Bible Study The Good And Bad of our Desires.

[Chopper]

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

I don't know about you, but I've never moved a mountain or cursed a fig tree. So in context, we have this verse speaking about our desires. We have to remember that we still have two natures that continually warring against our minds....
Romans 7:20 "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

Two sides of our desires. One is God pleasing, and the other does not please God, it only pleases us. So many times when I had a person in my counseling office say to me, "I don't understand why this didn't work out because I prayed to the Lord that if this was not what He wanted for me, don't let it happen.

Ah yes. The old "Don't let it happen God." Perhaps some of you have prayed the same prayer and what happened was opposite your desire. Hey, we have a fleshly part of us that only wants what the flesh wants and sometimes it's so strong that our desire hinder God because He knows our thoughts and knows we don't really want Him to stop the plan.

I remember a man who's Wife died. Sometime after, he met another woman and fell in love with her. I decided, after some counseling, he was terribly lonely. His love for this woman was a combination of loneliness and the need for another close relationship. He prayed that prayer, God, if this marriage is not Your will, stop my desire now.

Well his desire for this woman was so strong that it canceled anything the Lord would do. He got married and after about ten years came back complaining that the marriage was terrible. That's a classic case of the desire of the flesh wanting to gratify the flesh at all costs. My Mother used to say, "you made your bed, now sleep in it." This is an important Scripture to remember....

Psalm 78:29 "So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
78:30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel."

Lets look at a way to get our desires met by God....
1John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Our desire must be in accordance with the will of God, not the will of the flesh. Mark 11:24 at the beginning of my OP shows that God really does want to answer our desires. The "believing" that it's God's will is the answer to receiving a godly desire.

So, the big question is, "Is it God's will, or my flesh's will." Be careful how you approach your desires. I myself has had to learn the hard way.

 

[for_his_glory]

Very important post Chopper and I pray it is received well for all our betterment. Not sure about you cursing any fig trees, but I do know you have moved mountains (obstacles) in many of our lives as you present the word of God with so much conviction in your heart.

I too learned the hard way after two divorces as it was not Gods will that I should have married them, but my own desire through a desperate heart that caused much devastation in my own flesh all those wasted years. This time I followed what God wanted for me in my desire for a husband and now my gift from God and I have been married for 18 years now. Not always a perfect marriage at times, but what marriage is, but we do keep Christ in the center of it and love each other unconditionally.

 

[Chopper]

Very important post Chopper and I pray it is received well for all our betterment. Not sure about you cursing any fig trees, but I do know you have moved mountains (obstacles) in many of our lives as you present the word of God with so much conviction in your heart.

I too learned the hard way after two divorces as it was not Gods will that I should have married them, but my own desire through a desperate heart that caused much devastation in my own flesh all those wasted years. This time I followed what God wanted for me in my desire for a husband and now my gift from God and I have been married for 18 years now. Not always a perfect marriage at times, but what marriage is, but we do keep Christ in the center of it and love each other unconditionally.

O my Glory Girl, I felt tears beginning to well up in my eyes when I read about your pain in those previous marriages. I feel so very sorry that you had to experience that trial of your faith. O praise our Lord Jesus that He directed your path to the right man. You tell him that he's a special man of God to be drawn to you.

Here's my prayer for you two....Our wonderful Heavenly Father. What a high and lifted up, Holy God You are. I pray for Glory Girl and her Husband. She has had a rough time of it but look Lord!! She's been married to this man for 18 years. I feel, before You, mighty God, that Glory Girl and her Husband have now reached a point where they are well aware of each others baggage.

O Lord, I pray that from this date on, You and your very powerful Holy Spirit, directed by our Savior, anoint both of them with a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. I'm asking as earnestly as I can, please, please bless this couple with more love and understanding and communication that will drive each day of their marriage into prosperity, both financial and Your love for each other. I pray in the only Name given that I should pray, Jesus' Name. Amen and amen....So be it!!

Tell your Husband that I love you two and let me know what you're believing God for right now, and I'll join you in prayer, and we'll see an answer.

 

[for_his_glory]

Now I have tears of joy in my eyes after reading this. Thank you so much Chopper for that prayer as it touched both our hearts.

Right now we are believing for a financial breakthrough in paying some very expensive hospital bills. Hubby was in an ATV accident the day after Christmas breaking several ribs, collar bone, fracture in his head and one lung collapse. They had to do CPR as he was none responsive when the ambulance arrived. He was in the intensive care unit for three days and then released with many doctor visits for after care. He was out of work until the last week of Feb when he forced himself to go back to work so we would not lose our insurance. Praise the Lord he does have partial disability insurance which kept our heads barely out of water until he returned to work. His pain level is getting better, but still in a lot of pain when he gets home from work. He is a highlift operator at a lumber yard and in time the pain will go away for the most part.

With that said we are trusting God that all these bills will be paid in a timely manner so our credit is not ruined by any of them going to collections. All I ask is to just stand in agreement as the petition has been sent to Jesus and now we continue to thank Him until the last penny is paid.

