Friday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today Jesus comes down from the mountain to find his disciples unable to cast out an unclean spirit from a boy. He rebukes the faithless generation, commands the evil spirit to leave, and teaches that “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” The father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” This is a focus on the importance of faith and the necessity of prayer and dependence on God in spiritual warfare. 

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.

Lord Jesus, we come to you aware of how quickly fear, doubt, and distractions can take hold of our hearts. So we take our refuge in you Lord. 

We give everyone and everything to you.

We abide in you and trust in your power and love. 

Give us faith to trust what you say. 

A Scripture reading from Mark 9:14-29:

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

A Prayer of Adoration:

Lord Jesus, You have authority over every power of darkness. Nothing is too difficult for you.

You are compassionate to the weak and merciful to those who cry out for help.

We praise you as the Savior who brings freedom. We praise you as the teacher who shows us how to walk in your ways. You rescue us from darkness and teach us how to do the works of your kingdom and for that, I adore you.

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, forgive us for turning away when we come up against evil. For our lack of compassion. For our self reliance. For the ways that we explain things away instead of coming against evil in the name of Jesus. Lord, forgive us for the ways that we dishonor your name with our unbelief. 

Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. Keep us from the evil one. Keep us from taking the bait of fear and distractions and keep us focused on your purposes. Cleanse us and teach us to depend on you. 

A Prayer of Trust

Lord, we believe; help our unbelief. We trust that all things are possible for the one who looks to you. You have all authority.

Teach us to abide in you and depend on you in prayer. Teach us to be patient and not give up. 

We trust that you have chosen us to be ambassadors for you and your kingdom. We trust that you will use us to bring deliverance to those in bondage if we will pray and believe. 

A Prayer of Intercession:

Lord, strengthen the faith of those who feel weak or discouraged today.

Bring freedom to those who are suffering under spiritual oppression or deep brokenness. Lord, we bring before you every parent, every child, every person tormented by darkness. Lord have mercy and help. 

Teach your church to pray with dependence, compassion and expectation. Lord, keep us. Protect us from self-reliance. Teach us to believe what you say. All things are possible for one who believes. We believe you Lord!

Lord, would you show us if there is someone in particular you want us to move towards with your freeing power and grace?

A moment of reflection:

Lord, is there any person or thing in my life that I need to place into your hands so that I can move forward in faith?

As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for what the Lord may be highlighting for us today.

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 8:34

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

amen