Matt 17:19-21, 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”, 20, “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; … 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Christ explicitly commissioned His disciples to perform these types of miracles in His authority. However, less than a year later, they experienced failure in areas where they had previously succeeded. Christ explained that their lack of faith was the cause of their failure. It is through prayer that faith, power, and God’s will are strengthened. In 2Cor 4:7, it is stated, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
Jesus set an example and established a pattern for ministry in Luke 5:16, where it is mentioned that He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray. The result of His prayerful retreats is seen in verse 17, where it states, “…And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” His teachings and miracles were a direct result of His intentional separation from the crowds. Our Lord’s unparalleled humility led Him to prefer the solitude of the desert over the applause of the masses. As E.M. Bounds wisely said, “No amount of learning can compensate for the failure to pray. No amount of earnestness, diligence, study, or gifts can make up for its absence.”