Was it really because of DOUBT?
Read carefully.
Matthew 17:17 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.
17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
17:20 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. Jesus said it was because of their UNBELIEF.
He said, O FAITHLESS GENERATION! Was it that the Disciples were not confident? To you and me, Faithlessness means no Faith AT ALL. But they took a step of faith, it's obvious. At least they tried healing the boy. But Jesus said it was "Faithless, unbelief." Mustered seed is very tiny, even for attempting to heal the Boy was more than MUSTERED SEED. I know it! But why? Why could they not do it? Then I realised that the FAITH required to work miracles and to heal the sick, etc, is not the one from your carnal mind. Your heart cannot be without DOUBT at some points.
Yet, Jesus further added that, Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Before a miracle can happen, there must be a Faith WITHOUT an element of DOUBT! But how is that possible? The flesh cannot obtain SUCH FAITH on it's own, it'll crash! Peter would DROWN if he had gone into the water with Jesus without him first been EMPOWERED to do so. Now, I have my answer. Jesus gave a solution.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. It's the promise of the Father —the Holy Spirit. Then I knew, THIS IS WHY "FAITH" IS A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 12:9 To another FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; Every manifestation of the Spirit is within the Believer in Christ. It's an inheritance! An undiluted FAITH! No Element of Doubt at all. Now the once Disciples with UNBELIEF who could not cast devil out even though they made an attempt to do so (a reaction to faith) later became Apostels with a working faith.
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. Those were the disciples who could not do anything back then. Why?! They now have the Holy Spirit. One who owns the gift of FAITH WITHOUT DOUBT. The FAITH that is not influenced by the UNBELIEF of the heart of men. Glory!
Do miracles, heal the sick, lay hands even though you don't think it will work. It is the same Faith used in SPEAKING IN TONGUES, INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES, WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. Etc. The Faith required to do the MIRACLOUS is not a function of YOU but the SPIRIT'S. Exercise what you've got! You can! Go out there, Lay hands! Heal the sick in Jesus' name.
Blessed.
Hagios Akins