true2yeshua
November 25th, 2007, 10:27 AM
IS GOD A GENIE?
- Exposing Error in Modern Prayer -
by Jerry Schaeffer
NEED a special favor? Hey ... why not call on God? After all, He is obligated to His followers. He says so in the Bible, "Ask and you shall receive." Since He must be true to His Word, He will grant a Christian's requests because He promised believers that He would give them riches in Christ.
Want a certain blessing in your life? Just name it in a prayer, and claim it to be rightfully yours. Then sit back and wait ... wait on God to come through. Remember, He is always faithful.
Short of a little cash? Well ... just explain your situation to your Heavenly Father, and, basically, hold out your hand. He owns everything, and He wants to share with you so you can have the desires of your heart.
These are three fictional scenarios to illustrate some of the ways people perceive prayer and how they believe it is properly used. These scenes are not that farfetched. Just talk to people in various churches or to unchurched people who "pray" regularly, and you will discover this to be true.
Contrary to popular opinion, prayer is not all about what a person can squeeze from God. It is not a magic wand or some holy abracadabra. The Heavenly Father is not some genie who suddenly appears to grant your wish when the prayer lamp is stroked. He is not a cosmic bellboy who brings room service on a tray. Nor is He a vending machine who serves at the push of a button.
Despite the practice of many people who have been taught to go to God in certain, unbiblical ways, prayer is not a magical incantation. There is nothing in the words that are said - or the eloquences of how they are stated - that determines whether God will answer. Neither is prayer a tug-of-war with God - a game we play to convince Him that we need something. It is not a first-aid kit that becomes a viable solution to use during life emergencies. Prayer is not a last resort - to be sought when other avenues have failed. Nor is it merely a religious ritual that reminds God who we are and builds up brownie points for when we need something special.
Prayer is none of these things. Rather, as Dr. R.A. Hargrave, Senior Pastor at Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, Fla., put it so succinctly, "Prayer is all about God." Prayer is, from start to finish, all about God's glory. That's it - nothing else.
"Prayer begins and ends not with the needs of man but with the glory of God," explains Dr. John MacArthur. "Prayer should be concerned primarily," he continues, "with who God is, what He wants and how He can be glorified." Oswald Chambers summarized it in six words: "Prayer honors God; it dishonors self."
Jesus, who taught his followers to pray, issued a profound purpose statement regarding prayer. During the Laswt Sjupper with his disciples, the Lord issued this monumental promise, explicity declaring the purpose of true prayer in the concluding nine-word phrase of one verse: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).
John Piper, another pastor-theologian who has grasped the meaningful impact of prayer on a believer's walk with God, noted: "The divine purpose of prayer is to magnify the greatness of God." When God's glory is not the aim of a believer's prayers, how can the Father be glorified? If Christians seek their own joy or personal pleasure in a prayer request, rather than God's desires, then that particular prayer is a wasted effort. Charles Spurgeon, who has been called "the prince of preachers", said it well: "Pray is the recognition of God's majestic glory and our submission to it."
Prayer is God's sovereign design - His chosen method for believers to connect with Him. It is a way for the believer to express love for Him, as well as dependence on Him. Since the Garden of Eden, it has been difficult for "self-sufficient man" to admit, "I need God." But prayer is a Declaration of Dependence on Him. Prayer is what occurs when the believer fully understands that God is the only true "independent " in existence. God deals graciously with those who in every way have learned to be dependent on Him.
Every aspect of real biblical prayer is about God's exaltation and magnification, as well as dependency on Him. Even the thought about praying is an acknowledgement of God's power and grace. He is glorified in that. Then the actual prayer, if done biblically, is submission to Him, which glorifies Him. When God responds tro prayer, He always does so in a way that reveals His glory. And when the Christian who made the request realizes that God has answered, that, too, glorifies Him. The deep gratitude that follows God's obvious answer is an expression of the Lord's glory. So is the believer's sharing "what God did" with other people. It all points directly to Him and His majestic, glorious power.
Prayer is abvout worship. In fact, it is perhpas the most intimate form of worship. It is about praise. It is about thanksgiving. It is about a Christian becoming more aligned with God. It is all about the Christian's will melting into God's will. It is wanting what God wants and telling Him so - with the heart. Real prayer seeks to place on display the power, wisdom and grace of God. This desire for His glory is not something inherent to man - something that can be turned on and off with a switch when we pray. This desire MUST be a result of the believer's walk with Him - must be a vital part of his lifestyle.
