Do we receive whatever things we ask in prayer, believing?

[jmt356]

Do we receive whatever things we ask in prayer, believing?
Matthew 21:22 states: “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
However, I have asked for things in prayer, believing, and they did not come to pass. I recently asked for medical clearance for a particular position to come through, but it did not. I also asked for a job, and it was also denied. In both cases, I asked believing and to a certain extent, started making preparations as though the petition would be granted. In both cases, it was not.
So is Matthew 21:22 mistaken?

 

[Dude-Dastic]

No, it's not mistaken.

James 4:2, 3 states: "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

When considered along with Matthew 21:22, it's easy to see why we often have unanswered prayers. No matter how much faith we have, we will only receive what we asked for in prayer if it's in line with God's will. Far too many Christians ask the Lord for the wrong things; the things themselves may not be bad but the reason behind the request is. Even if we request the right things for the right reasons, we can still be denied. This can be because:

1. Sin and unforgiveness have separated us from God (see Psalm 32:3-5; Proverbs 28:13; and Isaiah 59:2)
2. The Lord is testing to see how bad we want what we've asked for by delaying its arrival (see Psalm 27:14)
3. The Lord has something much better in mind (see 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Ephesians 3:20), which also requires waiting a while
4. His answer is no; He may give us no reason for doing so

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

Do we receive whatever things we ask in prayer, believing?
Matthew 21:22 states: “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
However, I have asked for things in prayer, believing, and they did not come to pass. I recently asked for medical clearance for a particular position to come through, but it did not. I also asked for a job, and it was also denied. In both cases, I asked believing and to a certain extent, started making preparations as though the petition would be granted. In both cases, it was not.
So is Matthew 21:22 mistaken?

Hello jmt356,

What is the rest of your life like ? How is your walk with the Lord ? How much of His word do you actually walk in day to day ? How is your relationship with the Father ? How much time did you wait until you decided it was not answered and did you give God a time frame such as by this day?

I ask you these things because they play just as big of a part as expecting your prayers to be answered.

1John 5: 14-15
14... And this is the cofidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.
15... And if we know that he hear us, what so ever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Perhaps God has a different plan for you then this paticular Job.
I do not know your entire situation so it is most hard to pin point things, BUT however you do know your situation and how you live or dwell day to day.

No we can NOT throw out Matthew 21:22 and it is just as vital today as it was the day it was spoken.
Faith plays a big role and it is not just when you pray but 24/7/365 type of living. However Faith is week and does not bring much results if you leave out walking in Love and Forgivness. These two things which are actually commandments and Kingdom laws.

Such as Mark 11:25 which by the way operates on Love AND Forgiveness.
25...KJV....And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in Heaven forgive you your tresspass's.

Now you can not stand until some day praying...so this means right then and there to forgive and love them.
If you do not forgive any aught then your prayers are watered down. Understand ?
I am not saying that you are this way.....I am simply giving you some reasons why prayers seem to go un-answered.

I hope this helps you out
Have a Blessed Week
Jim

 

[Brother Mike]

Do we receive whatever things we ask in prayer, believing?
Matthew 21:22 states: “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
However, I have asked for things in prayer, believing, and they did not come to pass. I recently asked for medical clearance for a particular position to come through, but it did not. I also asked for a job, and it was also denied. In both cases, I asked believing and to a certain extent, started making preparations as though the petition would be granted. In both cases, it was not.
So is Matthew 21:22 mistaken?

Everything I pray, comes to pass. The condition was to believe you recieve, and you claim it was not granted. You failed on your part of the deal.

No prayer should ever go unanswered. Prayer was designed to work every single time.

Faith and patience in inherit the promises and not only did you not believe, but had no patience. Matt 21:22 is true.

So first what Jim said and Dude Dastic said.

Did God tell you to go work at this Job? As believers we just don't go pick and choose Job's, or churches. Being part of the body of Christ, we are placed in positions by the Will of God as He see's fit, not where we want to be placed.

So in order to have faith for that Job, we have to hear something about getting that Job. Faith comes by hearing. If God said I want you to work there, then you have every right to believe God for that Job.

