Has Anything Changed

I've been thinking again … kind of pondering mentally and spiritually as to just what difference Jesus really made in our lives. I'm not speaking about salvation, that's a given … there is no salvation without Jesus.

What I'm thinking about is … is there anything that's different today in our spiritual warfare compared to believers who lived maybe 500 years before Jesus was born? Travel even farther back in time to Jobs day. Because I believe Jesus broke whatever authority Satan had over us through His death on the cross and resurrection, I ask this question …

Do we have a better recourse in our response to … the trials of life … than Job had, including attacks from Satan, if God was to bring up our name and point us out to him for testing as He did with Job?

Remember Job? He was just like most of us, living life by doing his best for the Lord, and then for some unknown reason … "the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job?" (Job 1:8) God is the one who brought up Job's name to Satan and never explained why.

Evidently Satan had noticed Job in the past because he accuses God of keeping a hedge of protection around Job and asks Him to … "put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." (Job 1:11)

Satan with permission, goes and destroys all Job has including his ten children, but … "in all this Job did not sin or make a charge against God." (Job 1:22)

Again … "the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job … he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2:3)

Again Satan challenges God to … "put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face." (Job 2:5)

But God, who afflicts not willingly, said to Satan … "No, if it must be done, you do it." (My translation)

This time Satan goes and afflicts Job with boils all over his body. His wife tells him to curse God and die. (Thanks a lot sweetheart.) Job answers … "What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

Satan, in walking around the earth, could certainly attentively consider Job, but to inflict him he could not … unless permission … to do so had been given to him. And it was.

Satan is an accuser who desires and delights in any opportunity to inflict pain and suffering on man anytime he can, and will go as far in doing so as he is allowed … being restrained only by the express command of God. Even so, Satan is described as being bound with a chain and never dares to touch man unless God allows it.

So now with that background, I ask again … should there be any difference in our response today compared to what Job's response was to the evils of life brought upon him by Satan? Does Satan still have access to God as he did with Job? Does God still turn Satan loose on men? Or did Jesus and the cross make a difference? Are we now in a different age or dispensation in which God no longer gives Satan permission to attack His children as He did in the past?

We know that Satan was allowed to bring evil to Job. We also know from the Book of Daniel that it took twenty-one days of spiritual warfare before Gabriel with Michael's help was able to overcome the satanic power of the prince of Persia.

The writer of Hebrews, speaking about Jesus states … "by going through death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives." (Hebrews 2:14-15, Amp.)

According to these two verses, Jesus has broken the power of Satan and reduced him to nothing; therefore he should have no effect on us because we have been set free from any bondage we were held in.

But even so, we find the Apostle Paul spiritually delivering Hymenaeus and Alexander into the hands of Satan, I assume to be afflicted in some way as a chastisement so they … "may learn not to blaspheme." (1st Timothy 1:20)

Paul in dealing with sexual sin in the church, states that it is proper … "To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1st Corinthians 5:5)

Evidently Paul had no problem believing that God still allows Satan to use his evil power as a tool for judgment and correction. Does God bring pain and suffering? I would say … Not willingly. So He lets Satan do it.

Satan will never pass up any opportunity given him to bring the temptation to sin or the trials of pain and suffering through sickness or disease. Therefore because of this, I must conclude that Satan still retains certain powers over our physical minds and bodies. I don't like it … but it is what it is.

And then you can add to that one of God's laws … "You reap what you sow." All of us suffer under that one. Sin has its own reward.

God in the past has and it looks today as though He may still use the ministry of Satan (who is under His control) to execute and send His judgments as the evils of nature upon both righteous and un-righteous men for any reason that may seem just and right to Him.

God seldom reveals to us the reason for His conduct towards us. He only asks that we trust Him as Job did … in receiving both good and evil from the hand of God. Job was speaking about the things in nature, the storms of life, and the terrible calamities that just happen to man; things that God could stop but doesn't.

Therefore Job called these things as evil coming from the hand of God. He does have all things under His control you know. If He doesn't, when did He lose it?

The … "evil" … I am speaking of is not the evil of sin. "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1:13)

Honestly, we really don't know exactly what goes on in the spiritual realm do we? I really don't know if there are battles still going on in the heavens yet today. I don't think there is; at least not like the twenty-one day battle in Daniel.

I think the Word of God is very clear on that when it states that … "all power has been given to Jesus, both in Heaven and in the earth."

