Some say that when we ask God for something and we don’t receive it, it’s because God’s answer is no. This is not true. If we ask for something and don’t receive it, it’s because we ask with wrong motives. The truth is that if we ask anything according to His will, we will receive what we have asked for. “For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him [Jesus] they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us,” 2 Corinthians 1:20. We ask and then say, “Amen,” because we believe we will receive what we have asked of God, and that He will be glorified through us by His honoring His promises.
That’s not to say that if, for instance, we ask for healing, we will be healed. There are certain instructions in the Word that we must follow. For one, the sick are to call for the elders of the church. I see people all the time asking for others to pray for the healing of themselves, or, of someone they know. Ignoring the Holy Word of God that says the sick are to call for the elders of the church, they, instead, ask their friends to step in and fill the elders’ positions.
Some will say, “The elders at my church don’t have faith.” Even if this is true, our instruction is to call for them, and to let them pray for us. And who are we to argue with God? When we make excuses like ‘the elders don’t have faith,’ we are arguing with God. But if we instead follow His instructions, He will most assuredly honor our obedience. I’m not saying we will be healed; I’m saying He will honor our obedience.
I’m not insinuating that it’s wrong to ask others to pray for you when you’re sick. I’m saying we must always be willing to humble ourselves and do the will of God as set forth in the Scriptures. Call for the elders AND ask friends to pray for you.
I could go on and on about the habits and false beliefs in the church today, such as, ‘All Christians have been given the authority of Christ’ [if this were true, then, judging by the church, Christ would be next to powerless]; all Christians can heal the sick [if this is true, why are the sick instructed to call for the elders of the church, and why does the Holy Spirit give the gift of miracles and the gifts of healing to individuals as He wills?; all Christians can speak in tongues [if this is true, why did Paul say all do not speak in tongues, do they?; etc, etc., etc.
Beloved of God, we must lay aside our preconceived ideas and return to our first love, and follow Him, rather than our own opinions. We must take the Word of God as truth, and not add to it, nor take away from it. We must respect His Word and abide by it. We must abide in Jesus, and who is Jesus? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God,” John 1:1, 2. “And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God,” Revelation19:13.
And so says the Word, “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it,” Deuteronomy 12:32.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 