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NASB | 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 5:14 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. |
Bible Question:
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18 I am preaching on prayer in a few weaks. There was a question on the forum about why does God not answer prayer. This did not seem to have a response. Colin Urquart takes this as a given in "Anything you ask". Solid Christians have experiences of unanswered prayer particularly about health issues. Could I have some views please. I accept the bible as truth but am struggling as in the meeting there are a number of people with unanswered prayer. Thanks Ian at Arras |
Bible Answer: Hello ian, With Matt. 18:19 we need to have care that it is not taken as an absolute "success formula" for prayer. I don't know who Colin Urquart is, however, we again need to consider the whole counsel of scripture before arriving at an absolute. Good Health is neither a guarantee of scripture nor a necessary lack of faith. Note John 11:1-4 "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (NASB) C.H. Spurgeon in his Commentary on Matthew notes: "(18:19)- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Thus the Savior sets his seal upon assemblies of the faithful, even of the smallest kind, not only in their acts of discipline, but in their intercessions. Note how tenderly Jesus speaks of his followers: “If two of you.” Poor as you are, if two of you agree in prayer on earth, “my Father which is in heaven” will hearken to your pleading. Prayer should be matter for previous consideration, and persons about to join in prayer should “agree as touching anything that they shall ask.” Then they come together with an intelligent design, seeking a known blessing, and agreeing to combine their desires and their faith in reference to the one chosen object. Two believers united in holy desire and solemn prayer will have great power with God. Instead of despising the verdict of so small a gathering, we ought to respect it, since the Father does so. Note the power of combined prayer. There is no excuse for giving up prayer-meetings while there are two praying people in the place; for two can prevail with God. Of course, more is needed than a cold agreement that certain things are desirable; there must be importunity and faith." Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |