Re: Answers to prayer??

In message <vqKck.153055$312.25393@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Michael Falconer <hermeneutika777@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
Last weekend a friend of friend died of cancer. After over 2 years worth of
prayer by the Christian couple and the husband of the lady who died. Plus of
couss the family and friends and Church of the lady concerned. And yet she
still died. ( she was qquite young......late 30s at the most). I only ever
met the lady once and that only very briefly.

This ceretainly makes me question prayer. Perhaps this isnt the ng to get
into prayer? Surely if one prays then one expects a answer.

Firstly, may I express my sorrow and condolences at the loss of your fellow Christian?

Michael, you've asked similar questions before when the outcome has not been to your liking, and I sympathise with the questions you are asking.

Then my response is along the following lines.

1. God is not a slot machine waiting for the right prayer to come along before He acts.

2. You are right to question prayer, but the questions you should be asking are, "Are we listening to what God is doing here?"; "Are we praying that God's will is done?"

3. Someone once said that God gives one of three answers: "OK, your will is My will"; "No, you don't understand!" and "Wait!"

4. I have no doubts that your prayer was answered with the lady's death. - Remember that, sad though it be for those left behind, there is no intrinsic merit in a long life. What matters is whether we have done that which our life was given to us for. Then we can trust God with the outcomes. After all, how does a few years here compare with an eternity with God?

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Yes, and Jesus said,

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matt 10:29-31

We all desired in prayer her healing. ( i certainly did anyway. ) I beleived
for her healing.....but yet we did not get it.......

Did you believe in her healing or in God who could heal?

Therefore what did we do incorrectly that God did not answer the prayer?

I'm not sure that you *did* anything incorrectly. But I wonder whether you trusted God enough? (With His answer, because you didn't like it.)

Many many people have advised me in the past about a young female heroin
addict i got involved with.....to a man people said ....you cannot help her
if she wont help herself. Surely then the same advice may apply to other
situations.....if the lady who died did not want to be healed.....(or
beleive in Divine Healing) then there is nothing that anyone can do.....even
if i was the Apostle Paul himself.....my faith and gifts would be of no
avail if the recipient did not have the faith to be healed.....

Woah! People don't require faith of themselves to be healed. But faith *is* required. But miracle-working faith (or healing faith) isn't about nice positive feelings, it's about our openness to what God is doing.

I have been at peoples' sick beds many times, and prayed for their recovery, but many times I've also experienced a tremendous peace as we prayed, and often I've known that God is telling us that the person being prayed for is in His hands. Soon afterwards they've died peacefully and in the company of their nearest and dearest.

Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and
perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Sure. But that is just one example. Think also of Lazarus or Tabitha - did they have faith to be healed?

And now i am being asked to pray for a young man with a brain tumour....Lord
have mercy on us......and it seems that the young man may not have
faith......he is only 18 and doing A levels......and that his family may not
have strong faith......Lord have mercy......

So perhaps the gift of faith is to be yours. But ask God what He is doing, and then pray for that. What's the name of this young man? We can all pray...

If people can say to me that i cannot possibly do anything to help the young
female heroin addict if she doesnt want to help herself......then surely
again whats the difference between her and the young man....if he does not
beleive in healing.....then again even if i have a Apostolic faith healing
gifting andf ministry it will avail nought if the young man does not have
faith himself.......and if this is true.....THEN WHY PRAY ?

That God's Will be done. That's what we are here for. Perhaps that is *all* we are here for!

Any thoughts anyone.....??? thank you for your time and consideration

You are welcome Michael. And please don't think I don't ask the same questions, usually of God when I'm shouting at Him!!

Mike

[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
--
Michael J Davis
http://www.trustsof.demon.co.uk
<><
For this is what the Lord has said to me,
"Go and post a Watchman and let
him report what he sees." Isa 21:6
<><
.

Relevant Pages

  • Grace Will and Faith Final Excerpt 9
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    (alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic)
  • Re: Balanced diet according to Chung WAS:Re: Who should we trust?
    ... >>John wrote: ... >>> that this is a matter of faith and that proof is neither required nor ... It is my belief that God heard the prayers and answered ... Sometimes the answer to a prayer is "no." ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)
  • Re: Via Media (Re: Goulds forward to Mozarts Requiem)
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