Change The Formula 

Mark 9:28-29 (NIV) – 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Jesus went to the Mountain of Transfiguration with Peter, James and John. They left behind nine disciples. While Jesus and the three were away, a man came to the disciples seeking healing for his son who was deaf and dumb. The son couldn’t talk and couldn’t hear what was said.

The nine disciples tried exorcising the evil spirit from the boy, but they failed. The more they tried, the more they failed and a crowd gathered. It was a desperate moment for the father of the sick child and the embarrassed disciples.

At the peak of their failure, Jesus appeared together with Peter, James and John. Isn’t it a blessing that at the worst moment in our life, Jesus appears to restore the situation and save us? Didn’t God appear at the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were in their worst situation, wondering what to do with the nakedness caused by sin? Didn’t God send Nathan to David when he was struggling with guilt of sin? At the worst moments of our lives – Jesus appears. May He appear to you and me today!

When Jesus appeared everyone was glad and ran to Him. The crowd needed Jesus to resolve the issue that had captivated them. The father of the sick boy needed Jesus to heal his son. The disciples needed Jesus to save them from failure and struggles that had yielded nothing. Everyone needed Jesus. Jesus is the desire of everyone and He is the desire of all ages!

Jesus engages the father of the sick boy to establish the problem. Jesus did not ask in order to know, Jesus asked the father of the sick boy to explain the problem and eventually make his request. Making a request in prayer, has been made a condition for receiving. Unless you request, there are things you will never receive. Requesting in prayer is a condition for receiving.

Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV) – 7 “ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to THOSE WHO ASK HIM!

There things that God gives us even before we ask. There are many other things we will only receive when we ask. Asking is a condition for receiving. That is why Jesus in some instances would ask blind men, lepers and parents with sick children- what can I do for you? Even when that which is needed is obvious, Jesus wanted them to ask. Asking has been made a condition for receiving!

Mark 9:21-23 (NIV) – 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. BUT IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, TAKE PITY ON US AND HELP US.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

The father of the sick boy eventually made his request. He asked for his son to be healed. Though he asked with doubt. Doubt kills the possibility of prayers being answered. Where there is doubt, there will be no answers to prayers.

James 1:6-8 (NIV) – 6 But WHEN YOU ASK, YOU MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, because THE ONE WHO DOUBTS is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Doubt kills prayer life. Doubt kills faith. Doubt is the opposite of faith. Doubt is the reason many of our prayers have not been answered. Even when you have a good reason to doubt, that doubt will affect you. The father of the sick boy had a good reason to doubt. He came by faith to the nine disciples but they failed to heal his son. He has made other attempts to get the son healed in the past and they all failed. He had good reason to doubt. Yet Jesus tells him that even a good reason for doubt will obstruct answers to your prayers. It’s faith or nothing!

Mark 9:21-24 (NIV) – 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!”

The father of the sick boy pleaded with Jesus to help him overcome the doubt. That is when the boy got healed. After doubt had been addressed. Brethren, let’s get our doubts addressed as a matter of urgency. No answers to prayer, until doubt is addressed. Kindly work on your doubts immediately!

Mark 9:28-29 (NIV) – 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

After the boy was healed and Jesus had left the scene, the disciples followed Him in private, with a burning question- why did we fail to heal that boy? Jesus gives a response that we must think about keenly. Jesus tells them that the formula required for this kind of problem was different. This kind comes out ONLY by prayer. Some manuscripts have it as “by prayer and fasting.” Whatever it is, Jesus tells us that this particular problem needs a different formula!

The disciples were expected to change the formula. The nine disciples used the formula of ordering the demon out of the boy. The formula didn’t work. Jesus tells them that this kind of problem doesn’t respond to that formula. Change the formula!

“If men and women are in the habit of praying twice a day before they contemplate marriage, they should pray four times a day when such a step is anticipated. Marriage is something that will influence and affect your life, both in this world and in the world to come”.  – This quote can be found in several of Ellen G. White’s compiled works, including The Adventist Home(page 71), Messages to Young People (page 460), and Counsels for the Church (page 115). 

E G White writes that you cannot succeed in preparing for marriage unless you change the prayer formula. The formula for marriage requires double prayers as a formula. Without double prayers, you will live in a marriage full of regret. The secret is to change the formula.

Have you been praying for something and it doesn’t work? Change the formula. Double the prayers as a new formula. Include fasting as a new formula. Involve other willing people to pray with you. Take a step of faith for what you are praying about, don’t just prayer. Israelites were praying by the Red Sea, God tells them to take a step of faith and walk into the Sea. Whatever it is, if prayer hasn’t worked so far – change the formula!

That health issue hasn’t been resolved? Change the formula. That money problem still persists? Change the formula. That relationship problem has taken root yet you are praying? Change the formula. That subject in school still gives you low grades? Change the formula. 

Sometimes change of formula is changing from your request to whatever God wills. Jesus prayed for the cup to be taken away, then He changed the formula to letting God’s will prevail. Whatever it is, prayerfully asses the situation, because some kind of problems will never be resolved unless we change the formula!

Dear God have mercy on us. Help us relate with You in a better way in prayer. Help us overcome doubts. Remind us that asking is a condition for receiving. Guide us to know when to change the formula of prayer. In Jesus name, Amen!

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