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Question:
How should we pray?
- In the dispensation of Grace, just exactly what is it that we are allowed to pray for and what should we not pray for? How should we pray? If we are promised that God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus, do we pray for material things? When should we pray? Do we pray in the name of Jesus Christ? Thank you for your help.
- In Christ,
- Rodney
Answer:
(click here to see the answer)
1. Rodney, I know that you are aware that if we prayed the prayers that Moses, Saul, Hezekiah, and Mannasseh prayed, God wouldn't answer them, today.
2. Of course, I mean, the kinds of prayers they prayed. So the best way to approach your question, would be to look at the negative. Prayers that God doesn't answer. Or, even, why doesn't God answer prayer?
3. To begin with this idea, I want to ask a few hypothetical questions. Does God answer these prayers?
4. Destructive prayers. Luke 9:51-56 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?" 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.
5. Self-centered prayers. The kind that put our team, our performance, our own good ahead of other's. Have you ever gotten yourself into a jam and prayed for God to get you out of it? When Moses was talking to the children of Reuben and Gad in Num 32:23, he told them that if they didn't do what they promised, "you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out." Is this a principle which would go against God's getting you out of a jam?
6. Public speeches, called prayers. Mat 6:5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Mat 15:7,8 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Mat 23:14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
7. Prayers for an easy life. These would fly in the face of Phi 1:29: For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. 1 Th 3:1-4 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 2 Ti 3:10-12 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
8. Here's God's principle for today. 1 Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
9. Does God answer "whatever" prayers? Like in John 16:23,24 Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
10. The simple answer is, No! They are done under "kingdom" authority.
11. Mat 10:5-10 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food." Later in Mat 16:19, Christ said to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Mat 18:18-20 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. They are "kingdom" prayers and have "kingdom" obligations. Mat 21:21,22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Mark 11:22-26 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." John 14:12-14 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 15:14-17 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. John 16:22-24 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 1 John 3:21-24 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 5:13-17 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
12. They have the promised "kingdom" knowledge. Jer 24:6,7 For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jer 31:31-34 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.
13. The knowledge comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:20,21,24,27 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. . . . 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. . . . 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
14. Therefore, Rodney, as you seem to know, God answers our prayers differently. Phi 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
15. When people don't have the understanding of the different programs of the circumcision dispensations and the Dispensation of Grace, it becomes very discouraging to godly Christians when their prayers aren't answered.
16. The first real discouragement in my Christian life was unanswered prayer. Two of the most discouraging portions of scripture I read when I was first saved were Mark 11:22-26 and 1 John 5:14-17. Mark 11:22-26 Jesus said to [His disciples] Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
17. You know why this was discouraging. It was because it isn't true. I can remember I thought, maybe I just didn't meet the conditions. So I studied prayer in the Bible to see, what are the conditions? I thought I found 4 that were necessary. 1. Have faith in God. 2. Speak the word, the command. 3. Do not doubt in your heart. 4. Believe they will be done. The guaranteed results were, you will have whatever you say.
18. But it didn't come out that way. It just didn't seem that the Bible was true. I met all of the criteria, but to no avail. How did you respond when you first took the promises out of certain parts of the Bible and they didn't happen? Did you ever meet all of the requirements without receiving the answer to your prayers? I bet you did, if you are like I was. It sure was discouraging, wasn't it?
19. But we know that God doesn't want us to be discouraged in praying.
20. I thought, maybe there were further conditions, so I studied more, using some books on prayer for helps. I found a verse that laid a responsibility on me: Mk 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." I searched my heart, and I couldn't find anyone that I hadn't forgiven if I had anything against him.
21. But then I also saw that that wasn't all. I had to ask according to God's will. 1 John 5:14-17 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
22. And, another one was a sin not to death. 1 Jo 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. I also saw there was a sin to death in 1 Jo 5:16,17 There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
23. Then I thought, maybe the problem was, what is His will? I thought I was praying according to God's will. My reason for thinking that was 1 Tim 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
24. But I found out later that God doesn't compel humans to be saved or be sanctified. 1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.
25. Then I discovered the most encouraging scripture. 2 Tim 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." It was the beginning of an understanding and a relief of discouragement. Just as you have, I discovered that God had a program for Israel which was different from ours.
26. The gospels and Hebrews-Revelation had primary application to them. Mat 10:5,6 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." And there were two gospelsa according to Gal 2:7: But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter
27. I also learned, according to James 1:1 "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.", that James 5:13 was addressed to believers of the circumcision, the Jews. James 5:13-20 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."
28. In contrast, God's program for us was a mystery, secret. Paul's epistles have primary application to us. Eph 3:1,2,7-9 "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles; 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, . . . 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which has been hidden from the ages in God who created all things through Jesus Christ." It emphasized spiritual blessings rather than physical. Eph 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Col 1:9 "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." So, for me - and for you - prayer changed from whatever to through whatever.
