In Matthew 17, we meet a boy who had suffered for years. Seizures wracked his body. Sometimes, they hurled him into fire. Other times, into water. His father had tried everything. But nothing worked.
Then Jesus’ disciples came to town. They had performed miracles before – cast out demons, healed the sick. Surely, they knew what to do. They tried to cast the demon out… but nothing changed. The boy convulsed. His father grew desperate.
Then Jesus arrived.
Turning to Him, the father pleaded, “I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
Jesus sighed: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I bear with you?”
He turned to the boy, rebuked the demon, and instantly – the child was healed.
Later, the disciples pulled Jesus aside, confused: “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”
Jesus answered, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”
The Demon Has Gone Too Deep
The disciples had done everything they knew to do. And yet – nothing changed.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once preached on this passage – arguing that this is exactly the situation that the modern church finds itself in. It used to be that, when people drifted from Christian faith, all it took was a wake-up call – a revival preacher, a strong sermon, a renewed sense of conviction.
But now? That’s no longer enough.
Tim Keller, reflecting on Lloyd-Jones’ words, said: “It’s as if the demon in our culture has gone too deep.”
For centuries, Christianity shaped the moral fabric of the West. Even those who weren’t believers still respected its foundations. People believed in God—even if they ignored Him. But today? That’s gone.
📖 “The kind of problem facing us is altogether deeper and more desperate… The very belief in God has virtually gone.” – Lloyd-Jones
Now the very idea of God has been replaced. What was once seen as truth is now dismissed as oppression. Morality isn’t just ignored; it’s been redefined. And the church? We feel powerless to stop it.
If we’re honest – that’s terrifying.
We try sermons, studies, conferences, revivals – but it feels like we’re shouting into the void.
👉 Why isn’t anything working?
👉 Why does the world seem to be getting darker, no matter what we do?
That’s exactly how the disciples felt in Matthew 17. They had cast out demons before. They had healed the sick before.
But now, standing in front of this suffering boy, there was nothing they could do. They were powerless.
Yet Jesus’ answer was simple: “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”
If the church wants to renew itself in a post-Christian world, it won’t happen through better marketing or louder sermons. It requires something deeper—something only prayer can unlock.
There are some battles we cannot fight with strategy alone. There are some strongholds too deep for ordinary efforts. There are some demons that can only be driven out when we fall to our knees.
But maybe—before we start to pray for revival in others, we need to ask God to heal our own vision first.
“His Face Shone Like the Sun”
Just before Jesus healed the demonized boy, something extraordinary happened. On a mountain, away from the crowds, Jesus was transfigured.
📖 “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” —Matthew 17:2
For a moment, the disciples saw who Jesus really was. Not just a teacher. Not just a miracle worker. But the “visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) – the fullness of God’s glory, shining through His human flesh.
This wasn’t just a glimpse of God’s glory, though – it was a revelation of the glory that God intended for humanity to bear. Because Jesus isn’t only fully God – He is fully human too.
📖 “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity,” says Hebrews 2:14.
And Genesis 1 tells us that we – every human being – were made in that image, too. Which means? God created human nature to share in His glory! That’s what’s natural for us.
Sin is not what’s natural for us – it’s a distortion, a sickness, a captivity unto death.
Jesus became like us so that we could become like Him. He came to restore our full humanity.
But Do We See Our Neighbors That Way?
What if the ‘demon’ in our culture is that we’ve lost sight of the glory that human beings bear as images of God?
What would happen if we didn’t view them as ‘sinners in the hands of a wrathful God,’ but as image-bearing captives needing to be rescued by a merciful Savior? Not as evil rebels to condemn, but as glorious saints to call home?
Because the way we think of others is what shapes the way we treat them.
What if the “demon” that has gone too deep isn’t the culture that has rejected God? What if the spiritual stronghold isn’t secularism, or moral decay, or society “drifting away”?
What if it’s inside us – our own distorted vision and unfaithful theology – the way we, as the church, have come to see our neighbors primarily as wicked sinners, nothing more?
Maybe the reason we feel powerless to exorcise the demon from our culture is because we believe the lie that human nature is naturally sinful – when in reality, God made human nature for His glory. This isn’t to deny the reality of sin, but to look toward others according to the promises of redemption by faith.
