Mike Focht 5/29/2026
And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Mark 9:28-29
Jesus is alone with His disciples. Their question is in relation to a father who had brought his demon-possessed son to them and their inability to cast that demon out. They were Christ’s disciples indeed. They had been given authority by Christ to cast out demons and heal. They had victory in such scenarios before. Still, they experienced weakness in this particular case.
So when the disciples were alone with Jesus, they asked Him directly about the humbling occasion. Why? Why did they lack the necessary spiritual power? Jesus’ answer was that this demonic occasion was different because it required a specific reality of prayer and fasting that was evidently not present with the disciples.
Jesus’ answer is instructive for disciples today. Certainly, the specific context here is spiritual demonic possession, but the spiritual principle stands in relation to spiritual warfare in general. When we find ourselves in a place of spiritual weakness, the instruction we may need is an exhortation to prayer and fasting. Prayer may be a part of our lives as it was for Jesus’ disciples. Fasting may be known to us as it no doubt was for the disciples. Still, a greater habit of both is required when we are against great spiritual forces.
Now, allow me to make it clear that I do not believe in most of the weird propaganda related to spiritual warfare floated and promoted on the internet today. The camera lies as much as the devil, and posts and videos are still a business whose bottom line is directly related to the number of clicks and followers one can accumulate. I hold serious doubts about all online deliverance ministries.
Also, there is a legion of unbiblical doctrines surrounding this topic. Demons are not the same as the lusts of our flesh. Physical abuse does not create demonic chains or portals in a life. Physical means such as water, oil, or superstitious spiritual phrases cannot affect a non-physical evil spirit. We do not battle with flesh and blood, so flesh and blood cannot be our weapons.
Despite all the lies and abuses, Satan is real, and it is often hard for us to distinguish between the workings of our flesh, the world, and the devil. The instruction we are to take from this account is simply that some spiritual battles will require our willingness to give ourselves to prayer and fasting. Are we willing?
Notice, Jesus doesn’t give the disciples specifics. He doesn’t encourage incantations, strange rituals, or superstitious mumbo-jumbo. Jesus instructs them to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, not men or their material methods. What Jesus does encourage are two things that every believer knows well—prayer and fasting. Jesus wasn’t playing weird magic games with His followers. He wanted them to know what to do next time they came into contact with something greater than them. When our weakness is made evident, prayer and fasting may very well be the answer.
Are you in a spiritual battle you cannot win? Are you willing to give yourself to prayer and fasting? Are you willing to be obedient to Christ’s instruction? If you feel that this is Christ’s instruction for you, then start one step at a time. Begin fasting with a single meal, or a day of the week, and use that time to seek the Lord’s strength through prayer. I would also encourage you to add another place of prayer in your life. Find a prayer meeting and faithfully attend, or set up a weekly time to pray with a pastor or friend, and keep it diligently. Do so in full assurance of faith, knowing that this is Christ’s instruction to weak disciples.