Let's talk about the medical. If you know there is a issue with your body, then that needs taken care of so you can pass their test before going for the Job the Lord told you to get.

Even I have made mistakes in this area. I was going to be a truck driver, knew I heard the Lord on it. I went 1,200 miles knowing my blood pressure was to high to go to their orientation. Guess what? They sent me back home, no Job though I believed God it was my Job.

It took 3 months to drop 40 pounds and get my blood pressure under control, and then went back 1,200 miles and got the job. Had I taken time to get the Wisdom of God, I could have avoided all that.

We don't switch things on God ask one thing to fix something else.
If you need to be healed to get the Job, then your faith is not on passing the medical to get the job. You need to have faith and confidence it's the Lord's will to heal you also, not just pass the medical to get a job. Lots of believers try to bypass things they never had faith for or understood in the first place. It just does not work that way as we would llke.

So, if God said get that Job, then we ask God to help us with understanding why we are Healed. God knows we need to pass that medical to get a Job he told us to get.

So even though I did hear God about getting that trucking Job, studied for 4 months every day all the CDL manuals to pass the test, I did not get my blood pressure checked at all before going the 1,200 miles. If I had faith and fully prepared I would have been ready to go and get that Job. I did prepare, believed I would get the Job, but I bypassed that blood pressure test to make sure before I went.

 

[dianegcook]

As stated it didn't line up with His will for you.
I believe it is anything asked to progress God's work.
It was your will, that wanted that job and such.

Believe it, I have asked God for me to win the lottery!


God knows what is best for you, He knows the future, maybe he has something better than that job down the line.
Maybe, I haven't won the lottery, because I might be more consumed with the money, than my fellowship with Him, wants me to remain humble. :wink
Trust in Him, He will see ya through.
Have patience, its His timing also, not ours.

 

[jmt356]

Thank you for your answers. Here is my reply:
1 Fish Catcher Jim

What is the rest of your life like ? How is your walk with the Lord ? How much of His word do you actually walk in day to day ? How is your relationship with the Father ? How much time did you wait until you decided it was not answered and did you give God a time frame such as by this day?

You are suggesting that receiving the answer to prayer is dependent not only on our faith but also on our righteousness (the rest of our lives and our walk with the Lord). However, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I am a sinner, but so too are all who profess Jesus as their Lord and savior. We can compare my sinfulness or righteousness to that of others, but this is futile; to God, even our most righteous works are like filthy rags.
2 Brother Mike

The condition was to believe you recieve, and you claim it was not granted. You failed on your part of the deal.

That is not true; I did believe I would receive. In fact, I even began making preparations as though I would receive. I was thus devastated when I received news that I did not receive the medical clearance and there was no way to appeal it.

Faith and patience in inherit the promises and not only did you not believe, but had no patience.

This is also not true. I did believe and made preparations in reliance on that belief. Moreover, I waited patiently for about a year, believing that the clearance would come through. I was thus shocked when it did not. I initially tried to appeal the decision, but this was not possible. The decision was final; my application was denied. After the petition was denied, no amount of patience could help any further because the decision granted was final.

Did God tell you to go work at this Job?

I cannot say that God specifically told me to work at this job. However, I have had the desire to work at this job for many years because of the contribution it makes to world peace and stability.

we have to hear something about getting that Job. Faith comes by hearing. If God said I want you to work there, then you have every right to believe God for that Job

I cannot say that I specifically heard God say he wanted me to work there. But I had faith that “whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Mat 21:22). I don’t hear much from God in the sense of direct, personal communication, at least not in the last few years.

 

[Brother Mike]

Thank you for your answers. Here is my reply:
This is also not true. I did believe and made preparations in reliance on that belief. Moreover, I waited patiently for about a year, believing that the clearance would come through. I was thus shocked when it did not. I initially tried to appeal the decision, but this was not possible. The decision was final; my application was denied. After the petition was denied, no amount of patience could help any further because the decision granted was final.

I cannot say that God specifically told me to work at this job. However, I have had the desire to work at this job for many years because of the contribution it makes to world peace and stability.

