NOTES for Mat 17:20
The Lord Jesus Christ’s words about the power of faith cannot not astound, because we immediately understand that we are not even close to this level. But the question is: the Lord wants to tell his disciples only this? He answers their questions why couldn’t they heal the obsessed boy, and Christ’s answer concerns the whole human’s life. A Victory over the spirits of Celestial wickedness is won says the Lord, by the power of faith, prayer and fasting. So, all human’s life can be a weapon to fight against evil.
And it’s also very important for us to realize that Christ’s words to the last turn are rebuke to the disciples and us, men of little faith. On the contrary they can be incentive for a person to search faith. Faith, evidently, is God's gift, it can’t be educated, it can’t be taught, it can’t be imposed – it can only be requested. But we should first of all really wish this gift if we want to get it. And we shouldn’t think in any case that we have everything okay at this point. After all, if we really believed as the Lord wishes – we could have Remove Mountains.