John Wesley has said … "The affairs of earth are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen world. That world is dark to us: but we lie open to it."

Has anything changed?

I believe it has … Jesus has delivered us from the power of the devil … unless for whatever reason God deems it necessary to send us out into the storm so we will put our faith on trial like He did with both Job and His disciples.

He sends His rain on the just and the unjust.


Comments welcome.

The Ten Virgins

I was asked some time ago to teach on the subject of "The Ten Virgins" in the small group home Bible Study my wife and I attend. Wow, talk about one of the parables that Jesus didn't even attempt to explain.

The scripture reference I used is found in Matthew 25:1-13. This particular story, or rather "parable" is really about more than just the 10 virgins. I'm sure you know the story, how five of them were foolish and the other five wise.

I started teaching with a short overview of the characters and the items or props that come into play in this story. Start with the virgins. Why are they virgins? The very fact that they are all virgins, even the five who are foolish, tells us that God wants "purity" in His wedding party.

The bridegroom is generally understood today to mean Jesus Christ. The oil used in the lamps carried by each virgin could represent the Holy Spirit that is given to each of us to keep our light shining for the Lord. The lamps they carried represent the light of Christ that shines in a darkened world. The vessel which held the oil is the heart in which the oil or Holy Spirit is contained.

The Jewish marriage ceremony itself was commonly held outside in the fresh air under a special wedding canopy which represents the covering of God over the marriage.

We think of the bride as usually dressed in white. It was also customary for the bridegroom to wear a white robe under the wedding canopy to symbolize the purity of marriage and was a reminder to him that the new life he was about to undertake must also be pure and clean.

Relating this to the church … when we come to Jesus, He gives us a spiritual robe of righteousness in place of the old filthy rags of self-righteousness that we had on.

After the marriage ceremony itself, there was a feast of seven days if the bride was a virgin, or three days if she was a widow. This feast was celebrated in the house of the bride. Sometime during this week of celebration the bridegroom returns to his own home and makes it ready for his bride.

Jesus, as the bridegroom, followed this in the normal Jewish tradition … He has gone back to His Father's house where He is preparing a place for us. John 14:2 … "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

At the end of the feast, the bridegroom comes back and takes the bride to his own home, usually late the last night. The marriage wasn't consummated until after this week long celebration was over and the bridegroom takes his bride to his home.

Besides the many friends who attend there is one group that comes from the house of the bride to meet the bridegroom when he comes back for his bride. These are the virgins that are mentioned in this parable, who were to go out with their lamps and light the way for him and his new bride.

It was also a custom among the Jews that the bridegroom when coming for his bride would be accompanied with another group of his friends.

Relating this parable to the church … the bridegroom (Jesus) will also have a procession who accompanies Him when He comes for His bride … Jude 1:14 … "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints …"

Not knowing the precise time when the bridegroom and his procession would come for the bride, all ten virgins probably went out early, and waited until they could hear the call of his coming. They are willing and want to be ready … but He tarries, he doesn't come. They all fall asleep.

Relating this to the church … I ask this question of us today. Has the majority of the church, even the faithful who have the Holy Spirit, represented by the oil … fallen asleep or given up on the Lord's return?

Jesus asks this same question in Luke 18:8 … "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Was He speaking only to the Jews?

But at midnight, like a thief, unexpectedly, the cry is heard … "Behold, the bridegroom; go out to meet him." The virgins wake up, and trim their lamps. There is enough time between the midnight cry and the Bridegroom's arrival to refill and tend to the condition of their lamps.

There were some who had no oil (the Holy Spirit) in their vessels (their hearts.) Their lamps were burning at one time but now have already gone out. The wise had oil, but would not or could not share it with the others.

Only those who possessed oil went in with the Bridegroom to take part in the marriage … which in the parable represents eternity in Heaven. He refused to acknowledge the others. Why should He? The virgins were to give light with their lamps. The foolish had not done so.

Why should they share in the marriage? They had failed in that which they were supposed to do. The virgins who entered in were the ones who accompanied the Bridegroom with their light back to the Bride's house. These others had not done so and they were not admitted.

But notice … even the faithful virgins had tired and given up or had forgotten the coming of the bridegroom and they also fell asleep while they waited.

What causes the lamps to go out?

I assume the delay in His coming … causes the lamps of both, the faithful and the unfaithful to go out. But the faithful refilled and trimmed their lamps with the extra oil in their vessels and were at their place waiting.