You really want help with this? We take failure in prayer, and we learn from it. Jesus said if we believe that we receive, we shall have it.

That is a true statement. Now your saying the decision is final. So your faith ends, based on what someone says. That is not a lot of faith, and you should see that is not a lot of faith in God. That is a problem there. ONE of the issues. There are more.

I was told I would never work a kitchen Job again at the prison I was at because I witnessed to a women there with cancer. She was not suppose to receive books from me or talk with me. She wanted healed though.

The Warden banned me from ever working in the kitchen again. So I wrote my prayer down on paper and put it in my pocket.

In my case, I know the Lord put me in the kitchen to start. I knew it was His will I be there. So, I put in paperwork to work in the kitchen again. It was denied every month I put it in for 5 months. They called me in to the guards office, and told me to stop putting in for the kitchen job.

They don't know it, but I am going to work in the kitchen again. I don't know how that is going to happen, but just because they keep saying no, is no indication I won't be working there. Faith also must have patience.

Did God say work in the kitchen, and give me the kitchen Job? Yes, I am convinced.

Can any man, devil, circumstance keep you out of what God said is yours? NO, impossible.

So, I wrote it down on paper and kept it in my pocket. I receive a kitchen Job from my father in Heaven, I already have it, and Lord I thank you for it.

I kept that in my pocket for months. Well, after the 5 month after being told NO, I put another Job request in for the kitchen. Another civilian got a hold of the paper, someone that knew me. He happened to be filling in for the other person that kept turning me down per the Warden's orders. He went to the Warden, and said my character is not in question, and He wants me back in the kitchen, but not only wants me back in the kitchen, He wants to put me in a place that takes years for other inmates to get. I had been there less than a year.

I was hired, and put in charge of doing all the meals, had access to all the knives, and was in charge of directing other inmates on what to make and do.

I am not going to wast a whole lot of time with this. If you want help understanding this, I can help. Why does some prayer get answered, why some do not. We are suppose to know why prayer is not answered, God does not want us in the dark about these things.

Blessings.

Mike.

 

[Free]

No, it's not mistaken.

James 4:2, 3 states: "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

When considered along with Matthew 21:22, it's easy to see why we often have unanswered prayers. No matter how much faith we have, we will only receive what we asked for in prayer if it's in line with God's will. Far too many Christians ask the Lord for the wrong things; the things themselves may not be bad but the reason behind the request is. Even if we request the right things for the right reasons, we can still be denied. This can be because:

1. Sin and unforgiveness have separated us from God (see Psalm 32:3-5; Proverbs 28:13; and Isaiah 59:2)
2. The Lord is testing to see how bad we want what we've asked for by delaying its arrival (see Psalm 27:14)
3. The Lord has something much better in mind (see 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Ephesians 3:20), which also requires waiting a while
4. His answer is no; He may give us no reason for doing so

Well said.

 

[john darling]

Hi Jmt356,

My friends and I have discussed this teaching, as well. We concluded that it does feel rather hollow to to say, "well maybe it's just that you didn't believe enough", because Jesus doesn't clarify how much belief is enough. He just says to believe. When people say, "the prayer wasn't answered because you didn't really, really, really really, truely believe", one should genuinely consider that option, but at some point it also starts to sound hollow, like a person trying too hard to cover for a teaching that just doesn't work, especially when we believe that we really did believe.

Then there is the issue of "asking amiss". I think there is a genuine case for this, but the Matthew 22 example says, "whatever you ask for". It does not say, "in my name" or "if you ask for the right things"; it just says, "whatever you ask for."

However, as fishcatherJim pointed out, there is another occurance of this teaching, in a different Gospel, which records nearly the same exact teaching, except that it does include the clause, "according to his will." Although it is a different Gospel, I believe it does shed legitimate context on the Matthew 22 example. Sometimes the same teaching can vary from Gospel to Gospel in how it's described, like the rooster crowing once in Matthew, Luke, John and crowing twice in the Mark account. It's a difference in the account, but it hardly matters to the spirit of the bigger picture.

My understanding of the "ask whatever you want" teaching is that Matthew probably presumed those who were praying would be doing so with God's will in mind.

