When Nothing But Prayer Will Work

In yesterday's RMMR reading, we found ourselves hearing Jesus say: "This kind cannot be driven out but by prayer" (Mark 9:29). Some aspects of spiritual warfare can only be won with prayer.

There are certain challenges, certain spiritual impediments (in this case demonic possession), and certain spiritual battles, in which the enemy can only be defeated, the sin can only be vanquished, the habit can only be broken, the demon can only be exorcised by real and prevailing prayer.

From the context of Jesus' life as recorded by Mark and the other gospel writers, it is clear that Jesus does not have in mind here simple, quick, or easy prayers on the run. He means prayer like the prayer He prayed. Look at texts like Mark 1:35; 6:46; and 14:32-42 to see what I mean. When Jesus prayed He prayed.

This is not to say that quick spontaneous prayers of gratitude or need are not real prayers; it's just to say--and this is Jesus' point in Mark 9:29--that there is a different kind of prayer needed for some kinds of needs. There are really hard, really tough, really entrenched, really supernaturally evil spiritual foes that we will confront at times that can only be faced when first we have drawn near to God in earnest, prolonged, fervent, focused, prevailing prayer. It is this that explains why some translations have added the phrase "with fasting" to Jesus' call to prayer. The early copiests of the texts were in tune with the fact that Jesus was talking about prolonged and sustained prayer. This isn't prayer lite; this is prayer with power.

When I ponder this, one question that comes to mind is this: what are the types of spiritual battles that can only be won through this kind of prayer? When is prayer the only thing that will work?

Can I suggest a few answers based on 27 years of pastoral warfare side-by-side with my fellow soldiers in the cause of Christ? This kind of prayer is needed:

1. When there is or may be demonic activity involved; when the struggles of a person's life seems beyond the norm, beyond the run-of-the-mill, garden variety spiritual problem. When it seems that the battle is born in hell, the prayer must increase.
2. When there is physical and spiritual addiction to drugs or porn or food involved. These bondgaes usually do not get broken without profound prevailing prayer.
3. When children are deceived by their flesh and the world to go prodigal on us and God. This blindness can be so darkening and senseless that only prayer can cause the light to shine.
4. When there is chronic long-term disease or malady or handicap being faced. These afflictions have a cumulative affect on people and their families that can eventually debilitate them if not countered and conquered through much prayer.
5. When there are long-standing habits, traditions, preferences, and opinions that are entrenched so deeply in people's mindsets and lifestyles that they have become to them as inflexible law and/or hopelessly enslaving bondage.

Just a few thoughts about battles and needs in which only prayer will work.

Can I suggest by way of application that you think through a few such needs in your life or in the lives of those you love, and then commit some prolonged seasons of prayer to wrestle with God until He gives the victory?