249th Post Jesus Said on Evil Spirits Con't. - Mark 9: 29

Mark 9: 29 The Father appeals to Jesus for help after Jesus' disciples could not cast it out.
This kind [of spirit] can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 to 2 years into His earthly ministry. To unlock this passage, you need to go back to the beginning of this account Mark 9:14 -29. On the surface, it looks like the failure by the disciples was their fault alone, but upon further study of the passage, you discover that the father of the son also did not believe the disciples could heal his son. This is a very important point for those who are seeking out people to heal them. You have to believe that this person is indeed working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit does in fact work through them. Unbelief has been the biggest stumbling block to all humans. This can affect believers and non-believers alike. In order for God to answer prayer, you have to believe that God will answer this prayer. The same concept here. The disciples have to believe that God will answer their prayer before they attempt to heal people. Jesus pointed out to the disciples, that this particular spirit needed more than belief alone, it needed prayer and fasting also. The disciples did not add fasting to their prayer life until after Jesus died and rose from the dead. How do we know this? The disciples of John the Baptist asked this very question to Jesus, and He said, "As long as they have the bridegroom, they have no need of fasting, but they will fast after He goes away." I hope this has been helpful to you.