We also considered that no matter how good and right the prayers were, and no matter how much we believed, many prayers just don't get answered in the way we pray for them to be answered. Sometimes the sick are not healed. Sometimes people do get hurt. Sometimes bad things do happen. He said we'd always have poverty. I believe this is why Jesus asked to be spared from the crucifixtion, but clarified that he wanted God's will to be done instead. None of us want bad things to happen but, like Jesus, we should be prepared that sometimes God allows bad things to happen (or for the good things which we want, to not happen) for all the various reasons he has.

I remember hearing a country song which was something like, "thank God for unanswered prayers" and the story was about how he prayed to marry a highschool sweetheart, which he didn't end up doing, but instead married a different woman and went on to have a family life which made him very happy.

 

[WIP]

My friends and I have discussed this teaching, as well. We concluded that it does feel rather hollow to to say, "well maybe it's just that you didn't believe enough", because Jesus doesn't clarify how much belief is enough. He just says to believe. When people say, "the prayer wasn't answered because you didn't really, really, really really, truely believe", one should genuinely consider that option, but at some point it also starts to sound hollow, like a person trying too hard to cover for a teaching that just doesn't work, especially when we believe that we really did believe.

When does God not answer prayer from a believer? Is it that He doesn't answer or that He just doesn't grant the request? I believe God always answers prayer from a believer but the answer isn't always "Yes" and it may not always be immediate. There are times when one prays and the answer comes later or slowly over time.

However, as fishcatherJim pointed out, there is another occurance of this teaching, in a different Gospel, which records nearly the same exact teaching, except that it does include the clause, "according to his will." Although it is a different Gospel, I believe it does shed legitimate context on the Matthew 22 example. Sometimes the same teaching can vary from Gospel to Gospel in how it's described, like the rooster crowing once in Matthew, Luke, John and crowing twice in the Mark account. It's a difference in the account, but it hardly matters to the spirit of the bigger picture.

This reference to His will is also reiterated in 1 John 5 NKJV

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.

 

[Deborah13]

There has been a couple of times when I prayed for something and I have been glad God did not answer that prayer. In time, He gave me something better. One time it was a better job making quite a bit more money.

 

[The_Epsicle]

Bottom line, God is not a genie. You can and will receive what you ask for in prayer when you ask according to His will, it seems to me that God may have something else for you that you're not seeing right now. You will not get everything you ask in prayer, that is the prosperity gospel and it is a direct result of the most overfed, overprotected, over-nurtured society the Earth has ever seen. Look at the historical accounts of the Apostles death's, the only person who died of old age was John(and he may have been thrown into a vat of boiling oil before that), they died some excruciatingly painful deaths and it was because they had Faith, not because they had a lack of Faith.

 

[WIP]

There has been a couple of times when I prayed for something and I have been glad God did not answer that prayer. In time, He gave me something better. One time it was a better job making quite a bit more money.

Sounds to me like he did answer you. His answer was just different from what you were asking for.

 

[Deborah13]

Sounds to me like he did answer you. His answer was just different from what you were asking for.

 

[Brother Mike]

Hi Jmt356,

My friends and I have discussed this teaching, as well. We concluded that it does feel rather hollow to to say, "well maybe it's just that you didn't believe enough", because Jesus doesn't clarify how much belief is enough. He just says to believe. When people say, "the prayer wasn't answered because you didn't really, really, really really, truely believe", one should genuinely consider that option, but at some point it also starts to sound hollow, like a person trying too hard to cover for a teaching that just doesn't work, especially when we believe that we really did believe.

Then there is the issue of "asking amiss". I think there is a genuine case for this, but the Matthew 22 example says, "whatever you ask for". It does not say, "in my name" or "if you ask for the right things"; it just says, "whatever you ask for."

However, as fishcatherJim pointed out, there is another occurance of this teaching, in a different Gospel, which records nearly the same exact teaching, except that it does include the clause, "according to his will." Although it is a different Gospel, I believe it does shed legitimate context on the Matthew 22 example. Sometimes the same teaching can vary from Gospel to Gospel in how it's described, like the rooster crowing once in Matthew, Luke, John and crowing twice in the Mark account. It's a difference in the account, but it hardly matters to the spirit of the bigger picture.

