Of course the Bible tells us; "...
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly".
Psalm 84:11 KJV.
What does this passage have to do with prayer and faith? Has God withheld a good thing from you because of your unbelief?.
We read in Matthew 17:14 and following, that a man brought his son to Jesus' disciples, in order to be healed because "...
he [the son] is lunatick".
Verses 15-16.
How was the disciples prayer answered? Jesus then cured the son.
His disciples asked Jesus later on, why they could not achieve the same results.
Jesus responded (verse 20), "...
Because of your unbelief".
Even the disciples had no faith.
After spending so much time with Jesus and seeing first hand so many miracles before this incident.
Often their prayers were not powerful, nor answered with a "Yes".
What was the prayer the disciples made to God? Answer: that a certain man's son would be cleansed of a demon.
This story is very simple, if you analyze it.
Because this Bible story tells us a problem, the solution (for a demon to be cast out), and a "No" answer from God to this prayer of the disciples.
PLUS the explanation as to why God answered them "No" is given.
Because of their unbelief.
Of course, we live in a post-ascension time period.
So Jesus is now back and seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
For those of you who are born again, the Holy Spirit lives within you.
Through Him, and the intercession of Jesus, we have access to God the Father.
This is done through prayer.
Interesting, is it not, that the disciples had unbelief even though they lived with Jesus.
The Son of God.
While we have to exercise faith even though we will not see the Son of God until we die or the Rapture occurs.
Which tells me that having faith is the same for them as it is for us these days.
And prayer and doing miracles is the same.
Note well that Jesus told his own disciples face-to-face that the reason their prayer was answered "No" by God was due to their unbelief.
Jesus did not tell the disciples failed because their timing was off.
Or that Jesus himself needed to do this healing miracle to further prove His divinity.
Nor did Jesus tell them that if they only were smarter regarding medical and psychological science, then miraculous healings would not be needed.
Very straight forward event.
Problem, prayer, "No" answer.
According to many people, they would then just go on with their lives and wait to see what God would do for the man.
You can imagine them getting out their favorite lawn chair, munching on some pop corn and soft drinks, and watching Jesus talk with the father.
Then cast out and heal the son.
Yeah, Jesus! One more for our team.
Is that what happened and is this what we are supposed to learn from this Bible story? May I say to you, the answer is no.
Instead, the Holy Bible tells us after God had answered "No" to the disciples prayer, another Christian came along.
He was told of the problem, the solution, and the answer from God.
Then this new Christian on the scene dares to cast out a demon and heal the man's son.
Then audaciously accuse the original Christian healing team of unbelief.
These days, such reckless behavior by a Christian against his or her fellow Christians would not be tolerated.
Indeed, some would accuse the newby of being a hater, or being a divider.
Perhaps not having the right theology.
They would say he most likely doesn't go to the right church, or have the right pastor, or doesn't tithe as much as he or she should.
A final thought about the disciples prayer content and attitude.
I think it can be inferred from the story that the disciples did not pray words to the effect; "If it be thy will, God".
Nor did they have the attitude or thoughts in their head and heart that God might say "Yes", "No', or "Wait".
So we will be ready to accept any answer from God.
The reason I say that is because obviously the man's father was not happy with the prayer ability (also known as the results) of the disciples prayer.
That is why he went to Jesus directly with his problem/desire.
Afterwards the disciples had some interest, shall we say, as to why they failed.
That is why they asked this same Jesus why they failed.
I say, it does take a lot of courage to ask God why your prayer request failed.
Which is to say, why you got a "No" from God.
But when you do ask this question, and He responds, it will be so that you can grow.
In other words, it will be time for you to move out of the land of Unbelief and into the land of Belief.
I am reminded of various writings by medical doctors wherein they basically said that prayer does help patients heal.
For simplicity sake, I am going to presume they mean the same thing that a typical Christian does as far as prayer and healing by prayer.
Still, there are some spiritually deadly pitfalls to watch out when getting prayer advice from a medical doctor.
Typical questions you have to ask yourself are; to whom do the doctors pray? What is their own personal prayer results.
In other words, are they constantly like the disciples with unbelief? Or have they grown past that stage? Another serious question to ask yourself is this; is the doctor like the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-20).
If so, then don't hang around that doctor too long.
Unless you want to be attacked by some evil spirits.
Not long ago I read a trick question about prayer and magic.
It compared them and asked what the difference was between them.
The answer was short.
It was that magic is not real.
If you think about this, having prayer healings or other miracles would be what many people call magic.
So as we read the Gospels and the Book of Acts, having this in mind, we know magic is not real.
That is reality.
Prayers that work.
Not magic.
The Bible does not say that such powerful prayers stopped after the book of Revelation was written.
So then why is it that so few Christians have done so much via prayer while the rest of us are well, where we are.
Are you getting results you want? Perhaps you are like my mythical disciples who were willing to have any result (aka answer) from God.
If that is you, let me ask you this follow up question.
Who is it in your life that is like that man's son.
Who is not willing to accept any result from your prayer ability.
Rather, they want more powerful prayers than you got.
Now is the time for you to get your prayers answered.
To make your prayers powerful and accomplish much.
You can do so today by downloading my book and special reports on this area of Christian life.
Go now to: http://www.
howtotalktogod.
com
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly".