How do Christians discover God's design for prayer? The best way is through a careful study of God's book on the subject - the Bible. It has been appropriately called the "Book of Prayer" and "The Believer's Prayer Guide." It contains 650 definite prayers (not counting Psalms), and 450 of those prayers have recorded answers. At least 63 of the 66 books of the Bible contain a prayer, a reference to prayer or an implication of prayer. Since the Bible contains God's ordained instructions and His examples concerning prayer, it IS the utmost authority on the topic.
Scripture teaches that certain essentials are required in one's life for him to be a truly effective prayer warrior. These essentials include approaching God in sincerity and truth (Psalm 145:18); coming to Him in full surrender (humility), realizing that going to God in prayer is treading on holy ground (Exodus 3:5); confessing sin and repenting of it (Acts 8:22); living a life of personal obedience (John 14:15), which is a test of true Lordship; living with an assurance, or expectancy, that God will do what is best for me (Matthew 21:22); forgiving others who may have offended me - not holding against them any past problems (Mark 11:25); remaining persistent in taking petitions to God (Luke 18:1-8) continually seeking ways to praise Him and express gratitude (Colossians 3:17); practicing patience in recognizing that God's timing is always best (Romans 8:25); treasuring those quiet times alone with the Father (Matthew 6:6); learning how to practice biblical fasting (Matthew 17:21), which is mentioned 175 times in Scripture; desiring - without any reservation - for God's will to be done (1 John 5:14); seeking to live a Spirit-guided life so our prayers can be "in the Spirit" (Jude 120); and praying in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14).
Remember, Jesus said "whatever you ask in my name, this I will do ... " To ask in His name means that believers are allowed to go to the Father through what He did on the cross to make it all possible. His name and His Word are exalted above all things. (Psalm 138:2). It also means that Christians are seeking to pray in the full character and purpose of Christ It is not taking onto prayer a "secret code" or adding "magic words" in hopes of forcing God's hand. But it is trying to pray the prayer that Jesus Himself would pray in the same life situation.
For the Christian not to follow these prayer essentials is tantamount to sidestepping the very Word of God in favor of one's own or another's prayer philosophies. That is heresy.
Believers should avoid heretical prayer practices by seeking to be obedient in prayer, paying close attention to how prayer is conducted. They should ... Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a). Why? Verse 18b answers: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Exposing Error in Modern Prayer -
by Jerry Schaeffer
NEED a special favor? Hey ... why not call on God? After all, He is obligated to His followers. He says so in the Bible, "Ask and you shall receive." Since He must be true to His Word, He will grant a Christian's requests because He promised believers that He would give them riches in Christ.
Want a certain blessing in your life? Just name it in a prayer, and claim it to be rightfully yours. Then sit back and wait ... wait on God to come through. Remember, He is always faithful.
Short of a little cash? Well ... just explain your situation to your Heavenly Father, and, basically, hold out your hand. He owns everything, and He wants to share with you so you can have the desires of your heart.
These are three fictional scenarios to illustrate some of the ways people perceive prayer and how they believe it is properly used. These scenes are not that farfetched. Just talk to people in various churches or to unchurched people who "pray" regularly, and you will discover this to be true.
Contrary to popular opinion, prayer is not all about what a person can squeeze from God. It is not a magic wand or some holy abracadabra. The Heavenly Father is not some genie who suddenly appears to grant your wish when the prayer lamp is stroked. He is not a cosmic bellboy who brings room service on a tray. Nor is He a vending machine who serves at the push of a button.
Despite the practice of many people who have been taught to go to God in certain, unbiblical ways, prayer is not a magical incantation. There is nothing in the words that are said - or the eloquences of how they are stated - that determines whether God will answer. Neither is prayer a tug-of-war with God - a game we play to convince Him that we need something. It is not a first-aid kit that becomes a viable solution to use during life emergencies. Prayer is not a last resort - to be sought when other avenues have failed. Nor is it merely a religious ritual that reminds God who we are and builds up brownie points for when we need something special.
Prayer is none of these things. Rather, as Dr. R.A. Hargrave, Senior Pastor at Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, Fla., put it so succinctly, "Prayer is all about God." Prayer is, from start to finish, all about God's glory. That's it - nothing else.
"Prayer begins and ends not with the needs of man but with the glory of God," explains Dr. John MacArthur. "Prayer should be concerned primarily," he continues, "with who God is, what He wants and how He can be glorified." Oswald Chambers summarized it in six words: "Prayer honors God; it dishonors self."
