“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26).

WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR THE RIGHT THINGS

The Holy Spirit is given to all who ask (Luke 11:11-13).

In the same context, we are told that we can receive “good things” by asking (Matt. 7:11).  The context of neither passage is miraculous.

We do receive the Holy Spirit, but not in a miraculous way (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:19-22; Rom. 8:26-28).

Some say if we ask believing, we will receive the power to do miracles (Mark 11:22-25; Matt. 7:7-11; 21:18-22).

Some passages of scripture are limited by other passages, and these scriptures definitely don’t apply to asking for miracles.

First of all, “believing” has to be based in God’s word (Rom. 10:17), which implies that God must have promised in His word whatever it is we ask for in faith (James 1:5-7).

Whatever God has not promised, we must ask for if it is according to God’s will (Matt. 26:39,42; 1 John 5:14).

The power to do miracles has ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10), and it is not valid for us to pray for that power today.

WE OUGHT TO PRAY WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVE.

The right motive is to please God not ourselves or other men.  In the wilderness, Satan tried to tempt Jesus to turn the stones into bread. That would have been to appease his own hunger, so Jesus refused.

The Pharisees prayed for a show: to be seen of men, to receive man’s glory, which was their reward.  They will receive eternal damnation for this (Matt 6:5-6; Luke 20:46-47).

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

The right motive is to fulfill God’s desires, not our own.  We won’t receive what we pray for if we “ask amiss,” to consume it on our own lusts. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).

WE SHOULD USE EVERYTHING GOD GIVES US TO SERVE HIM, NOT OURSELVES.

Praise

Jesus taught us to praise God and acknowledge His authority in our prayers.  “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name”.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matt 6:9, 13)

The 4 beasts and 24 elders in heaven praise God continually.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Rev. 4:8-11).

Thanksgiving

God is the source of every good and every perfect gift.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

Therefore, we should thank God for everything.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Php. 4:6).

Requests for ourselves

For forgiveness (Matt 6:12; Acts 8:22)

For deliverance from temptation (Matt 6:13; Mark 14:38)

For help in time of need (especially before important decisions–Heb. 4:16; Luke 6:12-13).

For wisdom James 1:5

Requests for all men

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. . . ” (1 Tim. 2:1).

Requests for all that are in authority

“For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:2).

Pray for the lost (1 Tim. 2:3-4; Matt. 9:36-38; Rom. 10:1).

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

Requests for all saints (Eph. 6:18)

“For our brethren in temptation, that their faith would not fail” (Luke 22:32; John 17:15; 2 Cor. 13:7)

For our brethren when in trouble (Acts 12:5)

That our brethren might grow to be perfect (Eph. 3:14-19; Col. 4:12)

—Beth Johnson

MULIEBRAL STUDIES  http://pilgrimstranger.wordpress.com/

MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT  http://pilgrimstranger39.wordpress.com/  or http://helpmeettohim.org

BOOKS  http://tinyurl.com/km5blyo

Knowing the one true God and the Jesus he sent (John 17:3) requires faith that there is one true God.  To God’s chosen apostle, there was one God, the Father, from whom are all things (1 Cor. 8:6).  That same God and Father made all things through Jesus (Col. 1:15-18; John 1:1-4).  That same Father gave Jesus all of his authority after the cross (Matthew 28:18).

Based on those facts and that authority, the Father only works through Jesus authority now (John 14:26; John 15:16; John 16:23; John 16:26).

Nevertheless, though the Father only works through Jesus’ authority today, who is directing Christ today (Psalms 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:24-28)?  We are commanded to pray to the Father (John 16:23, 26) and the Son will do the work (John 14:13).  Nevertheless, though the scripture says that Jesus will answer the prayer, it also says that the Father will answer the same prayer (John 15:16).

When all of Jesus’ enemies are subdued under his feet (1 Cor. 15:24-27), then Jesus will also be subject to the Father (1 Cor. 15:28).  The Father put all things under Jesus, and Jesus will give that same authority back to the Father (1 Cor. 15:27-28).

Therefore, though there are two names involved, there is but one authority.  That authority was with the Father until the resurrection, has been with the son since the resurrection, and will return to the Father after the Judgment.  Therefore, in Matthew 28:19 there are not three authorities.  There is but one name in that verse in the sense of authority.  However, because there are three Beings involved in that one authority, we are to baptize in the name (the one authority) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

—Beth Johnson

MULIEBRAL STUDIES  http://pilgrimstranger.wordpress.com/

MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT  http://pilgrimstranger39.wordpress.com/  or http://helpmeettohim.org

BOOKS  http://tinyurl.com/km5blyo

The whole world needs Christ, but unfortunately most don’t want him.  Of course this is not secret knowledge.

God gives every man, who comes into the world a test.  If they fail the test, God himself responds to that man.

The test is whether or not to glorify God as God and be thankful.  If men choose not to glorify God as God, then God rejects them by giving them up to something!  He doesn’t just give up and walk away.

• “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves” (Rom. 1:24).
• “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature” (Rom. 1:26).
• “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Rom. 1:28-31).

What difference does it make that God gives men over to different sins?

• “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:32).

All of this takes place because they did not glorify God as God and were not thankful (Rom 1:21).

Men ARE thankful for all of God’s gifts – and ask for more.

Men DO glorify him for giving all of the gifts he gives, and they continually ask for more.

How do they NOT glorify God?  They do not glorify God as God. So how does one glorify God as God?

• “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20).

What does “eternal power” refer to?  Something has to be eternal. Why? We know nothing comes from nothing.  If God is the source of all things, then he is the OWNER. Everyone knows the principle of ownership. Only the owner has a right to make the rules for what he owns.  No one has a right to do anything with what the owner owns without permission (authority) from the owner. If God is the owner of everything and everyone, then who has the right to make the rules?

If all men listened to the owner and did nothing with what the owner owns without specific authority from the owner, then no man would do anything without God’s authority.

Men don’t like that truth (Rom 1:28).  Men imagine that they are the owners and make their own rules.  Those who acknowledge God’s ownership will seek the Lord (Acts 17:26-28; Psa. 14:1-3) to find out the owner’s purpose for creating the universe and man.

—BETH JOHNSON

Books; <http://tinyurl.com/km5blyo>

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