29. Phi 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 1 Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 2 Co 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
30. Well, I got carried away. Let me know what I missed.
31. In Christ,
32. Bob Hill
Question:
How can I learn how to pray in a group with boldness?
- Hi Bob,
- I have another question I would like to ask you. I am in a discipleship class in my church and I am having a problem praying in a group. How can I learn how to pray in a group with boldness. Is there a technique to do in prayer. I find myself not knowing what to pray about. My mind gets blank. Also, how can I get to a level to pray without the fear rising in me when I am called on to pray? Please Advise. Thank you!
- Gertrude
Answer:
(click here to see the answer)
1. Dear Gertrude,
2. First of all, you are not alone. Most people do not like making speeches. Unfortunately, for many Christians group prayer is like making a speech. We are usually more concerned about the audience we are praying with than the One we are supposed to be praying to. I�m a pastor. I have been praying publicly for many years. I do pray to God rather than the people. If I had to pray a long prayer, I�m afraid I would become more aware of the �audience� than the Lord. But my prayers are short so that won�t happen. When I�m by myself, I pray much longer prayers since God doesn�t care if I make grammatical errors or pause for a long time. I also pray in many different postures and many different places. After all, it does say �Pray without stopping.� In 1 Th 5:17. Sometimes I just groan because I don�t know how to put my request into words. But, He understands according to Rom 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 But He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
3. Our president is a Christian. Maybe you could pray for him � that he will have the wisdom he needs with all the momentous decisions he has to make these days. Pray for your pastor. We pastors need much prayer. Pray that he will have the wisdom he needs as he studies the Word in preparation for his sermons and Bible studies. Pray for yourself, that you will allow the Lord to fill your life with His love. Make sure you are sincere in what you pray. God will help you. You can make a list and look at it as you are praying, if you can�t remember what you wanted to pray to God for. Keep your prayer short � that way you�ll be more apt to actually praying than making a speech. Finally, pray to the Lord silently before you pray openly, you�ll be more in touch with Him when you begin praying openly. Try praying without stopping. It�s very hard.
4. In Christ,
5. Bob Hill
Question: Does God say, �No� to some prayers or, is it, �My prayer wasn�t answered�?
- Bob -
- Thanks alot for your initial response, I appreciate the information. I understand that prayers are different now under this dispensation, but what I want to know more specifically is this: Is there a difference between saying my prayer wasn't answered, or saying it was answered with a "no"?
- Thanks.
- Josh
Answer: (click here to see the answer)
1. Josh,
2. We can only make a decision based on the kind of prayers we can see that God answers in Paul�s epistles. As the dispensation of grace became more obvious and God was through showing Israel they had been set aside, Acts 28:26-28, we find that healing and other sign gifts passed away. The prayers also changed. Healing was not the emphasis any more. Does that mean we can say God never heals today? Almost. Except, God can always do what He desires. For instance, He graced out King David back under the law. That�s recorded in Romans 4. But He is usually very consistent within His dispensational boundaries. Therefore, I would say that God doesn�t answer those kinds of prayer in these days of grace. I would not say He answered with a �No.� Therefore, I would say there is a difference.
3. Bob
Question: Does God answer all prayers?
- Bob -
- Some people take the position that God answers all prayers, but many times He answers with a "no". Is there a difference between saying some prayers are unanswered and some are answered with a no? This seems to be conveying the same thought to me. It seems to me that in the prayer of Paul to take away the thorn in his side, that he got an answer, but the answer was no. Are those two ideas expressing the same concept?
Answer: (click here to see the answer)
1. Josh,
2. We often say, �God answers prayer.� But I would rather say, God answered prayer, rather than God answers prayer. If we prayed the prayers that Moses, Saul, Hezekiah, and Manasseh prayed, would God answer them, today? I mean, the kinds of prayers they prayed. I think the answer's no! Let�s look at prayers God doesn't answer. Or, even better, why doesn't God answer prayer?
3. To begin with, Josh, I want to ask you a few questions. What do you think? Does God answer these prayers?
4. 1. Destructive prayers. Luke 9:51-56 �Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, �Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?� 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, �You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men�s lives but to save them.� And they went to another village.� Have you ever prayed for something bad to happen to someone?
5. 2. Self-centered prayers. The kind that put our team, our performance, our own good ahead of other�s. Have you ever gotten yourself into a jam and prayed for God to get you out of it? When Moses was talking to the children of Reuben and Gad in Num 32:23, he told them that if they didn�t do what they promised, �you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.� Is this a principle which would go against God�s getting you out of a jam?
