From Unbelief to Belief: Cultivating Spiritual Power

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Unlocks the Power of God

True faith, even as small as a mustard seed, enables believers to access the supernatural power God desires to give, but unbelief blocks this power and leaves us spiritually ineffective. When we find ourselves lacking spiritual effectiveness or feeling powerless in our witness, it is often because we have not truly trusted in the power God has made available to us. Like the disciples who could not heal the boy, we may go through the motions of faith but miss the heart of belief that moves mountains. God calls us to honest self-examination, to recognize where unbelief has crept in, and to seek Him for the faith that brings His power to bear in our lives and communities. [16:16]

Matthew 17:14-21 (ESV)
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense a lack of spiritual power or effectiveness, and how might God be inviting you to trust Him more deeply in that area today?

Day 2: The Presence of God Brings Joy, Peace, and Power

Dwelling in God's presence is the source of true joy, peace, and spiritual power, transforming ordinary believers into vessels of His miraculous work. When we intentionally seek to be in God's presence—not just in church, but in every moment—we open ourselves to the fullness of life He offers. The psalmist longed to dwell in the house of the Lord all his days, knowing that in God's presence there is fullness of joy and strength for every challenge. As we draw near to God, we find that He equips us for every good work and fills us with the peace that surpasses understanding. [21:20]

Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally seek God’s presence today, even in the midst of your daily routine?

Day 3: Greater Works Are Promised to Believers Who Ask in Jesus’ Name

Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will do even greater works than He did, as they ask in His name and rely on His authority. This astonishing promise is not just for the early disciples but for all who trust in Christ today. Jesus has already demonstrated His power through miracles, teaching, and resurrection, and He now commissions us to continue His work—healing, restoring, and proclaiming the kingdom. The key is not our own strength, but a living faith that asks boldly in Jesus’ name, expecting God to move. [25:45]

John 14:12-14 (ESV)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Reflection: What is one “greater work” you sense God calling you to believe for and pray for in Jesus’ name this week?

Day 4: Fasting and Prayer Restore Spiritual Power

Fasting and prayer are essential spiritual disciplines that clear the lines of communication with God, restore lost power, and bring healing and breakthrough. When we neglect these practices, we become spiritually weak, even if we are physically strong. Jesus Himself fasted and prayed in the desert, modeling for us the importance of withdrawing from distractions to seek God’s face. Fasting is not just about abstaining from food; it can also mean setting aside anything that distracts us from God—media, unhealthy habits, or even negative relationships. As we fast and pray, God renews our strength and empowers us to overcome temptation and serve others with compassion. [35:47]

Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Reflection: What is one thing—food, activity, or habit—you can fast from this week in order to draw closer to God in prayer?

Day 5: True Fasting Includes Compassion and Justice

God calls His people to a kind of fasting that goes beyond personal piety, extending to acts of compassion, justice, and generosity toward others. True fasting is not just about self-denial, but about sharing with the hungry, providing shelter, and caring for those in need. When we fast in this way, God promises to restore our strength, answer our prayers, and make us a light in the darkness. Our spiritual power is renewed as we align our hearts with God’s heart for the vulnerable and oppressed, becoming channels of His love and blessing in the world. [36:43]

Isaiah 58:6-9 (ESV)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’”

Reflection: Who is one person or group in need that you can serve or bless this week as an act of true fasting and worship?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the journey from the tragedy of unbelief to the triumph of belief, drawing from Matthew 17:14-21. The story of the disciples’ inability to heal a demon-possessed boy serves as a mirror for our own spiritual lives. Despite being close to Jesus and having received authority, the disciples failed because their faith had grown weak, their unity fractured, and their spiritual disciplines neglected. This is a sobering reminder that proximity to God’s work does not guarantee spiritual power; it is the ongoing cultivation of faith, unity, and dependence on God that brings true effectiveness.

The call is to recognize the subtle ways complacency and distraction can erode spiritual vitality. The disciples, once empowered, became entangled in petty disputes and self-importance, losing sight of their dependence on Christ. Likewise, it is easy to settle for a form of godliness without its power, to become content with spiritual mediocrity, and to neglect the supernatural resources available through prayer and fasting.

Yet, God does not leave us in our weakness. Jesus points the way back: through prayer, fasting, and unity, the power of God is restored. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food, but a posture of humility and dependence, a willingness to set aside distractions—be they food, media, or material pursuits—to seek God’s face. The desert, both literal and figurative, becomes a place of encounter, where God meets us in our vulnerability and transforms our weakness into strength.

