November 12, 2018 ● 18-1
Mark 9:14-29 is the account of a complete failure of the disciples to cast out a demon. Actually the failure was with nine of the disciples; Peter, James, and John had been with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13). With Jesus gone, the disciples had been given the opportunity to cast a demon from a possessed boy, and they failed. How could they fail? They had been with Jesus for about two and half years at this point, they had been given the power earlier to heal and cast out demons, they had been taught by Jesus Himself – what could go wrong? Apparently everything! They relied on their own power and not on the power of the Holy Spirit. And when they asked Jesus why they could not cast the demon out, Jesus told them it took prayer to cast that kind of demon out. We can be like those disciples if we are not careful. When we rely on our own strength, when we say, “It got this,” we will fail every time.
Let me share with you four keys to success in ministry based on what happened with those disciples:
Key #1: Success in ministry is faithfully serving the Lord regardless of where that service is. We don’t choose our ministry, God places us in ministry based on how He has gifted us.
Key #2: Success in ministry is serving with full faith in the Lord to do what only God can do. The number one enemy of any ministry is unbelief.
Key #3: Success in ministry is relying on and serving in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Key #4: Success in ministry is totally dependent on being a person of prayer.
By the way, notice I have not mentioned the word “results?” God is responsible for results, not us.