In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus and his inner three disciples (Peter, James, and John) return from the Mount of Transfiguration to meet the other disciples just in time to hear their heated debate with the Scribes. The debate probably arose after the Scribes cast doubt on Jesus' messianic credentials due to the failure of the disciples to cast an evil spirit out of a demon possessed boy. The disciples had relied upon their own power and were caught in a moment of unbelief and doubt. Jesus later instructs them that prayer was the only means by which this demon could be extracted. We can conclude from this that self-reliance always leads to disaster for the people of God. Prayer is not only an expression of the faith that believers have, it is our life line to the very throne room of God who must do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

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