The promise is clear: when we return to these spiritual disciplines, our light will break forth, healing will come, and God will answer when we call. Even if we have lost power, or never truly experienced it, God invites us to seek Him afresh. He is faithful, unchanging, and ever ready to restore, forgive, and empower. The journey from unbelief to belief is not a one-time event, but a continual turning to God, trusting that what He has promised, He is able to perform.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual power is not guaranteed by proximity to God’s work or past experiences, but by ongoing faith, unity, and dependence on Christ. The disciples’ failure was not due to lack of opportunity, but to a gradual drift into complacency and self-reliance. We must continually examine our hearts and renew our commitment to God’s presence and purpose. [20:19]
2. The disciplines of prayer and fasting are essential for spiritual vitality and effectiveness. Fasting is not limited to abstaining from food; it is about setting aside anything that distracts us from God—be it media, unhealthy relationships, or material pursuits. Through these practices, we clear the static from our communication with God and open ourselves to His power. [35:12]
3. The “desert” experiences of life—times of hardship, isolation, or discomfort—are often where God meets us most profoundly. Just as Jesus, Moses, Elijah, and David encountered God in the wilderness, we too can find renewal and strength when we step away from comfort and seek God in our vulnerability. The desert is not a place of defeat, but of transformation. [32:28]
4. Unity among believers is crucial for the restoration of spiritual power. Discord, jealousy, and unforgiveness sap the church of its effectiveness and grieve the Spirit. God calls us to be a cohesive unit, where prayer and fasting are not just individual acts, but communal disciplines that bind us together and invite God’s presence. [30:38]
5. God’s promises remain steadfast: when we humble ourselves, seek Him, and restore our spiritual disciplines, He will answer, heal, and empower. Even if we have lost our way or feel spiritually powerless, God is ready to rebuild and restore. Our failures are not the end, but an invitation to deeper dependence and renewed faith in His unchanging character. [37:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:08] - Gratitude and Introduction
[12:57] - Anniversary Reflections and Conference Greetings
[14:45] - Visionaries and the Church’s Foundation
[15:51] - Reading Matthew 17:14-21
[16:51] - Opening Prayer
[18:08] - The Tragedy of Unbelief
[20:19] - The Disciples’ Powerlessness
[22:58] - The Logic of the Disciples’ Question
[24:08] - The Need for Miraculous Power
[28:51] - The Triumph of Belief
[30:38] - The Call to Unity and Spiritual Discipline
[31:29] - Jesus’ Example of Fasting in the Desert
[35:12] - Fasting Beyond Food
[36:43] - The Promise of Restoration
[39:57] - Invitation and Closing Prayer
[49:02] - Benediction and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 17:14-21 (ESV) — 14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,
15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.
16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.”
17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
21 But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.

Observation Questions

What was the father’s request to Jesus, and what had happened when he first brought his son to the disciples? (Matthew 17:15-16)
According to Jesus, what was the reason the disciples could not cast out the demon? (Matthew 17:19-20)
What does Jesus say is necessary for this kind of healing or deliverance to happen? (Matthew 17:21)
In the sermon, what were some of the reasons given for the disciples’ loss of spiritual power? [29:30]

Interpretation Questions

The disciples had previously been given authority to heal and cast out demons (see Matthew 10:8, referenced in the sermon). What does their failure in this story suggest about the ongoing nature of faith and spiritual power? [28:12]
The sermon mentions that the disciples became distracted by “petty jealousies and little idiosyncrasies.” How might these attitudes affect a church’s or individual’s spiritual effectiveness? [29:30]
Jesus points to prayer and fasting as necessary for spiritual breakthrough. Why might these disciplines be so important, and how do they relate to dependence on God? [35:12]
The sermon describes the “desert” as a place of both hardship and encounter with God. What might it mean for someone today to “go to the desert” spiritually? [32:28]

Application Questions

The sermon warns that being close to God’s work or having past spiritual experiences does not guarantee ongoing spiritual power. Are there areas in your life where you have become complacent or self-reliant? How can you renew your dependence on God this week? [20:19]
The disciples’ unity was fractured by arguments and self-importance. Is there any relationship in your church, family, or friend group where discord or jealousy is sapping spiritual strength? What is one step you could take toward unity? [30:38]
The sermon challenges us to examine what we might need to “fast” from—whether food, media, unhealthy relationships, or material pursuits. What is one distraction you feel called to set aside in order to seek God more intentionally? [35:12]
The “desert” is described as a place where God meets us in our vulnerability. Have you experienced a “desert” season—times of hardship, isolation, or discomfort? How did God meet you there, or how might you seek Him in your current circumstances? [32:28]
The promise in Isaiah 58 (referenced in the sermon) is that when we humble ourselves and restore spiritual disciplines, God will answer and heal. What is one spiritual discipline (prayer, fasting, generosity, etc.) you want to recommit to this month? [36:43]
The sermon says, “Our failures are not the end, but an invitation to deeper dependence and renewed faith.” Is there a recent failure or disappointment in your life that you can bring to God as an opportunity for growth? [37:37]
The pastor shared that sometimes God may have to “break us in order to build us.” Is there a comfort or habit you sense God asking you to let go of so He can work more powerfully in your life? [37:37]

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Transcript

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