Prayer and Fasting

[spencel]

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21

We were given the above instruction during our Roundtable November 22nd, 2020 to work with now rather than take in all that is being present to us during this transitional period.

“Jesus, healed the young man then and there, and he neither prayed nor fasted as men interpret those words today. Is it not reasonable to suppose, therefore, that the fasting (denial) meant the denial of the reality of any such thing as fits (Mark 9: 7, 9, 25-9), or lunacy, and that the prayer meant the affirmation of the all-presence and the all-power of God wherein there is no possibility of either fits or lunacy? These are the essential features in the Christian Science prayer of today…” by from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 209

“When his disciples asked him why they could not heal that case, Jesus, the master Metaphysician, answered, “Because of your unbelief” (lack of faith); and then continued: ‘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.’ Also he added: ‘This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting’ (refraining from admitting the claims of the senses). … Be patient, O Christian Scientist! It is well that thou canst unloose the sandals of thy Master’s feet.” by Mary Baker Eddy, from Miscellany page 222

[spencel]

“Science is absolute, and best understood through the study of my works and the daily Christian demonstration thereof. It is their materiality that clogs the progress of students, and ‘this kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting.’ It is materialism through which the animal magnetizer preys, and in turn becomes a prey. Spirituality is the basis of all true thought and volition. Assembling themselves together, and listening to each other amicably, or contentiously, is no aid to students in acquiring solid Christian Science. Experience and, above all, obedience, are the aids and tests of growth and understanding in this direction. With love, MARY B. G. EDDY, from Miscellaneous Writings page 156

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting,’ but he did not appoint a fast. Merely to abstain from eating was not sufficient to meet his demand. The animus of his saying was: Silence appetites, passion, and all that wars against Spirit and spiritual power.” by Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellany page 339

[Kerry]

Thank you for posting on this citation and Mrs. Eddy’s comments on it. I also found it interesting when I read of the circumstances of Jesus’ rebuke to the nine disciples. The disciples had not been in earnest prayer – they had been having a good time, while Jesus, John, Peter, and James were away. When suddenly thrust into a situation which required not only a strong rebuke and also required that they be in a state of spiritual connection with God, so that His Truth could be demonstrated to heal, they failed like the virgins, who brought no oil with them when waiting to meet the bridegroom and were left out, with the moral of Jesus’ story being to “ keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Mathew 25:13)

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

“It seems that Christ not only suggests, that faith was greatly wanting in his disciples; for which reason they could not cast out the devil, and heal the lunatic; but they had been wanting in prayer to God, to assist them in the exercise of their miraculous gifts; and that whilst Christ, and the other three disciples were on the mount, they had been feasting and indulging themselves with the people, and so were in a very undue disposition of mind, for such extraordinary service, for which our Lord tacitly rebukes them.”

[chardelle]

In giving much thought to what Christ Jesus said about prayer and fasting the following helps me:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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