If we can relate this parable to the church today … the delay … the period of time we are in today, (still waiting I might add) should cause us to check our vessels, our hearts, to see if we have enough oil for the duration.

Jesus said … "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Verse 13)

Who are the virgins?

Here is where the analogy … in relating the virgins to the church breaks down.

Notice … in relating this parable to the church … the virgins as the Church … were not the Bride; they were only … the bridesmaids.

To imply that the ten virgins, the bridesmaids could be a type of the Church today … would mean that the bridegroom (Jesus) is coming back for the bridesmaids and not His Bride.

This is one of the reasons why I have trouble with the Rapture as it is taught today. Are we part of the Bride or part of the Bridesmaids?

Also notice "the Bride" does not appear … anywhere … in this parable.

Jesus did not have to introduce the Bride to the Jews in this parable. They already knew the Bride was Israel herself. But later in the Book of Revelation, the Bride is revealed to be … the New Jerusalem … coming down from Heaven.

Revelation 21:2, 9-10 … "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels … saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God …"

The Bride of Christ …

By accepting Jesus as Messiah … whenever He returns … the Nation of Israel along with believing Gentiles will someday fill the New Jerusalem and together become the Bride of Christ on the New Earth.

The following is just my opinion … but it looks to me as if Israel, as a nation was God's first choice, but they refused Him by rejecting Jesus. The Gentiles were then offered the opportunity to join the wedding ceremony by accepting Jesus and being grafted into the vine.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 11:11-26 … "Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles … the natural branches were broken off, that you might be grafted in … God is able to graft them (the Jews) in again … and so all Israel shall be saved." (Content edited)

The Bride … the Nation of Israel, has been and always will be … "God's Chosen People." This is why some people say that the Jews get a 2nd chance.

The marriage in this parable may denote … either eternity in Heaven; or the act of celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven. God will make sure His Bride will be there. The virgins … I'm not so sure of.

So … who are the virgins?

Truthfully … I don't know who they are because the Word doesn't clearly tell us.

The virgins may or may not be those who have been entrusted to carry the light of Christ, the light of the gospel to the world. It really doesn't matter if we fit the role of the virgins or not … we have the light and we have been commanded to "Go into all the world with that light."

Each of us has been given … if not bright oil lamps … at least a little candle to hold up to a lost and dying world. And is it not true that the call … "Get ready, Jesus the Bridegroom is coming" … has already gone out?

The virgins had time to get their lamps ready. This parable clearly shows us the need to keep oil in our vessels and not slumber or give up while we wait for the return of Jesus.

There is still time to trim your lamp.


Comments welcome.

Lemon Lime Moon

I found this article written by a lovely Jewish lady who loves God and places Him first in her life. Yes, this is a Christian blog … but I worship the very same God that she does. The only difference is … I believe Jesus is the Messiah … whereas she is waiting for the Messiah.

I hope both of us will live long enough to see the return of Jesus … for then both of us will worship the very same Messiah. I pray that … "Lemon" … who wrote this article will forgive me for speaking of my faith in her God. Knowing her from her writings … she will.

Anyway … she has an amazing blog on the internet called … "Lemon Lime Moon" … and writes some great stuff about what is going on in America. I believe you can trust the things that come out of her heart. Visit her site at … http://lemonlimemoon.blogspot.com/ … you will like it. The following is an example.

"Aggressive, Disruptive and Apocalyptic"

Cardinal James Francis Stafford is completely right in his assessment of Barack Hussein Obama.

Calling him "aggressive, disruptive and apocalyptic" he speaks of Obama's "clenched jaw," "his sapping operations against the city" and points to his mission statement that, "We are not only going to win this election, but also we are going to transform this nation. The first thing I will to do as President is to sign the freedom of choice act. I put Roe at the center of my lesson plan on reproductive freedom when I taught constitutional law. I don't want my daughters punished with a pregnancy. On this issue I will not yield."

Cardinal Stafford talks of how Obama speaks of the killing of his own grandchildren to prevent what he calls a "punishment" to his daughters. Horrifying!

But here is something that is not only found in Obama's thinking but in the thinking of the entire pro-abortion world … that children are somehow a punishment. Again, the world finds itself in complete opposition to its maker who calls children a "blessing." No, they say, it is a punishment, an inconvenience to be gotten rid of because of selfishness.

