given them the authority to do so. Jesus says, “This kind can only come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).

This kind. What does that mean? There are some spiritual ailments, demons, addictions, and fears that are too proud to break. They cling to your soul; they cause you to worry and fear and doubt that the Lord hears your prayers and sees your efforts. Maybe you’ve been digging deep in Scripture and maybe you’ve been praying diligently, but you haven’t received your breakthrough, your blessing, or your answers that you’ve prayed for.

You’re looking for wisdom, for deliverance, for comfort, for joy, and maybe you feel sold short. You look at your family, your community, and your country, and you know there needs to be change, but it’s too big to do on your own.

Some spiritual holds are too proud to break, aren’t they?

“…Everything is possible to the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:23-4).

Help our unbelief, Lord. Every spirit must submit to Him—there’s not one that He can’t break. If you’ve been waiting for your breakthrough and it hasn’t happened yet, remember that some strongholds can only be brought down by prayer and fasting.

While you’re fasting, pray for a breakthrough. Pray for the thing that you’re the most afraid to pray for because you’re afraid that it won’t happen, and you’re thinking that maybe He’s just not that good. Pray for it. Ask Him to set His desires in your heart, that all others would fade, and when the Lord sees you acting out your faith and saturating your soul in His presence, He looks at you and rolls up His sleeves. I can do a work in you. Now you’re listening—just wait and see what I’ll do.