6. 3. Public speeches, called prayers. Mat 6:5 �And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.� Mat 15:7,8 �Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.� Mat 23:14 �Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows� houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.�
7. D. Prayers for an easy life. These would fly in the face of Phi 1:29, �For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.� And, 1 Th 3:1-4 �Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.� And, 2 Ti 3:10-12 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.�
8. Here�s God�s principle for today. 1 Co 10:13 �No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.�
9. Does God answer �whatever� prayers, like in John 16:23,24? �Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.� I believe the answer is no. Those prayers were done under the dispensation when God was proclaiming the kingdom, first through John the Baptist, then through Christ and His disciples. They were under �kingdom� authority. Notice the power that was given to them in Mat 10:5-10: �These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: �Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.�
10. Later in Mat 16:19, Christ said to Peter, �I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.� The authority was made even stronger in Mat 18:18-20: �Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.�
11. Whatever prayers are �kingdom� prayers and have �kingdom� obligations. Christ stated it this way in Mat 21:21,22: �So Jesus answered and said to them, �Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.�� Mark 11:22-26 states the responsibility that goes with such power: �So Jesus answered and said to them, �Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.�
12. John 14:12-14 says the same things: �Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.� So does John 15:14-17 �You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.�
13. I want to show you how many times Christ says this to His Apostles. This whatever kind of prayer is never mentioned in Paul�s epistles or Acts, after the body of Christ begins with the salvation of Paul. Here is one more passage in John, John 16:22-24: �Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.�
14. This concept is carried on in the Circumcision Epistles � Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter and 1,2&3 John: 1 John 3:21-24 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 5:13-17 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
15. Why did God promise them so much in prayer, but prayers are not answered like that for us? It is because they have the promised �kingdom� knowledge of the new covenant: Jer 24:6,7 �For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.� Jer 31:31-34 �Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.�
16. The knowledge comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit according to 1 John 2:20: �But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things [Spiritual things.]. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. . . . 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. . . . 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
17. God answers our prayers differently. Notice Paul�s admonition about prayer to the Philippian church, a church of body of Christ believers. Phi 4:6: �Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
18. Now, I realize there is nothing as discouraging to the godly Christian as unanswered prayer. In fact, the first real discouragement in my Christian life was because of unanswered prayer. Two of the most discouraging portions of scripture I read when I was first saved are Mark 11:22-26 and 1 John 5:14-17: Mark 11:22-26 Jesus said to [His disciples] Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever [believers, only] says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
19. Why was this discouraging to me? Because, I found out that it wasn�t true. Then, I thought, maybe I just didn�t meet the conditions. So I studied. What are the conditions? I found they were:
20. 1. Have faith in God. 2. Speak the word, the command. 3. Do not doubt in your heart. 4. Believe they will be done.
21. The guaranteed results should have been: �You will have whatever you say.� But it wasn�t true. I met all of the criteria, to no avail.
22. How about you, Josh? Have you ever met all of the requirements without receiving the answer to your prayers? Discouraging, wasn�t it? But God doesn�t want us to be discouraged in praying. So, I looked some more, maybe there were further conditions. I found some more. Mk 11:24 �Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.� So, the 5^th was, forgive if you have anything against anyone.
23. But that wasn�t all. Number 6 seemed to be, ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-17 �Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.� Now, the example here was in the 16^th verse: A sin not to death: 1 Jo 5:16a �If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.
24. But, then, there was a sin to death: 1 Jo 5:16b,17 �There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.�
25. So, what is His will? Maybe this was where the problem was. I thought I was praying according to God�s will. The basis for that was 1 Ti 2:1-4: Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.� But I found out later that God doesn�t compel humans to be saved or be sanctified. A passage in 1 Thessalonians shows that: 1 Th 4:3 �For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.� Many Christians I know, have gone against God�s will.
26. Then, I discovered the most encouraging Scripture: 2 Ti 2:15 �Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.� It was the beginning of an understanding and a relief of discouragement.
27. I discovered that God had a program for Israel which was different from ours. The gospels and Hebrews-Revelation had primary application to them. For instance, we already looked at Mat 10:5,6: �These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: �Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.��
28. In contrast to that commission to Israel, Paul showed he had, not only a new commission, but a new gospel along with it, the gospel of the uncircumcision: Gal 2:7 �But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter.� I also learned that James 5:13 was addressed to believers of the circumcision, the Jews: James 5:13-20 �Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.�
29. The reason we can see that James was not writing to the body of Christ, is, because he wrote to the dispersion of the Jews: James 1:1 �James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.� It emphasized physical blessings, healings, and signs, as it shows us in Mat 10:7,8: �And as you go, preach, saying, �The kingdom of heaven is at hand.� 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.�
30. God�s program for us was a mystery, secret. Paul�s epistles have primary application to us. Eph 3:1,2,7-9 �For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles; 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, . . . 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.
31. This new program that God gave to Paul emphasizes spiritual blessings. Eph 1:3 �Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.� Col 1:9 �For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.�
32. Prayer changed from whatever to through whatever. Phi 4:6 �Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.� 1 Co 10:13 �No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.� 2 Co 12:7-10 �And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ�s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.�
33. I hope this answers your question,
34. In Christ,
35. Bob Hill