How can you call it selfishness? Because most abortions are done not to save anyone's life but to kill off a life that the host finds inconvenient. They are willing to destroy another life in order to make their own life somehow better. This is the basis of all murder isn't it?

When the perpetrator kills someone for their insurance, or because they wish to steal something from them say in commission of a robbery, or when they kill for hatred it is selfishness at the heart of the murder. Certainly Kayin (Cain) murdered his brother because of selfishness and greed. In finding himself not on a par with Hevel (Able) he grew jealous and was greedy for the good reputation his brother had. His brother, in Kayin's eyes , stood in the way of those things and so he got rid of him because Hevel was inconvenient to Kayin's life.

It's not a good time to have a baby, it's too expensive, it's too much of an inconvenience right now. Awful, but we are in the midst of a generation who thinks these are actual valid reasons … so far from G-d are they.

No one's life is in danger in the vast majority of these cruel and bloody operations as the pro-abortion crowd wants you to think here. They cloud over the issue that the most common reason for abortion is because the mother finds the child inconvenient to her life right then. She doesn't want to be "punished" with a child.

Hiring a hit man does not keep your hands clean of murder, however. If you pay for the job the blood is on your hands as well and as a nation which has encouraged the on going destruction of human life the US and other nations are covered in … no wading in … blood up to their waist.

48 million dead children … want to talk about holocaust? There it is right there and no end in sight and that's just in the United States!!

Is the economy going to hell in a hand cart? Are you dissatisfied with the politics of the land and the way things are going?

You cannot break the law, you cannot fly in the face of your Creator and have your own way and still receive blessings. You just cannot. Those blessings will be taken from you until you repent.

Men have had a lowering of testosterone for just a bit over 30 years now … count back. Roe vs. Wade was Jan. 1973.

Infertility has become a huge major problem in the United States and has hit its present state of emergency really for about 30 years … count back again.

With the advent of Roe V Wade the fertility numbers in the US have declined. No one tells young women who decide on abortion that infertility is often a direct result of abortion.

Dartmouth College found that a recriminalization of abortion would lead to an additional 320,000 births per year in the US and they say this as though it's a horrific thing.

Yet in both the US and Europe the declining birth rates are leading to the complete loss of certain national groups.

If you do not have 4 children you have not replaced yourself on earth and eventually if everyone limited themselves to 2 or less children the population will die out. But, 320,000 more births are looked at as horrific in the eyes of those who find children a punishment.

What Goes Around Comes Around?

We live in the McDonald's fast food age. People get angry if the internet takes 20 seconds more than they are willing to wait. Impatience has been bred by quickie service and quickie solutions.

Sacrifice is a thing of the past. We are told that in order to "have a life" you must be "free" of encumberments. If you have problems you don't have a "life". If you have kids you don't have a "life".

"Oh, I can't wait till my kids are grown up so I can have a 'life'" people say. Do you note here that they don't know what life really is?!! When G-d is not number one on your agenda, you cannot understand the meaning and purpose of life and certainly G-d is being pushed out of American life to the extent that his name is anathema in public and "Life" has been redefined as good times and getting things, having things, stuff etc.

Churches and Synagogues are empty on weekends while your local Home Depot and Malls are packed to capacity. There is where the heart of the nation can be found.

Because this is the mind set of the majority of Americans, America has been given a president elect who reflects just those very attitudes. He is the perfect man for America today.

Black American's have more abortions than other groups … he is perfect for them.

He is a child of iffy circumstances and marital problems. His mother married a bigamist or polygamist and divorced several times … perfect again for America.

He took drugs and is proud of it … perfect for most Americans of the newer generations.

He thinks children are a punishment to endure … perfect again. Right on the money for the "I don't like to commit / I don't really want kids / too many kids" kind of people.

His money attitudes are perfect also for a generation which views work as "not having a life" and for a generation that left G-d in the dust behind them and needs to seek fulfillment in various feel good activities to make them feel good about themselves.

He is man of little accomplishment who has big ideas about himself … perfect again. He sacrificed little but expects much in return.

Cardinal Stafford is right. This is a nation that is already divided. Some are weeping constantly at the sin and filth they see taking over in all areas of life. They are sighing and crying over it.

Then there are those who rejoice that things will change even more to accommodate their sin and their selfishness.

We are indeed past the crossroads and well into the punishment phase of our national existence.

Only those who pull out of it and continue to cry over the devastation of life will survive. There is a reckoning coming … " mida keneged mida," what goes around comes around.

