DID JESUS IN MARK 11:23-24 PROMISE TO GIVE LITERALLY ANYTHING WE ASK IN FAITH? WHY DO SOME PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED?
Before attempting an answer to the above question, I am reminded of a primary hermeneutical rule of interpretation that the Bible reader should have in mind as they approach the Scriptures. The rule is that Scripture interprets Scripture. By this is meant that what may appear obscure or less clear in a given text or passage of Scripture is more clearly amplified elsewhere in the Scriptures. We cannot therefore read a text or passage of Scripture in isolation if we shall ever understand the whole counsel of God in Scripture concerning a given issue at hand. We should harmonize the text with what Scripture teaches elsewhere.
Jesus' statement in Mark 8:22-24 was in response to Peter's reaction when he discovered that the fig tree that Jesus cursed the previous day had dried up [see Mark 11:12-14]. Jesus used the opportunity to emphasize on the importance of unflinching faith in God whenever we pray. His mention of a mountain falling into the sea was a metaphorical reference to the divine resolution of what appears as an unsurmountable problem or a monumental issue confronting the believer. Jesus taught in Matthew 19:26 that "with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible."
The concluding statement in Mark 11:24 makes it clear that we ought to approach God with unwavering faith as we present our petitions to Him. Besides, Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Now to address the question raised.
Does Jesus' statement imply that every prayer or petition presented to God by faith will be answered? The Word of Faith group would readily respond to this question in the affirmative. My view is that our petitions must agree with God's perfect will for us in order to be granted. They must satisfy the threshold of what the Bible teaches or reveals concerning prayer.
Here's why..
Jesus Himself prayed to the Father at the Garden of Gethsemane that the cup of suffering be taken away from Him. He was however careful to allow the Father to have His way on His petition. His statement in Luke 22:42 says "...Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but yours, be done". Notice here that Jesus submitted to the Father in prayer. Jesus was definitely not lacking in faith! He simply allowed God's divine will to prevail even as He prayed. He had peace of heart and mind in accordance with Philippians 4:6-7.
Wrestling with God's will is a costly venture and will leave the believer restless and bitter in life. Jonah attempted to run away from God but God brought him back to ministry. Jonah ultimately submitted to God and served Him. God rebuked him for his selfish attitude. He learnt hard lessons from his unpleasant experience and we are perhaps entitled to presume that he became a better vessel of God's ministry [see Jonah 4:5-11].
Speaking of God's will, we learn from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that Paul prayed three times that the "thorn in the flesh" be taken away from him. God declined his prayer in the three instances and finally responded with to him, saying "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul accepted God's will concerning his circumstances and gracefully moved on with confidence. God kept the thorn in Paul's flesh in order to tame him, to keep him humbled. Paul's affliction served God's divine purposes for him. Christians will suffer afflictions but God is faithful even in those unpleasant circumstances. He will not permit afflictions that exceed our capacity to bear or withstand (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that our petitions ought to be informed by godly motives. James 4:3 says "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." God will not permit a petition that does not serve His purposes for us. It must glorify Him in the end. Someone said that God meets our need and not our greed!
Here is the conclusion to this matter:
1) We should approach God in prayer by faith. We should not waver in our faith. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." God is touched by a prayer that is accompanied by the kind of faith we see in the following heroes of faith: David as he confronted Goliath [1 Samuel 17]; Ruth as she poured her heart to God and vowed [1 Samuel 1:8-18]; Jabez as he sought a better life and future [1 Chronicles 4:9-10].
2) We should let God have His way even as we pray. His way is the best way for us [Luke 22:42]. When God has His way in our lives, we shall have exceeding peace and joy even in unpleasant circumstances. Submitting to God's way is evidence of our spiritual maturity and closer walk with God. Job suffered untold affliction but remained steadfast in his faith and God rewarded him in the end. Job 1:22 says "In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." We should not scream at God or walk away from Him when He appears to take too long in responding to our petitions.
3) We should be patient with God in prayer. He may grant our prayer instantly or at a future time appointed by Him. He may also test our resilience in prayer [see the moral in the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1-8]. Some things are not meant for us at a given station in life. The parable of the Prodigal Son recorded in Luke 15:11-32 reveals that the young man was not mature enough to handle his inheritance at that point. He was humbled by his imprudence in the end.
4) We should glorify God for answered prayer. Where God grants our petition, we should glorify His name for it [see Jesus' remarks in Luke 17:17-18 concerning the Samaritan who returned to Jesus to give thanks after he was healed of leprosy]. An unthankful heart offends God. We should therefore count our blessings and glorify God for them.
5) We should accept God's verdict. God may decline our petitions if they do not agree with His divine will for us. If this happens in our context, we should submit to God's will and glorify Him. Jesus did the same and so should we. He moved on to face the cross and suffered and died for us. We also learn from 2 Samuel 12:15-23 that David prayed for the healing of his son but God was determined to take the life of the child. When the boy died, David finally accepted God's will and broke his fast. We should learn to take a NO for an answer where God has spoken. He will grant us His peace in those circumstances.
6) We should approach God with a clear conscience. God may decline our petitions if they are motivated by greed, jealousy and selfishness. Some people pray out of jealousy, wishing to match others who appear to be "more blessed" materially than them. God does not treat people in the same way. He blesses people differently in His own divine ways and at His appointed time. Notice the moral in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16. The land owner confronted the evil eye of the complaining workers saying "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?"
God dispenses His blessings as He wishes. Besides, life does not primarily consist of how much property or resources we own on earth but how close we are to God [cf. Parable of the Rich Fool, Luke 12:13-21). Again, Jesus' statement in Luke 12:21 is instructive of this fact.
Prosperity theology proponents have sadly reduced prayer to a password slogan. They have also reduced God to an ATM dispenser. Those whose petitions are unanswered are often reminded about their lack of sufficient faith. They then agonize in frustration and are often told to "sow more seed". I once received a call from a friend who subscribes to the Word of Faith/Prosperity doctrines and he reported that he was expecting God to miraculously provide him with a given sum of money within a given period. He had already budgeted for the money! The man went into prayer and fasting for a number of days as instructed by his "apostolic prophet". The money never came and the man was deeply frustrated.
It is important to appreciate that God expects believers to work for a living. There are no free things that simply fall from heaven! Paul worked to earn a living from his tentmaking trade even as he served God as a Christian missionary. God has promised to bless the work of our hands if we are diligent in applying our talents and skills. Paul rebuked the lousy busybodies among the Thessalonians who lived on the sweat of others, saying, "...if anyone does not work, neither shall he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10, read also the entire passage of 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
The truth is that God's perfect will concerning us will ultimately be fulfilled irrespective of how God responds to our petitions. Whether our prayers are answered or not, we should remain faithful to God in our journey of faith. We should, as Moses did, esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the pleasures of Egypt. (see Hebrews 11:24-26). Our obedience to God should not be primarily motivated by the material resources He provides to us but for what He has given to us in Christ.
The Bible says "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021
Blessed by the teachings, thank you
ReplyDeleteMay God's will be done, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
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