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NASB | Jeremiah 29:12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jeremiah 29:12 'Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. |
Subject: 1 Thess. 5:17 |
Bible Note: I was pleased to read Piper’s paper. He seemed to be saying what I understand: that we can only exercise faith in what God has said. We cannot believe God about anything God has not said. When we have not seen the mind of God on a subject, when he has not revealed it in Scripture, then the word Faith does not apply. God must speak first, and faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10). But God has spoken (Hebrews 1) and we need to find, in Scripture, what he has said. I was surprised, and disappointed, when he added “when Scripture does not give a promise that a particular blessing will definitely be given in answer to prayer, God may make known in some other way that He intends to give the blessing”. He does say that he is adding that “with some hesitancy”, and that is understandable. The reason is not; it is because he has never experienced it. He says, “God has never communicated to me what He intends to do any other way than by the Scripture”. Here we have the familiar and dangerous error of exalting “experience” (even possible, potential experience) to the level of Scripture, and I think it is most unfortunate. He should have decided to refrain from saying those things. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God (John 3). We should be guided by the Spirit, and he does not speak of himself; but whatsoever he hears, that’s what he speaks (John 16). It is important that we “learn not to think beyond the things which are written” (1 Corinthians 4). I appreciate the reminder, that our prayers should be for that which brings glory to the Lord. One might even say that we should bring him glory with our lives, and our worship, and our thanksgiving, even before we bring our supplications. Whatever he shows us his will is, we should pray as Jesus did (John 12:28): "Father, Glorify your name". |