Prayer as a weapon in spiritual warfare

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matt 17:21

Jesus had just come down from the mountain with Pete, Jim, and John where He was busy being transfigured.  Here is the scene He comes upon.

“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:… Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:14-21

First we have to look at something here.  No one acknowledges that they are dealing with the devil until Jesus shows up.

“And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.”

He was saying, “my son is sick.”

Jesus was saying, “your son needs to be saved.”

The outward was a reaction to the inward.  “Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him” Now with the devil gone “the child was cured from that very hour.”

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].” Ephesians 6:12

We are in a battle.  And prayer… the conversation with God… is a weapon brings victory.

Declare who you are in Christ.  Command the demons to leave with the authority of Christ.  Proclaim His glory! And reclaim the mountain!  Victory!

Prayer is a weapon… the most powerful weapon.

SDG