If you read the comments from the last posting, you will find an excellent link to an article by Robert Velarde about the reasons we are to pray. It adds quite a bit of scriptural insight to this posting and the one before it.
I gathered a better understanding concerning unanswered prayer from the book mentioned in the last posting, that of Satan and the Problem of Evil by Gregory A. Boyd.
For example, we Christians, in our attempts to resolve difficult issues with easy answers, oversimplify when we state, as Job and his friends did, that suffering is either caused by God (His wrathful punishment for unrepentant sin) or allowed by God (His sovereignty) or caused by our own erroneous and sinful actions in which case we often believe we deserve the consequences of the suffering we are experiencing, which in an indirect way can still be blamed on a less-than-gracious-and-merciful God IF that is how we view Him. (It is an erroneous view by the way.)
We apply a similar simplistic rationale to prayer as well, specifically unanswered prayer, and state that when prayers are not answered it must be because it is not God's will for the problem to be resolved for which we petitioned His help seeking divine intervention. We too quickly "default" to this "pat" answer of "not God's will" rather than allowing Scripture to improve our knowledge of why some prayers are answered and others are not. Scriptural knowledge again will enable us to provide scriptural answers rather than "pat" and "easy" ones that are seldom encouraging to our brethren.
Boyd provides us with several scriptural references concerning possible reasons for unanswered prayer besides the possibility that it is not God's will:
- The Quality of a Person's Faith (Matthew 17:20; 21:21; Mark 6:5-6; 1 John 5:14)
- The Persistence and Fervency of Prayer (Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8)
- The Number and Agreement of People Praying (Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:1; Acts 4:24)
- Hostile Angelic Interference (Daniel 10). Here is another excerpt from Satan and the Problem of Evil (page 235):
"We must also consider the possibility that things "behind the scenes" affect the when, where and how of a payer getting answered. As neglected as it is in conservative evangelical circles - owing, I believe, to the ongoing influence of the blueprint worldview* - the importance of the above noted variables of persistence and numbers in prayer only begins to make sense when we understand that prayer is fundamentally a warfare activity. To pray that the Father's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) is to pray against all wills that want their own will done against the Father's will, and these opposing wills are significant. As Wink notes, again in relation to Daniel 10, "The angel of Persia actively attempts to frustrate God's will, and for twenty-one days succeeds. The Principalities and Powers are able to hold Yahweh at bay!" (Wink, Engaging the Powers, p.310)
If we really think about Daniel 10 and the fact that the angel of Persia succeeds against God Himself for twenty-one days...what does that tell us about God's need for prayer from us (because He chose to need it) and how it must influence the angelic battle that is at times taking place unknown to us (Ephesians 3:8-12 and 6:12)?
It tells us that God designed us to be free agents influencing all that is in our world (which by the way is also being influenced "behind the scenes" by free angelic agents working against God's will.) And that He has chosen prayer as the method by which we submit to HIS will and influence HIS will on this earth even as we surrender OUR will to HIS. Or better yet, as mirror images of Him, allowing our will to become ONE with HIS and thus bringing God's kingdom to earth.
And what about those free agents who choose to go their own way against God? How are we affected by them? Be assured that we will be affected by them at times, of that there is no doubt. And how does our prayer affect their influence? Do we truly live in an attitude of the reality of ongoing spiritual warfare? Or do we set aside or neglect that thing which is so intangible and difficult to comprehend rather than operate within the reality of it?
I found an extremely interesting sermon given by Greg Boyd and have provided the link to it. His video sermon is at the bottom of the linked page that is actually a blog posting by a mother who recently lost her four-year old son to a brain tumor. My church happens to be praying for a small child named Stella who is facing something very similar. You will find the story sad but the parents' faith inspiring; and you will find in Greg's sermon a somewhat "different" view of the "why" questions that we all ask deep within our souls during times such as this family faced.
http://jessicakelley.com/henrys-story/
I hope you will take the time to hear the sermon in its entirety. If you listen with a discerning ear you will find it very thought provoking! One very important quote from that sermon I believe to be very true: "Everything depends upon our view of God." Do we approach God from a fear viewpoint or a love viewpoint? I think I tend to vacillate back and forth myself, which is not correct. And I think that is because of my extensive reading of the Old Testament. I don't believe the New Testament any less than I do the Old, but I have questions about the Old that have not yet been satisfactorily answered for me which I believe influences my thinking about God as someone to be feared, even though I have absolutely no doubt that He is GOOD and LOVES me! (Perhaps that is not actually a contradiction.)
And I suspect that if I can correctly adjust my thinking (to what exactly I am not yet sure...if I knew I would already be very faithful in prayer) then my prayer life will change dramatically.
I gathered a better understanding concerning unanswered prayer from the book mentioned in the last posting, that of Satan and the Problem of Evil by Gregory A. Boyd.
For example, we Christians, in our attempts to resolve difficult issues with easy answers, oversimplify when we state, as Job and his friends did, that suffering is either caused by God (His wrathful punishment for unrepentant sin) or allowed by God (His sovereignty) or caused by our own erroneous and sinful actions in which case we often believe we deserve the consequences of the suffering we are experiencing, which in an indirect way can still be blamed on a less-than-gracious-and-merciful God IF that is how we view Him. (It is an erroneous view by the way.)
