Reading: Psalm 84
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn 5:14)
"Ask God for anything and He will give it!" This is not a Bible doctrine. "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn 5:14). Again Jesus said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you" (Jn 16:23). What does this mean? You cannot ask the Father what Jesus Himself would not approve. When you use His name you must have His approval over that request. That's what we mean by God's will. God's mind is revealed in the Scriptures. God's Word is God's will.
A novel doctrine is becoming quite popular which repeatedly quotes the verse, "Concerning the work of My hands, you command Me!" (Isa 45:11). The exponents of this doctrine teach the people to command God for whatever they need! What a blasphemy! Read the entire chapter, especially verses 9 and 10, and understand the context. God in this passage as the Creator is challenging us His creatures, "Do you or can you command Me?" Beloved, beware of taking a text out of context. A text out of context is a pretext. No doctrine should be developed on any obscure passage in the Scripture.
Using the phrase, "If it is Your will," in prayer is no indication of poor faith. A leper came to Jesus saying, "Lord, if You are willing You can make me clean." He was not rebuked but instantly healed by Jesus (Mt 8:2,3). Jesus Himself prayed to the Father in Gethsemane to remove the cup from Him if it was His will (Mt 26:39).
Both in the Old Testament and the New, kneeling has been practised by men and women of prayer (Acts 9:40; 20:36). There is nothing wrong to occasionally sit and pray. But it has become fashionable in many assemblies and Churches never to kneel down. Some argue that what is important is the heart attitude and not the physical posture. This is simply incorrect. Both our soul and body belong to God. The Bible says, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:10,11; Rom 14:11; Isa 45:23). Are we going to spiritualize this passage also? Then what will be the meaning of "every tongue should confess?" Beloved, "Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psa 95:6). Let us preserve the Bible culture! We all like the "praying hands." Bent knees, bowed head and folded hands help us maintain a spirit of awe and reverence before the Almighty.
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay!
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn 5:14)
"Ask God for anything and He will give it!" This is not a Bible doctrine. "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn 5:14). Again Jesus said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you" (Jn 16:23). What does this mean? You cannot ask the Father what Jesus Himself would not approve. When you use His name you must have His approval over that request. That's what we mean by God's will. God's mind is revealed in the Scriptures. God's Word is God's will.
A novel doctrine is becoming quite popular which repeatedly quotes the verse, "Concerning the work of My hands, you command Me!" (Isa 45:11). The exponents of this doctrine teach the people to command God for whatever they need! What a blasphemy! Read the entire chapter, especially verses 9 and 10, and understand the context. God in this passage as the Creator is challenging us His creatures, "Do you or can you command Me?" Beloved, beware of taking a text out of context. A text out of context is a pretext. No doctrine should be developed on any obscure passage in the Scripture.
Using the phrase, "If it is Your will," in prayer is no indication of poor faith. A leper came to Jesus saying, "Lord, if You are willing You can make me clean." He was not rebuked but instantly healed by Jesus (Mt 8:2,3). Jesus Himself prayed to the Father in Gethsemane to remove the cup from Him if it was His will (Mt 26:39).
Both in the Old Testament and the New, kneeling has been practised by men and women of prayer (Acts 9:40; 20:36). There is nothing wrong to occasionally sit and pray. But it has become fashionable in many assemblies and Churches never to kneel down. Some argue that what is important is the heart attitude and not the physical posture. This is simply incorrect. Both our soul and body belong to God. The Bible says, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil 2:10,11; Rom 14:11; Isa 45:23). Are we going to spiritualize this passage also? Then what will be the meaning of "every tongue should confess?" Beloved, "Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psa 95:6). Let us preserve the Bible culture! We all like the "praying hands." Bent knees, bowed head and folded hands help us maintain a spirit of awe and reverence before the Almighty.
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay!
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