Before we pray for revival in others, maybe we need to repent of how we’ve viewed them. Because if you look down on your neighbor, you aren’t seeing them as Christ does – you’re seeing them through the lens of your own bad theology.
And maybe this is why Jesus said, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”
Prayer isn’t just about changing them – it’s about changing us, through repentance. We need prayer and fasting – not as a technique to change the world by changing other people, but as a discipline of renewing our minds, learning to love our human neighbors by faith.
Fasting isn’t just about crying out for revival – it’s about tearing down the walls in our own hearts that keep us from seeing people, by faith, with the radical mercy and love of Jesus.
Maybe we don’t need a strategy, a better argument, or even a movement of hospitality – what we really need are new eyes – to see the glory of God inherent in all people. And the faith to call them to follow the One who came to make us like Himself.
If we think we can fight this “demon” by taking control of the culture – through sheer political punching power – then the demon is already too deep.
Because it’s not just out there in the world. It’s inside of us.
Saunterre: A Movement of Prayer
If the church wants to reclaim its spiritual power in a post-Christian culture, it won’t happen through louder sermons or political force. It will only happen through prayer.
Jesus told His disciples, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”
Prayer isn’t just a tool we use when the battle gets tough – it’s the posture of a people who know their power comes from God, not from themselves. It starts in the hearts of those willing to seek God where they are – step by step.
What if the church took that seriously? What if we didn’t just pray inside our church buildings—but brought our prayers into the streets? What if we stopped retreating in fear—and started walking in faith?
That’s exactly what Saunterre is about.
What is Saunterre?
Saunterre is a movement of prayer walking and public worship—a call to reclaim our neighborhoods and cities, not by force, but through faith, hope, and love.
The name Saunterre comes from an old French phrase meaning “to walk toward the Holy Land.”
📖 Scripture says, “Every place where you set your foot will be yours.” – Joshua 1:3
For too long, the church has stayed silent, hidden inside its buildings. But faith was never meant to be private. If we want Christianity to shape culture again, we first need to be shaped by prayer.
It’s time to step out together – to let our prayers shape our communities and let our worship fill the streets.
Four Ways to Join Saunterre
Prayer is more than words – it’s a way of life. Here’s how you can be part of this movement:
1️⃣PATH’s 30-Minute Prayer Challenge
✅ A “Prayer at the Heart” initiative that Saunterre supports.
✅ Pray weekly with another believer for 30 minutes – no agenda, just seeking God’s face.
✅ The goal? To make prayer a habit of renewal in every city, town, and neighborhood.
2️⃣ Prayer Walks in Neighborhoods
✅ Walk your streets as an agape feast community – pray for your neighbors, and ask God to reveal His heart for your community.
✅ Learn to see people differently – not as strangers, but as image-bearers of God.
✅ Turn daily walks into a spiritual practice of intercession and faith.
3️⃣ Prayer Parades in Cities
✅ Peaceful, public expressions of faith – walking, praying, and worshiping together.
✅ A visible declaration that Jesus is present in our cities.
✅ Not a protest. Not activism. Simply believers lifting their voices in prayer and unity.
4️⃣ The Global Worship Event
✅ A global moment where millions gather in small groups and online to worship Jesus at the same time.
✅ A visible, worldwide renewal movement, declaring that Christ is King over every nation, every city, every street.
✅ A spiritual turning point – a moment of unity, faith, and revival.
For too long, the church has been waiting for revival to happen inside the walls of the church.
But what if it starts outside – as we step out in prayer, with open eyes and open hearts, seeking to find ways to love and bless our neighbors?
📖 “Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news.” – Romans 10:15
This isn’t about programs. This isn’t about church growth. This is about awakening the church—starting with you.
We are a people on the move – walking in faith, praying with boldness, and reclaiming the streets for the Kingdom. And we cannot be stopped.
It’s time. Step out. Walk your streets. Pray for your neighbors. Lift your voice in worship.
Now is the time to start walking by faith and in prayer – together.
Want to Join? Here’s How.
Will you take the first step?
📍 Visit: www.communionrevolution.com to learn more and join the movement.
🔥 Start Now: Take a walk in your neighborhood and pray today.
📣 Share the Vision: Use the hashtag #CommunionRevolution to spread the word.
Next Up
We’ll look at “Tim’s Keller’s Vision of a Renewed Church and Why The Communion Revolution Fits the Bill.”