 

[Chopper]

Now I have tears of joy in my eyes after reading this. Thank you so much Chopper for that prayer as it touched both our hearts.

Right now we are believing for a financial breakthrough in paying some very expensive hospital bills. Hubby was in an ATV accident the day after Christmas breaking several ribs, collar bone, fracture in his head and one lung collapse. They had to do CPR as he was none responsive when the ambulance arrived. He was in the intensive care unit for three days and then released with many doctor visits for after care. He was out of work until the last week of Feb when he forced himself to go back to work so we would not lose our insurance. Praise the Lord he does have partial disability insurance which kept our heads barely out of water until he returned to work. His pain level is getting better, but still in a lot of pain when he gets home from work. He is a highlift operator at a lumber yard and in time the pain will go away for the most part.

With that said we are trusting God that all these bills will be paid in a timely manner so our credit is not ruined by any of them going to collections. All I ask is to just stand in agreement as the petition has been sent to Jesus and now we continue to thank Him until the last penny is paid.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm so very sorry that your Husband had to go thru that trial in his life, I will be praying for a supernatural healing of that which gives him pain. As I was asking you about my praying for you, I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to know that you had a pressing need. I used words in that prayer that I don't usually say. So I know for sure that God is going to bless you somehow supernaturally in paying all your debts. Hey, He just might cause you to be debt free. O Lord, let it be! In Jesus Name.

 

[smaller]

So, the big question is, "Is it God's will, or my flesh's will." Be careful how you approach your desires. I myself has had to learn the hard way.

This may sound kind of odd, but when I was about 27 years old I took all my problems to Jesus, and prayed for Him to solve them. I gave him my "hit list" of the issues I felt needed to be resolved. And that if just those transpired, I'd be happy. After 27 years everyone of those requests were fulfilled. But by then there were other problems. One, that really didn't solve all the problems because others even bigger came along to take their place. And, since I had exhausted my requests from prior, NOW WHAT? All my prayers had been answered!

Yep. Back to the prayer closet for me. Probably a good place to just stay in. I now view my prayers as a cloudy matter, not wanting to be too specific. God will have to surprise me out of His Cloud. I can't outguess Him and I probably already cut Him short by the sight of my own fleshy nose in front of my eyes enuf already.

Do you know that in the O.T. (you probably know this but) the High Priest, if he did not fill the Holy of Holies with incense, there was a pretty good chance that he'd die. That cloud of incense was put in there to cover the Mercy Seat. Probably so the priest couldn't see how glorious Gods Mercy really was as it could kill him in the flesh.

Incense is an external showing in the O.T. of our prayers in the spiritual senses. When the people of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron for Gods swallowing up Korah and his household, Gods Wrath came up on the congregation. Moses instructed Aaron to run through the congregation with incense to cloud them and keep them from being killed. But over 14,000 Israelites died that day just after the rebellion of Korah et al.

Interesting stuff.

 

[for_his_glory]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm so very sorry that your Husband had to go thru that trial in his life, I will be praying for a supernatural healing of that which gives him pain. As I was asking you about my praying for you, I believe the Holy Spirit caused me to know that you had a pressing need. I used words in that prayer that I don't usually say. So I know for sure that God is going to bless you somehow supernaturally in paying all your debts. Hey, He just might cause you to be debt free. O Lord, let it be! In Jesus Name.

LET IT BE and to all of Gods children, amen. I usually never have anyone pray for our need as I trust God in all things, Chopper I know your post was an answer to my prayers. You are just so special to me and I also hold you in my prayers for your health and well being . Some day we will meet and what a glorious day that will be.

 

[for_his_glory]

This may sound kind of odd, but when I was about 27 years old I took all my problems to Jesus, and prayed for Him to solve them. I gave him my "hit list" of the issues I felt needed to be resolved. And that if just those transpired, I'd be happy. After 27 years everyone of those requests were fulfilled. But by then there were other problems. One, that really didn't solve all the problems because others even bigger came along to take their place. And, since I had exhausted my requests from prior, NOW WHAT? All my prayers had been answered!

Yep. Back to the prayer closet for me. Probably a good place to just stay in. I now view my prayers as a cloudy matter, not wanting to be too specific. God will have to surprise me out of His Cloud. I can't outguess Him and I probably already cut Him short by the sight of my own fleshy nose in front of my eyes enuf already.

Do you know that in the O.T. (you probably know this but) the High Priest, if he did not fill the Holy of Holies with incense, there was a pretty good chance that he'd die. That cloud of incense was put in there to cover the Mercy Seat. Probably so the priest couldn't see how glorious Gods Mercy really was as it could kill him in the flesh.

Incense is an external showing in the O.T. of our prayers in the spiritual senses. When the people of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron for Gods swallowing up Korah and his household, Gods Wrath came up on the congregation. Moses instructed Aaron to run through the congregation with incense to cloud them and keep them from being killed. But over 14,000 Israelites died that day just after the rebellion of Korah et al.

Interesting stuff.