Jesus, who taught his followers to pray, issued a profound purpose statement regarding prayer. During the Laswt Sjupper with his disciples, the Lord issued this monumental promise, explicity declaring the purpose of true prayer in the concluding nine-word phrase of one verse: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).
John Piper, another pastor-theologian who has grasped the meaningful impact of prayer on a believer's walk with God, noted: "The divine purpose of prayer is to magnify the greatness of God." When God's glory is not the aim of a believer's prayers, how can the Father be glorified? If Christians seek their own joy or personal pleasure in a prayer request, rather than God's desires, then that particular prayer is a wasted effort. Charles Spurgeon, who has been called "the prince of preachers", said it well: "Pray is the recognition of God's majestic glory and our submission to it."
Prayer is God's sovereign design - His chosen method for believers to connect with Him. It is a way for the believer to express love for Him, as well as dependence on Him. Since the Garden of Eden, it has been difficult for "self-sufficient man" to admit, "I need God." But prayer is a Declaration of Dependence on Him. Prayer is what occurs when the believer fully understands that God is the only true "independent " in existence. God deals graciously with those who in every way have learned to be dependent on Him.
Every aspect of real biblical prayer is about God's exaltation and magnification, as well as dependency on Him. Even the thought about praying is an acknowledgement of God's power and grace. He is glorified in that. Then the actual prayer, if done biblically, is submission to Him, which glorifies Him. When God responds tro prayer, He always does so in a way that reveals His glory. And when the Christian who made the request realizes that God has answered, that, too, glorifies Him. The deep gratitude that follows God's obvious answer is an expression of the Lord's glory. So is the believer's sharing "what God did" with other people. It all points directly to Him and His majestic, glorious power.
Prayer is abvout worship. In fact, it is perhpas the most intimate form of worship. It is about praise. It is about thanksgiving. It is about a Christian becoming more aligned with God. It is all about the Christian's will melting into God's will. It is wanting what God wants and telling Him so - with the heart. Real prayer seeks to place on display the power, wisdom and grace of God. This desire for His glory is not something inherent to man - something that can be turned on and off with a switch when we pray. This desire MUST be a result of the believer's walk with Him - must be a vital part of his lifestyle.
How do Christians discover God's design for prayer? The best way is through a careful study of God's book on the subject - the Bible. It has been appropriately called the "Book of Prayer" and "The Believer's Prayer Guide." It contains 650 definite prayers (not counting Psalms), and 450 of those prayers have recorded answers. At least 63 of the 66 books of the Bible contain a prayer, a reference to prayer or an implication of prayer. Since the Bible contains God's ordained instructions and His examples concerning prayer, it IS the utmost authority on the topic.
Scripture teaches that certain essentials are required in one's life for him to be a truly effective prayer warrior. These essentials include approaching God in sincerity and truth (Psalm 145:18); coming to Him in full surrender (humility), realizing that going to God in prayer is treading on holy ground (Exodus 3:5); confessing sin and repenting of it (Acts 8:22); living a life of personal obedience (John 14:15), which is a test of true Lordship; living with an assurance, or expectancy, that God will do what is best for me (Matthew 21:22); forgiving others who may have offended me - not holding against them any past problems (Mark 11:25); remaining persistent in taking petitions to God (Luke 18:1-8) continually seeking ways to praise Him and express gratitude (Colossians 3:17); practicing patience in recognizing that God's timing is always best (Romans 8:25); treasuring those quiet times alone with the Father (Matthew 6:6); learning how to practice biblical fasting (Matthew 17:21), which is mentioned 175 times in Scripture; desiring - without any reservation - for God's will to be done (1 John 5:14); seeking to live a Spirit-guided life so our prayers can be "in the Spirit" (Jude 120); and praying in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14).
Remember, Jesus said "whatever you ask in my name, this I will do ... " To ask in His name means that believers are allowed to go to the Father through what He did on the cross to make it all possible. His name and His Word are exalted above all things. (Psalm 138:2). It also means that Christians are seeking to pray in the full character and purpose of Christ It is not taking onto prayer a "secret code" or adding "magic words" in hopes of forcing God's hand. But it is trying to pray the prayer that Jesus Himself would pray in the same life situation.
For the Christian not to follow these prayer essentials is tantamount to sidestepping the very Word of God in favor of one's own or another's prayer philosophies. That is heresy.
Believers should avoid heretical prayer practices by seeking to be obedient in prayer, paying close attention to how prayer is conducted. They should ... Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a). Why? Verse 18b answers: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.