We apply a similar simplistic rationale to prayer as well, specifically unanswered prayer, and state that when prayers are not answered it must be because it is not God's will for the problem to be resolved for which we petitioned His help seeking divine intervention. We too quickly "default" to this "pat" answer of "not God's will" rather than allowing Scripture to improve our knowledge of why some prayers are answered and others are not. Scriptural knowledge again will enable us to provide scriptural answers rather than "pat" and "easy" ones that are seldom encouraging to our brethren.
Boyd provides us with several scriptural references concerning possible reasons for unanswered prayer besides the possibility that it is not God's will:
- The Quality of a Person's Faith (Matthew 17:20; 21:21; Mark 6:5-6; 1 John 5:14)
- The Persistence and Fervency of Prayer (Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8)
- The Number and Agreement of People Praying (Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:1; Acts 4:24)
- Hostile Angelic Interference (Daniel 10). Here is another excerpt from Satan and the Problem of Evil (page 235):
"We must also consider the possibility that things "behind the scenes" affect the when, where and how of a payer getting answered. As neglected as it is in conservative evangelical circles - owing, I believe, to the ongoing influence of the blueprint worldview* - the importance of the above noted variables of persistence and numbers in prayer only begins to make sense when we understand that prayer is fundamentally a warfare activity. To pray that the Father's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) is to pray against all wills that want their own will done against the Father's will, and these opposing wills are significant. As Wink notes, again in relation to Daniel 10, "The angel of Persia actively attempts to frustrate God's will, and for twenty-one days succeeds. The Principalities and Powers are able to hold Yahweh at bay!" (Wink, Engaging the Powers, p.310)
If we really think about Daniel 10 and the fact that the angel of Persia succeeds against God Himself for twenty-one days...what does that tell us about God's need for prayer from us (because He chose to need it) and how it must influence the angelic battle that is at times taking place unknown to us (Ephesians 3:8-12 and 6:12)?
It tells us that God designed us to be free agents influencing all that is in our world (which by the way is also being influenced "behind the scenes" by free angelic agents working against God's will.) And that He has chosen prayer as the method by which we submit to HIS will and influence HIS will on this earth even as we surrender OUR will to HIS. Or better yet, as mirror images of Him, allowing our will to become ONE with HIS and thus bringing God's kingdom to earth.
And what about those free agents who choose to go their own way against God? How are we affected by them? Be assured that we will be affected by them at times, of that there is no doubt. And how does our prayer affect their influence? Do we truly live in an attitude of the reality of ongoing spiritual warfare? Or do we set aside or neglect that thing which is so intangible and difficult to comprehend rather than operate within the reality of it?
I found an extremely interesting sermon given by Greg Boyd and have provided the link to it. His video sermon is at the bottom of the linked page that is actually a blog posting by a mother who recently lost her four-year old son to a brain tumor. My church happens to be praying for a small child named Stella who is facing something very similar. You will find the story sad but the parents' faith inspiring; and you will find in Greg's sermon a somewhat "different" view of the "why" questions that we all ask deep within our souls during times such as this family faced.
http://jessicakelley.com/henrys-story/
I hope you will take the time to hear the sermon in its entirety. If you listen with a discerning ear you will find it very thought provoking! One very important quote from that sermon I believe to be very true: "Everything depends upon our view of God." Do we approach God from a fear viewpoint or a love viewpoint? I think I tend to vacillate back and forth myself, which is not correct. And I think that is because of my extensive reading of the Old Testament. I don't believe the New Testament any less than I do the Old, but I have questions about the Old that have not yet been satisfactorily answered for me which I believe influences my thinking about God as someone to be feared, even though I have absolutely no doubt that He is GOOD and LOVES me! (Perhaps that is not actually a contradiction.)
And I suspect that if I can correctly adjust my thinking (to what exactly I am not yet sure...if I knew I would already be very faithful in prayer) then my prayer life will change dramatically.
3 comments:
"...specifically unanswered prayer, and state that when prayers are not answered it must be because it is not God's will for the problem to be resolved for which we petitioned His help seeking divine intervention." The above caught my attention. I have been told often that God answers all prayers. Sometimes yes, no, or wait. This posting was extremely thought provoking and hugely relevant. One thing I know for sure to see God after passing from this life, I will not necessarily pray like we have done here on earth, but have direct opportunities to praise him and enjoy life with him with no more reasons such as pain and suffering to pray to Him any longer. Great lesson. MDW
Thank you Janna for posting the link. A must viewing. I have repeated those cliques. Why is not nearly as important now, but as the pastor said we may not know now, but we will know in the end. And that suffering now is not compatible to the glory of the coming glorious age when Jesus returns. This world is corrupt. But, despite that we are to love our enemies and lift our eyes from the world and asking why to the Cross of Jesus. This makes the most sense. MDW
I am glad you saw the video and enjoyed it as much as I did! I hope others will view it as well. Thank you always for taking the time to comment MDW!
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