Faith Is Not Confidence in What We Possess, but in the One Who Provides It

Scripture: Mark 9:28–29; Luke 9:1–6, 37–42

“So He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1).

The disciples had experienced the extraordinary power of Christ working through them. Jesus had commissioned them to preach the kingdom of God, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Luke tells us they went throughout the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere (Luke 9:6). They had witnessed firsthand what could happen when they exercised the authority Jesus had given them.

But something happened.

When a desperate father brought his demon-tormented son to the disciples, they were unable to deliver him. The same disciples who had previously exercised authority over demons now stood helpless before one. What had changed? Had Jesus withdrawn their authority? Had they encountered a demon more powerful than those they had previously expelled?

When the disciples privately asked Jesus why they had failed, He answered, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29, NKJV).

Jesus’ answer is revealing. He didn’t tell them they needed greater authority. He pointed them toward prayer—the very expression of dependence upon God. Prayer acknowledges that the power does not originate with us. We are not the source; we are servants of the One who is.

Perhaps their earlier successes had subtly shifted their confidence from Christ to the authority He had given them. What began as dependence upon Him may have become confidence in what they believed they possessed. The text doesn’t explicitly tell us that this happened, but Jesus’ emphasis on prayer certainly directs our attention to the necessity of continuing dependence upon God.

Power and authority received from Christ can never be exercised independently of Christ.

Later, when a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, James and John asked, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54).

What an astonishing contrast! They had been unable to cast a demon out of a suffering child, yet now they were contemplating calling fire down upon an entire village. They were asking Jesus for permission, but their proposal revealed how much they still needed to learn about the purposes of His power.

They had received authority to deliver people, not destroy them.

The problem wasn’t simply a lack of faith. It was a failure to understand that faith must remain anchored in Christ and aligned with His purposes. Spiritual authority is not an independent possession that we can exercise at our discretion. It is delegated authority, exercised in dependence upon the One who gives it.

Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Yesterday’s experience of His power is no substitute for today’s dependence upon His presence. The fact that God has worked through us in the past does not mean we can accomplish His work independently in the present.

Prayer and fasting are not techniques for generating spiritual power. They are expressions of dependence upon the God from whom all power comes.

Faith is not confidence in the authority we possess; it is confidence in the Christ whose authority we exercise.

The disciples didn’t need a more powerful Christ. They needed to remain dependent upon the Christ whose power they had already experienced.

And so do we.

The authority is His, the power is His, and the glory must remain His.

Lord Jesus, forgive us when we become more confident in what You have given us than in You, the Giver. Keep us from substituting yesterday’s experiences for today’s dependence upon You. Teach us to exercise spiritual authority in humility, prayer, and faithful submission to Your purposes. May Your power be demonstrated through us, Your character be reflected in us, and Your name be glorified by us. Amen.