And the handwriting is already on the wall. Obama and our disquieting array of politicians are our punishment for our attitudes and beliefs which are so far off the mark.

It is all well and good to find fault with Mr. Obama but he is simply a product of what the nation is or has become. Until people change, things won't either.

Lemon … Nov 20, 2008

Used by permission.

This Kind

I find I have a problem with the following scripture. I question which is greater, prayer and fasting or the power of faith in God.

Mark 9:14-29 … "And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

My problem is … I don't understand this last statement about … "this kind."

Why would … "this kind" … if referring to an evil spirit or demon not come under the authority of God according to the statement Jesus just made when He said that if you believe … all things are possible?

Is Jesus saying this kind of demon only obeys, only comes out by nothing except prayer and fasting? I have a problem with that. How does the evil spirit know if you have been praying and fasting? It just doesn't sound right.

Jesus had just told the father of this boy that if he could believe … "all things would be possible to him." This answer was in reference to the doubt in the father's mind about the power of Jesus. Notice what he says to Jesus … "If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us."

My interpretation of what Jesus replied back is simply this … "I can help you and if you can believe, it shall be done." Remember, Jesus was always teaching His disciples, so here He demanded faith or confidence in His power of healing. They had failed in their effort. The purpose here is to show the disciples that the difficulty was not in the want of power on the part of Jesus, but rather in the want of faith in the father asking Jesus … "If thou canst do anything."

The kind of demon or its power didn't matter; that was not the problem for Jesus. It was all about faith. It's always about faith.

Jesus said to the father of this boy … "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

The father answers back … "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

Is it possible to have unbelief while you believe? Isn't this what the father was saying to Jesus? "I believe; help my unbelief." Hmmm?

Is that the reason the disciples could not cast out the evil spirit? Did they all have unbelief instead of faith?

Let's look at this from another direction. Pick up the same story with the boy's father speaking to Jesus in …

Matthew 17:16-21 … "And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Notice the disciples question to Jesus … "Why could we not cast him out?" Matthew's recorded answer from Jesus is different than Mark's, with Matthew adding the words … "Because of your unbelief."

Is Jesus saying that if the disciples had been praying and fasting as they should have, any unbelief in them would have been overcome and their … faith in God … would have cast out the evil spirit?

Now let me ask this question; the words … this kind … are they speaking about the evil spirit or are the words … this kind … speaking about the unbelief the disciples must have operated in seeing they were unsuccessful in their effort to cast out the evil spirit from this boy?

Could Jesus be saying that this kind of unbelief … that many of us have in our lives … only leaves through prayer and fasting?

Or could it be that the words … this kind … only apply to the faith needed to be exercised (as a grain of mustard seed); which without prayer and fasting does not … go out from us … as it should; therefore this kind of faith does not exert itself and does not have any power to produce results.

Some however, even question … the text. The whole verse is not in the famous Vatican MS., one of the most ancient and perhaps most authentic versions in the world. It is also absent in the Coptic, Ethiopic, Syriac and in Colbert’s, which was written in the 11th or 12th century.

I am not saying what Matthew wrote is any better than what Mark wrote … only that he comes closer to answering the question I asked in the beginning of this dissertation, and that is … "I question which is greater, prayer and fasting or the power of faith in God."

The lesson to be learned is, evidently (1) … this kind of unbelief … the kind that hinders our faith in God from working; or (2) … the kind of faith needed … both only leaves us or goes out from us through prayer and fasting.

I was just about to call this finished, but I feel the need to add one more thought.

Going back to where Jesus was teaching in Matthew 17, He said … "ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove" … notice He said this right after telling the disciples it was … unbelief … that caused them to fail in removing the evil spirit from this boy.

I do not believe Jesus said … "say unto this mountain" … so they could change the landscape, to change the lay of the land. That wasn't His motive. The mountain to speak to, the obstacle that is always in our way blocking our faith is … unbelief.

When Jesus said … "this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" … I believe He was speaking about the mountain of … unbelief … not an evil spirit.

There is no power of an evil spirit that can stand and resist the power given to us through the name of Jesus.

But, the … unbelief … in us, that's a different problem.

Because God has given us a free will called … choice … He does not and will not push in and make you do anything you do not want to do. We have to want to rid ourselves of unbelief. That's where prayer and fasting comes in.

Jesus said this kind of mountain … unbelief … "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."