My understanding of the "ask whatever you want" teaching is that Matthew probably presumed those who were praying would be doing so with God's will in mind.
.

I am really grieved that basic understanding of prayer, and how to get your prayer heard and answered from God is not taught?

Whatsoever Ye Ask in My Name I'll do it!!!

There you go, it's just that simple. However, you have to add up all the times it talks about Whatsoever asking. We have to look at all of them to understand what we are suppose be asking for.

Every time you ask, the answer is always yes, it is sent exceeding and abundant to you, (Eph 3:20) according to the power (Love, obedience,Faith) that works in you. Without love, you won't obey God in all things, and your faith won't work anyway. Without obeying God, your faith won't work as your heart will condemn you.

Whatsoever you ask (According to God's Will)
Whatsoever you ask (Believe you already have it)
Whatsoever you Ask (My Word abides in you)
Whatsoever you Ask (In my name-Faith in the name of names above all names)

These all have to go together.

Ask to consume on the lust of your flesh?
This is the faithless goto when prayer does not get answered. God did not answer because I might consume my power bill getting paid on my lust for video games. I just wanted healed to feel better, so that is being selfish when other people are hurting.
I can't help the ignorant, only God can. What did James say?

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
(Jas 4:1-4)

You kill people and desire to have, but God is not helping Killers.
You ask, but God is not hearing, your fighting and not walking in Love.
You ask, and receive nothing because your in Adultery, and asking sinful and harmful things from God. God has no part of the devilish World and your sinful ways.

Enough faith?

What Jesus say, how can you tell? You should be able to tell right away if you have faith or not. Should be no mystery.

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. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
(Mar 11:23-24)

What is the condition? You have to believe in your heart that what your saying is coming to pass, with no doubting at all.
If you believe you receive something, you will speak as if it's taken care of.

I hope God heals me is not believing anything.

I may get the job, I might not. I am trusting God, is not trusting God for anything.

Mat_12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

What you really believe, is just going to come out of your own mouth. Should be a dead give away if you really believe something.I don't fool myself thinking I am in faith for something when I am not. If I am not, but convinced it's God's will, then I ask for help.

If you believe and have recived something, your at rest, you know it's on the way.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(Jas 3:8-10)

Only by changing what is in the heart, can you control the tongue, and only real faith in what God said, God's will in your heart will bring your tongue unto subjection. This is why Jesus said if you will believe and not doubt but say, what you say has to be something really believed.

You can't force yourself to believe something. It has to be meditated on, and Jesus said what heed you give to the Word, more shall be given. It has to be revealed to you. This is why some will claim they had faith, but did not pay attention to what was coming out of their mouth, and have spent very little time meditating on what God said.

Mystery solved. thank you.

Mike.

 

[john darling]

When does God not answer prayer from a believer? Is it that He doesn't answer or that He just doesn't grant the request?

I think this may be a distinction without a difference. He doesn't answer prayer, or he just doesn't "grant the request"? I think what sometimes happens is that we get confused by this thing about a "loving God" who can't say no without becoming unloving and so we try too hard to cover for the times when he does, quite clearly, say no.

It reminds me of the "name it and claim it" movement, where people are encouraged to claim that they have been healed (when really they have not been) because it shows "great faith" that God will eventually heal them. It's not quite as bad as the prosperity gospel in terms of sheer evil, but I'm reasonably confident that lying about a miracle is pretty close, simply because such self deception can so easily choke real faith.

Anyway, perhaps there really could be some truth in the argument that the prayer may be answered weeks or even years later but when every unanswered prayer has some argumentative technicality to explain-away why the request was not "granted" it starts to sound like a people who just cannot hear "no". One problem with this approach is that it gives us a reason to NOT question the motives and reasoning behind the prayer request to begin with. If we can't hear no then we are highly unlikely to see any problem in our own motives.

