In the Gospel of Mark Chapter 5, there is a story of a healing of a demon-possessed man.  We see an interaction between Jesus and the demons which are many.  Before the demons were cast out by the words of Jesus, the demon called Legion begged Jesus earnestly,  that he would not send them out of the country.  So all the demons begged him saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them”.  And at once Jesus gave them permission.  Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine.

What do we learn from this encounter?  We see how Jesus has a merciful heart even to the demons and how He responds to those who ask of Him earnestly.  In Homily 71 of the Ascetical homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian, in an answer to a question of, what is a merciful heart?  He says it is a heart’s burning for the sake of the entire creation, for men, for birds, for animals, for demons and for every created thing; and at the recollection and sight of them, the eyes of a merciful man pour forth abundant tears.  When this kind of compassion burn in our hearts without measure, we have grown to the likeness of God.  If Jesus responds to the earnest begging of the demons, how much more to His children in whose account, He shed His blood.  The only issue is unbelief.  For just in chapter 6 of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus was rejected at Nazareth.  The people were offended at Him, when He began to teach them at the Synagogue.  And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  The spirit of anger, bitterness, frustration and complaint is what stops Him from working in our lives.

Everything depends on His being moved by our prayer especially in the form of calls and cries.  He is able for all this: but remember that He will act only when He is asked earnestly and with real neediness.  Asking Him sincerely being dependent on Him is the key to acquiring the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”