I often hear (and read) that we must agree to pray believing we are going to receive or it's no good, that we won't get what we ask for. But is this true? Are we really not getting what we request because we're not agreeing and/or praying with enough faith? No, I don't believe this is the case at all.
What about such plain passages as these, then:
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mk 11:24).
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matt 21:22).
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven (Matt 18:19).
Amazing promises, aren’t they. "WHATEVER—you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith"! "If two of you agree on earth about ANYTHING THEY ASK, it will be done for them..."!
Many sincere believers have been encouraged by these verses to expect physical healing, a much needed job, and solutions to all sorts of problems in answer to their prayers. Yet who can deny that many godly people, claiming these promises in simple faith, have been deeply disappointed to find their requests ungranted? Such experiences can, and do, leave deep scars. In fact, one of my close friends from church, who is currently going through a very difficult time, tells me she feels that God has abandoned her.
So how can we explain this seeming failure on God’s part to keep His word?
The answer is largely one of progressive revelation. God has not abandoned my good friend. The promises quoted above weren't made to us in the first place, and we have no right to claim them. They were made to Israel.
The fact is, the "whatever" promises are found in only one small portion of the Bible and deal with our Lord's earthly ministry (though they are alluded to in the Hebrew epistles). Never in the Old Testament, or in Paul's epistles do we find that "whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Why is this? Simply because these promises had to do with the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth. They were being proclaimed as part of “the gospel of the kingdom.” In other words, these will be the conditions during our Lord's reign on earth. And in the gospels (and first part of Acts), the kingdom was being preached “at hand” (Matt 4:17).
Prayer has undergone several important changes since then. For example, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ affected it significantly. It was in view of His ascension that He said:
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (Jn 16:24).
Even though this statement was also made with the kingdom in view, it was from this time on that they were to begin praying to the Father in Christ's name. Today prayer is to be offered to the Father, in the name of the Son and "in the Holy Spirit" (Jn 16:24; Eph 3:14; 6:18).
Also, prayer in Israel was based upon a covenant relationship with God, while prayer in the Body of Christ is based solely upon God's grace through the cross-work of Christ.
By grace we, the members of Christ's Body, have a closer relationship to God than Israel of old had. While Israel was called to make God's name great in the earth, our position is in the heavenlies at the right hand of God (Eph 1:3; 2:4-6; Phil 3:20). And even though Satan tries to keep us from occupying that position experientially (Eph 6:10-17), we have a right to occupy it and are told to do so (Col 3:1-2). So, positionally we are seated in the heavenlies, while experientially we have "access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Rom 5:2; cf Eph 2:18).
(to be continued)
What about such plain passages as these, then:
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mk 11:24).
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matt 21:22).
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven (Matt 18:19).
Amazing promises, aren’t they. "WHATEVER—you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith"! "If two of you agree on earth about ANYTHING THEY ASK, it will be done for them..."!
Many sincere believers have been encouraged by these verses to expect physical healing, a much needed job, and solutions to all sorts of problems in answer to their prayers. Yet who can deny that many godly people, claiming these promises in simple faith, have been deeply disappointed to find their requests ungranted? Such experiences can, and do, leave deep scars. In fact, one of my close friends from church, who is currently going through a very difficult time, tells me she feels that God has abandoned her.
So how can we explain this seeming failure on God’s part to keep His word?
The answer is largely one of progressive revelation. God has not abandoned my good friend. The promises quoted above weren't made to us in the first place, and we have no right to claim them. They were made to Israel.
The fact is, the "whatever" promises are found in only one small portion of the Bible and deal with our Lord's earthly ministry (though they are alluded to in the Hebrew epistles). Never in the Old Testament, or in Paul's epistles do we find that "whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Why is this? Simply because these promises had to do with the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth. They were being proclaimed as part of “the gospel of the kingdom.” In other words, these will be the conditions during our Lord's reign on earth. And in the gospels (and first part of Acts), the kingdom was being preached “at hand” (Matt 4:17).
Prayer has undergone several important changes since then. For example, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ affected it significantly. It was in view of His ascension that He said:
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (Jn 16:24).
Even though this statement was also made with the kingdom in view, it was from this time on that they were to begin praying to the Father in Christ's name. Today prayer is to be offered to the Father, in the name of the Son and "in the Holy Spirit" (Jn 16:24; Eph 3:14; 6:18).
Also, prayer in Israel was based upon a covenant relationship with God, while prayer in the Body of Christ is based solely upon God's grace through the cross-work of Christ.
By grace we, the members of Christ's Body, have a closer relationship to God than Israel of old had. While Israel was called to make God's name great in the earth, our position is in the heavenlies at the right hand of God (Eph 1:3; 2:4-6; Phil 3:20). And even though Satan tries to keep us from occupying that position experientially (Eph 6:10-17), we have a right to occupy it and are told to do so (Col 3:1-2). So, positionally we are seated in the heavenlies, while experientially we have "access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Rom 5:2; cf Eph 2:18).
(to be continued)
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