Also, it may be true that the request really was a good one, like praying for the recovery of someone with cancer or other illness. Practical experience tells us that quite often God does not answer such prayers. A lot of people die from their various physical ailments. Did their friends and family let them down because they didn't have enough faith when praying for the healing? Did they let themselves down by not having enough faith when praying for healing? Or did God have other plans for that situation which did not involve healing? (john 9:1-3)

 

[john darling]

There has been a couple of times when I prayed for something and I have been glad God did not answer that prayer. In time, He gave me something better. One time it was a better job making quite a bit more money.

I always kinda wonder how it is that people see a worldly job as an answer to prayer, especially when the answer to the prayer seems to point to greater dependence on the worldly system of love for wages. There are two reasons for this. 1) By it's very nature, a worldly job takes no faith. People all over the world get jobs without any prayer or faith in Jesus/God. If you were to ask an atheist how he got his job he'll probably talk about submitting applications or a resume, going for interviews, searching the papers or online classifieds, making phone calls, networking with friends and associates and just generally working to make it happen. But when a Christian gets a job, they talk about prayer. Was it really an answer to prayer or just doing what people normally do when they look for a job? "But what about the amazing coincidence which happened in order for me to get the job; surely that was God at work"?

Yeah, God can work through coincidence, but then that would need to be true for atheists, too. If you were to solicit testimonials from atheists, or Hindus, or Buddhists from around the world about how they got their various jobs, you'd almost certainly hear some very interesting stories involving chance and coincidence. Is God guiding all these people to better money, too?

2) Is it really consistent with what Jesus taught to claim that a worldly job is an answer to prayer? Is it God's plan for his followers to make more money? How could anyone come to such a conclusion after reading the new testament? Unless, people are hearing what they want to hear when reading through it all. The heart is deceitful above all things. So when Jesus says, "the laborer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7) we think, Jesus is telling us that we should work for money; "laborer" = employee and "hire" = wage. It's so simple!

But that reasoning is only possible if we ignore the context. In Luke 10:1 he organizes outreach teams and tells them to go looking for laborers, because "the harvest is ready but the laborers are few" (Luke 10:2). Why did he complain about not having enough laborers if God is answering all these prayer requests for Christians to get worldly jobs? Was Jesus mistaken? Was he putting unnecessary pressure on his followers to live by faith while God is answering their prayers to live by wages?

And then another curious element to the context. He deliberately tells them not to take any material provisions with them (Luke 10:4), precisely because he wanted them to understand that his teachings from Matthew 6:24-34, were accurate and true. He later reminds them of this (Luke 22:35). They didn't lack anything because God took care of them as they were working for him; the laborers were worthy of their hire. This is outreach, evangelism; our real job (Matthew 6:33 and Matthew 28:19-20). As expected, it turns out that Jesus was not mistaken. The laborers (for the kingdom of Heaven) are few because they are too busy working for another master (Matthew 6:24).

 

[Deborah13]

And then another curious element to the context. He deliberately tells them not to take any material provisions with them, precisely because he wanted them to understand that his teachings from Matthew 6:24-34, were accurate and true.

Nice John Darling. Thank you for letting me know that this scripture has no relevance.
1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 

[WIP]

I think this may be a distinction without a difference. He doesn't answer prayer, or he just doesn't "grant the request"? I think what sometimes happens is that we get confused by this thing about a "loving God" who can't say no without becoming unloving and so we try too hard to cover for the times when he does, quite clearly, say no.

It reminds me of the "name it and claim it" movement, where people are encouraged to claim that they have been healed (when really they have not been) because it shows "great faith" that God will eventually heal them. It's not quite as bad as the prosperity gospel in terms of sheer evil, but I'm reasonably confident that lying about a miracle is pretty close, simply because such self deception can so easily choke real faith.

Anyway, perhaps there really could be some truth in the argument that the prayer may be answered weeks or even years later but when every unanswered prayer has some argumentative technicality to explain-away why the request was not "granted" it starts to sound like a people who just cannot hear "no". One problem with this approach is that it gives us a reason to NOT question the motives and reasoning behind the prayer request to begin with. If we can't hear no then we are highly unlikely to see any problem in our own motives.

