Answered Prayer?

Why doesn’t prayer work when the bible says that it will? See John 14:12-13-14. Verse13. "And whatever you ask in My name that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Verse14. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." Jesus here is not saying, "maybe I will do it." He is saying he "will do it", and why are not Christians doing greater works the Jesus? When Jesus himself said they would. See John 14:12. Verse 12 " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

A puzzling thing about Christianity is that most believers believe that prayer does not work. That’s right, does not work. Are they inferring that Jesus is a liar? Seems hard to believe doesn’t it? That’s why most believers never attend prayer meetings, Most prayer groups are just the same small handful of people. Prayer is a one way conversation with the invisible.

Christians authors have written countless numbers of books, such as, ’How to pray.’ ‘Why prayer does not receive an answer.’ There are many titles, check out the titles in a Christian book -shop.

Prayer groups themselves discuss why their prayers never get answered. I used to hear such comments as, ‘You need to ask in Jesus name’, ‘It’s not God’s timing’, ‘It’s not God’s will at this point of time’, ‘God is trying to show you something’, ‘God wants you to suffer to strengthen you’, ‘We must have a sinner in the camp’. They make these contradictory comments even though Jesus says in Mark 11:23-24. "For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those thinks he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

We can also look at Matthew 7:7-8. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Also in Matthew 21:22. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

It becomes very problematic when believers say that God sometimes says "No." This contradicts what the bible has to say on the subject. You may occasionally hear of someone healed of some supposed minor complaint, but have you ever personally seen someone healed of severe arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, a paraplegic get up and walk, an amputated limb restored, or someone with HIV / Aids restored to full health?

For years I attended prayer meetings and I loved it. I Prayed in Jesus name, prayed in tongues, prayed with groups alternating around the clock, so that a whole week was covered in continuous prayer. I would arise from my bed at 2:30 – 3:00 am, to pray you name it I’ve probably prayed it. For years I would go on a daily solitary prayer walk of about one hour duration, talking to God and Jesus and praying for the lost souls of the village where I lived. It was exciting to lay my hands on somebody’s forehead and see them fall over. Did I ever see prayer answered? If I answer this honestly, then no I didn’t. So why did I do it? To be honest, in hindsight, I don’t know, but at the time I was a believer, and I loved everything about the church, and I wanted to participate. I also had a genuine excuse for not going to church and prayer meetings which I could have taken advantage of, The Clergy have a knack of making you feel guilty for not participating in prayer groups. I am extremely deaf, and most times I heard very little of what others prayed, but I wanted to go, because I seriously believed in what I was doing. Over the years many people prayed for me also that I would be healed of my deafness and my blind right eye, but to no avail. The pastors would usually make such comments that people who did not receive their healing after having hands laid on them and been prayed for, and have not been healed have un-confessed sin in their heart, or their faith is weak. Christians associate the analogy with a guarantee that God will meet all of your needs. I know from past experiences that this is false. (If you don’t work you don’t eat, unless you’re on the dole) Many unhealed people felt guilt and full of condemnation by these types of comments. This used to bug me, just how close to God do you have to get?

When it comes to prayer there are many Christians including Ministers and Pastors, who do not obey Christ’s instruction? In Matthew 6:6 there are instructions not to pray in public places. Christians are also instructed in the same chapter to sell all of their goods and give the money to the poor. Can you imagine the big time Churches of today selling all of their assets and using this wealth to feed the needy? (You would have to be joking.)

I believe that hands that reach out to help those in need are better than lips that move in prayer and do little else, except to create a holier than thou attitude.

Jim Lee