Psalm 84:11 KJV.
What does this passage have to do with prayer and faith? Has God withheld a good thing from you because of your unbelief?.
We read in Matthew 17:14 and following, that a man brought his son to Jesus' disciples, in order to be healed because "...
he [the son] is lunatick".
Verses 15-16.
How was the disciples prayer answered? Jesus then cured the son.
His disciples asked Jesus later on, why they could not achieve the same results.
Jesus responded (verse 20), "...
Because of your unbelief".
Even the disciples had no faith.
After spending so much time with Jesus and seeing first hand so many miracles before this incident.
Often their prayers were not powerful, nor answered with a "Yes".
What was the prayer the disciples made to God? Answer: that a certain man's son would be cleansed of a demon.
This story is very simple, if you analyze it.
Because this Bible story tells us a problem, the solution (for a demon to be cast out), and a "No" answer from God to this prayer of the disciples.
PLUS the explanation as to why God answered them "No" is given.
Because of their unbelief.
Of course, we live in a post-ascension time period.
So Jesus is now back and seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
For those of you who are born again, the Holy Spirit lives within you.
Through Him, and the intercession of Jesus, we have access to God the Father.
This is done through prayer.
Interesting, is it not, that the disciples had unbelief even though they lived with Jesus.
The Son of God.
While we have to exercise faith even though we will not see the Son of God until we die or the Rapture occurs.
Which tells me that having faith is the same for them as it is for us these days.
And prayer and doing miracles is the same.
Note well that Jesus told his own disciples face-to-face that the reason their prayer was answered "No" by God was due to their unbelief.
Jesus did not tell the disciples failed because their timing was off.
Or that Jesus himself needed to do this healing miracle to further prove His divinity.
Nor did Jesus tell them that if they only were smarter regarding medical and psychological science, then miraculous healings would not be needed.
Very straight forward event.
Problem, prayer, "No" answer.
According to many people, they would then just go on with their lives and wait to see what God would do for the man.
You can imagine them getting out their favorite lawn chair, munching on some pop corn and soft drinks, and watching Jesus talk with the father.
Then cast out and heal the son.
Yeah, Jesus! One more for our team.
Is that what happened and is this what we are supposed to learn from this Bible story? May I say to you, the answer is no.
Instead, the Holy Bible tells us after God had answered "No" to the disciples prayer, another Christian came along.
He was told of the problem, the solution, and the answer from God.
Then this new Christian on the scene dares to cast out a demon and heal the man's son.
Then audaciously accuse the original Christian healing team of unbelief.
These days, such reckless behavior by a Christian against his or her fellow Christians would not be tolerated.
Indeed, some would accuse the newby of being a hater, or being a divider.
Perhaps not having the right theology.
They would say he most likely doesn't go to the right church, or have the right pastor, or doesn't tithe as much as he or she should.
A final thought about the disciples prayer content and attitude.
I think it can be inferred from the story that the disciples did not pray words to the effect; "If it be thy will, God".
Nor did they have the attitude or thoughts in their head and heart that God might say "Yes", "No', or "Wait".
So we will be ready to accept any answer from God.
The reason I say that is because obviously the man's father was not happy with the prayer ability (also known as the results) of the disciples prayer.
That is why he went to Jesus directly with his problem/desire.
Afterwards the disciples had some interest, shall we say, as to why they failed.
That is why they asked this same Jesus why they failed.
I say, it does take a lot of courage to ask God why your prayer request failed.
Which is to say, why you got a "No" from God.
But when you do ask this question, and He responds, it will be so that you can grow.
In other words, it will be time for you to move out of the land of Unbelief and into the land of Belief.
I am reminded of various writings by medical doctors wherein they basically said that prayer does help patients heal.
For simplicity sake, I am going to presume they mean the same thing that a typical Christian does as far as prayer and healing by prayer.
Still, there are some spiritually deadly pitfalls to watch out when getting prayer advice from a medical doctor.
Typical questions you have to ask yourself are; to whom do the doctors pray? What is their own personal prayer results.
In other words, are they constantly like the disciples with unbelief? Or have they grown past that stage? Another serious question to ask yourself is this; is the doctor like the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-20).
If so, then don't hang around that doctor too long.
Unless you want to be attacked by some evil spirits.
Not long ago I read a trick question about prayer and magic.
It compared them and asked what the difference was between them.
The answer was short.
It was that magic is not real.
If you think about this, having prayer healings or other miracles would be what many people call magic.
So as we read the Gospels and the Book of Acts, having this in mind, we know magic is not real.
That is reality.
Prayers that work.
Not magic.
The Bible does not say that such powerful prayers stopped after the book of Revelation was written.
So then why is it that so few Christians have done so much via prayer while the rest of us are well, where we are.
Are you getting results you want? Perhaps you are like my mythical disciples who were willing to have any result (aka answer) from God.
If that is you, let me ask you this follow up question.
Who is it in your life that is like that man's son.
Who is not willing to accept any result from your prayer ability.
Rather, they want more powerful prayers than you got.
Now is the time for you to get your prayers answered.
To make your prayers powerful and accomplish much.
You can do so today by downloading my book and special reports on this area of Christian life.
Go now to: http://www.
howtotalktogod.
com
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