Also, it may be true that the request really was a good one, like praying for the recovery of someone with cancer or other illness. Practical experience tells us that quite often God does not answer such prayers. A lot of people die from their various physical ailments. Did their friends and family let them down because they didn't have enough faith when praying for the healing? Did they let themselves down by not having enough faith when praying for healing? Or did God have other plans for that situation which did not involve healing? (john 9:1-3)

I believe God will answer all prayers of the believer and to say God will not answer such prayers accuses God a liar. Maybe I've missed something?

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. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22 NKJV

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 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. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24 NKJV

“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. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14 NKJV

I believe that to invoke the name of Jesus is more than just uttering the name. It involves a trust and faith in Him. Have you any Scripture references that record God not answering prayers from a believer? And by "not answering prayers" I'm talking about God ignoring or turning His back to the petitioner.

 

[Brother Mike]

Anyway, perhaps there really could be some truth in the argument that the prayer may be answered weeks or even years later but when every unanswered prayer has some argumentative technicality to explain-away why the request was not "granted" it starts to sound like a people who just cannot hear "no". One problem with this approach is that it gives us a reason to NOT question the motives and reasoning behind the prayer request to begin with. If we can't hear no then we are highly unlikely to see any problem in our own motives.

Also, it may be true that the request really was a good one, like praying for the recovery of someone with cancer or other illness. Practical experience tells us that quite often God does not answer such prayers.

I covered above on how this works. From the saying part, and what Jesus meant by it, and the faith part, how to tell if your in faith.

However, if you continue to live your life by practical experience, and not the written Word, then you won't see much healing, and certainly not used of God in such things.

If we pray according to his Will, we know He hears us, and if He hears us, we have the petition "WE" desire of him.
That means that if it's God's will His people be healed, like it was his will for his people He tried to lead to the promise land, then every single prayer for healing ends up healed and answered.

If you can't settle the Will of the Lord on this, and are spiritually lazy as to not seek God why some don't get healed, you will just have to live in natural human experiences and miss out.

I believe that to invoke the name of Jesus is more than just uttering the name. It involves a trust and faith in Him. Have you any Scripture references that record God not answering prayers from a believer? And by "not answering prayers" I'm talking about God ignoring or turning His back to the petitioner.

A faith post from WIP?

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
(Act 3:6)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
(Act 4:8-12)

Saved and Salvation are two Greek Words that never meant Eternal life, or born again. They can be used that way though, and I suspect the Greek did not have a Word to explain this new concept of eternal life. When they heard Jesus came to save you, they heard this.

SAVE:
From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

Salvation:
Feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally): - deliver, health, salvation, save, saving

No other name given to men, Peter tells them that has the authority to physically heal someone.

The name has lost no power, and Peter already said it was not because he was holy, or some Apostle. It was Faith in the name of Jesus, not Peter's status.

Your right, we just can't tact that name on at the end of prayers and expect the fireworks to fly. The name ought to mean something to us, I am convinced the more you seek this the Lord has to make it more and more real to you. Peter Walked with Jesus, knew him personally, we need to be in that same place. We just don't throw his name out as a Walmart gift Card expecting the goods to come.

We also have to be in line with his will. I am pretty sure Peter passed this guy more than once, I fully believe the Lord said, Heal him, and Peter responded. I believe Peter had some type of direction that day.

Even Jesus said, I do only what I see and hear my Father do. We have to be led the same way, we don't just bypass what the Head of the church had to do. We are suppose to be following Him.

In my "HUMAN NATURAL EXPERIENCE" despite seeing sick folk, the Lord has at times said real strong to me, "go lay hands on them in my name." Works every time. That is not everyone by far. Now it could be the Lord wants more healed, and I need to learn more.

Anyway, the Lord does not answer prayers NO. God designed Prayer to work, and even said exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. (Eph 3:20) Unanswered Prayer is not on God's end, it's on our end. It's pretty prideful to say the Lord did not answer my prayer, God's fault, When God said He would answer it.

I have had to go to the Lord many times and ask, why is this not working? What am I doing wrong here? You would be amazed at things You have to change, and get in line you were ignorant about.

Sometimes it's just as simple as "Stop drinking Soda Pop"

Blessings.