We just have to remember that trials only make us stronger as they draw us closer to God as we trust Him in all things. We might get somewhat overwhelmed with the trials as I know I do as we have had our share in the last few months and on top of everything else the transmission went out in hubbies truck, but God has blest us with friends who are fixing it for free. All we had to do was pay for the rebuild kit. God is soooo good praise His Holy name.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Matthew 6:33

My current understanding (assumption?) based on limited experience as a Christian is that God is very good about both giving us what we need and changing us so we pray more in line with what's in our own interests.

 

[Malachi]

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Since this was addressed to disciples then (as it is also now) the underlying expectation of Christ is that the disciple's desires will coincide with those of his Lord and Master. The promptings of the flesh are automatically excluded, since this will also be praying in and with the Spirit. The Lord's expectation is that the flesh has been mortified (or crucified), so that the Spirit is in full control. This verse also relates to seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. When a Christian sincerely desires that (a) God will be glorified, (b) Christ will be exalted, (c) sinners will be saved, and (d) saints will be edified, then such prayers must be answered (in God's good time).

 

[ezrider]

I don't know about you, but I've never moved a mountain or cursed a fig tree.

There is only one mountain that truly requires faith to move it aside, and that mountain is Mt. Sinai.

We have been called forth to Mt. Zion, and Mt. Sinai is the only mountain that stands in your way.

 

[Chopper]

LET IT BE and to all of Gods children, amen. I usually never have anyone pray for our need as I trust God in all things, Chopper I know your post was an answer to my prayers. You are just so special to me and I also hold you in my prayers for your health and well being . Some day we will meet and what a glorious day that will be.

Thank you for the reply. I hardly ever pray for "prosperity" for a person, but I did with you. That tells me that you will prosper....God bless!!

 

[Chopper]

Since this was addressed to disciples then (as it is also now) the underlying expectation of Christ is that the disciple's desires will coincide with those of his Lord and Master. The promptings of the flesh are automatically excluded, since this will also be praying in and with the Spirit. The Lord's expectation is that the flesh has been mortified (or crucified), so that the Spirit is in full control. This verse also relates to seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. When a Christian sincerely desires that (a) God will be glorified, (b) Christ will be exalted, (c) sinners will be saved, and (d) saints will be edified, then such prayers must be answered (in God's good time).

I don't believe that the Disciples were controlled by the Holy Spirit as yet.

 

[Malachi]

I don't believe that the Disciples were controlled by the Holy Spirit as yet.

And those words were in anticipation of what would soon come to pass. The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles after the resurrection of Christ (and to believers from Pentecost onwards), but those words were for all the ages. While the disciples had not received the gift of the Holy Spirit they (a) had forsaken all to follow Christ, thus becoming disciples and (b) had been empowered to preach, teach, heal, cast out demons, even raise the dead, and even before the resurrection (Matthew 10). That would have been in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as Christ's miracles were also in the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:14; Acts 2:22).

 

[Chopper]

And those words were in anticipation of what would soon come to pass. The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles after the resurrection of Christ (and to believers from Pentecost onwards), but those words were for all the ages. While the disciples had not received the gift of the Holy Spirit they (a) had forsaken all to follow Christ, thus becoming disciples and (b) had been empowered to preach, teach, heal, cast out demons, even raise the dead, and even before the resurrection (Matthew 10). That would have been in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as Christ's miracles were also in the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:14; Acts 2:22).

Ok Malachi, I see better what you're getting at and I agree, thank you. I believe that the Disciples received the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. See....John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

At Pentecost, they were baptized into the work or ministry of the very powerful Holy Spirit. They had already received the Holy Spirit, the only thing that remained was to (if I may use the word indwelt) enter the very powerful work of the Holy Spirit and that happened at Pentecost.

 

[for_his_glory]

Thank you for the reply. I hardly ever pray for "prosperity" for a person, but I did with you. That tells me that you will prosper....God bless!!

I never give a prayer request as like I said I trust God in all things, but there was such a Spiritual connection between the two of us at that moment that I haven't felt in a long time from anyone and I was compelled to share this need. I pray that God supplies all your needs as well as everyone on CF, God bless your heart Chopper

 

[for_his_glory]

There truly is a difference between the hearts (God desire for us) and our fleshly desire. Prayers consist of faith, consecration and commitment. Faith is to know Gods will in what you are praying for. A good example of this is to take the subject of what you are praying for and find scripture for that to see what God has already declared. There are also conditions in a prayer of faith that could stop God from answering your prayer and that is the condition of our heart. The biggest thing that can shut down the power of God in our prayers is lack of faith, doubt and unforgiveness. Mark 11:22-26 starts with have faith in God and ends with forgiving others as without these two factors God is not going to honor your request.

It is easy to say we have committed ourselves to God and trust him in all things until temptations; trails and tribulations come our way and we soon lose focus on the promises of God and allow the despairs of our heart turn us away from Gods throne of grace. God never tempts us, but he will allow Satan to test our faith if we leave that door opened for Satan to enter in. The only thing Satan can steal from us is our faith and belief in the word of God so we need to be watchful and guard ourselves from those devices Satan will use against us. 1Peter 5:6-8; James 1:2-4; Psalms 25:1,2; 1Corinthians 10:21