PRAYER: “FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT TO PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT”
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
One of the common errors that comes from man’s failure to understand how God would have His church to pray deals with man not “rightly dividing the word of truth,” the other is the fact that man would rather follow what this world says about prayer rather than follow God’s word of truth about how His church ought to pray. The “outward man” does not know “what to pray for as we ought,” and this is why “the Spirit,”(God’s word, in our bibles), reveals to us what the will of God is, so that we can pray accordingly as “sons” would just as their Father taught them, and expects them to do so intelligently by His word, not man’s will and his word.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And when our “infirmities” can start to overwhelm us at times, it is the knowledge of God’s word that ‘steps in’ to ‘divide asunder’ our soul; which is driven by the” outward man,” and all his wants, and his fleshly needs, and our spirit; which is driven by the word of God. Likewise, it is our understanding of God’s word that has the son praying properly according to what God says that He will do for the son, and also coming to understand and shun what this world says that God is doing, despite the fact that He never mentions in His word that He would respond to man’s prayers in this fashion.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Now, if we respond as the world does, we would take the above verses and assume that God will give a goodly person whatever he “ask Him,” and it is God’s pleasure to give unto them whatever they ask, as long as you come humbly unto Him.
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
But the key to understanding and appreciating God’s word is accomplished by reading God’s word, to fully understand Matthew 7:7-8, and what God said He would give to the saints, all one has to do is read the prior chapter where God said what He desires to give the saints, and what their prayer ought to be centered around. Food, drink, and raiment is the “all things” that the saints knew their prayer should be all about. And when they prayed for that kingdom of God to “come,” they knew that God was going to give “all these things” to all that “ask,” and that He was not going to give any of “these things” to the Gentiles.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
If someone was to read the above verses on a ‘bumper sticker,’ or a ‘prayer pamphlet,’ then they would assume, God has, and will do whatever they ask, especially when there are “two or three” praying the same prayer, but they will do what many has done tirelessly over and over again with no response from the Father at all. And the verses are very plain and clear that the ones that He is speaking to will not only be able to “bind,” and “loose” “whatsoever” they decide, but they will also be able to “ask” the Father “anything,” and it “shall be done for them.” Now this begs the question, who is the verse talking to, and what where “they” told to “ask” for.
Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
In Matthew 18:18-20, the Lord was talking to His “disciples” 2000 years ago, with specific instructions and goals for His Apostles concerning the nation of Israel, and the establishment on that kingdom. The Lord wanted His Apostles to understand the issue that they are to be as one, and there is none ‘greater’ than the other, but that whatever they do, they ought to do it with togetherness; which will be pleasing unto the Lord because He would have His Apostles to be as “one,” and walking in godly love in all they do.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Again, another favorite verse for today’s wicked and evil men to use to deceive the “simple” into a false hope that God will answer “whatsoever” they ask in prayer, but all the while these men collect money from the hearers. But what’s sad is that the greater the sufferings and problems, the hearers of this contrary doctrine give more money than the last time to ensure that their prayers are answered this particular time, seeing as they feel this time will be different; they assume that “this will be the time God answers my prayers.” But again, when we read Matthew we will see what the “all things” were; which leads to ‘what’ they were expecting to “receive.”
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
This verse has been misused by Satan’s ministers and deceived people looking for God to ‘do something for them’ because they feel that they lack something that God can provide, because they were told that this is the way God deals with mankind today. However, God never promised to give men anything outside of what He said He would give.
2Ch 6:22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
2Ch 6:23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
2Ch 6:24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
2Ch 6:25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
2Ch 6:26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
2Ch 6:27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
It should also be plainly obvious that the “my people which are called” by God’s name is Israel, also it should be plainly obvious what is taking place here. The nation of Israel is experiencing one of the 5 courses of punishments against them because of their disobedience to “walk contrary” unto the LORD, and they were experiencing what Leviticus 26:19-35 called for, whereas no rain will be given within the land of Israel because of their failure to “harken” unto the LORD. But in no way possible can 2Cronicles 7:14 be applied to the church today based upon the LORD’s covenant with Israel, and their deserving punishment for their contrary walk and their prayer for the LORD to “heal their land.”
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Furthermore, as man continues to cause his own problems he will come up with more things that he needs from God the Father, but we need to understand and appreciate that even in God’s dealings with Israel; He knew that Israel would only pray according to what He said He would provide for them. But today we have things like car notes, house notes, stocks, property, and anything else that we think we need to pray to God about, and it is some of these things that man seems to pray to either acquire, or pray to keep because he is going to eventually lose them. But as we can see in scripture that God promised Israel food, drink, and raiment, His word, their Messiah, and His being their Redeemer, Avenger, Deliverer, King, and Blesser.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Php 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
And this is why man today wants God to be their servant, instead of being God’s servant and serving His will, and not the will of Satan, and this world, who deceive these people into thinking that God is into the dating game business, banking business, and that He is healing some; sometime, but many; not at all, but this is contrary to what happened in scripture as we can see. We today are told by God’s word to us that our prayer should be giving thanks unto the Father for the “all things” that are listed below in Romans 8:29-30, and also praying with “supplication” for other saints, that they may be strengthened by God’s word so that it may work effectually within them, and likewise, our prayer to our Father should be centered around letting Him know how His word is effectually working “for us” in our sonship lives.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Finally, our prayer ought to be concerning our Father’s will, and His purpose with us in this dispensation of Gentile grace, and our thinking like He does, doing things His way, and working together with Him in what He is doing. But “evil men” will continue to preach a contrary doctrine concerning their health, wealth, and relationship, in having men think that prayer concerns our will, and that God should be thinking like we do when it comes to knowing our wants and desires; and doing things our way, and working together with us in what we are doing. Even though we are told the “all things” that our Father gives us, man continues to want God to prove all the more that He is “for us,” regardless of what took place on the cross, and the fact that we can get to hold in our hands God’s completed word and will for us today. But it is a shame that some will say that they have a ‘personal relationship’ with God; but what they mean is that they think that God personally, and exclusively does what they ask of Him, but these selfish and conceded people will never have the opportunity to have a ‘real’ personal relationship with the Father because of their desire to fulfill their wants and desires according to their will and purpose, instead of the Father’s.
Rod Jones