In Jesus' Name!!!

[Raggedy Anne]

Okay, this is something that is bugging me, so I'm going to ask the Tent folks what they think.   It is about prayer.  Do you ever find it hokey when someone asks you to pray to God and basically it is asking you to ask God to do something in the way you want it to happen...., i.e. punish my sister-in-law, make the judge decide in favor of my brother, etc?
Below is an example of this from someone who is "local" who would not be reading this board (whom I will not name) and who is a very "traditional" mainstream American Christian.   She had included the judges name, her name, her brother's name, her niece's name, and the name of a third party friend, but I have withheld all those names below. 
I get irritated with some of the religious speak, the IN JESUS' NAME!!!!! stuff (as if it is being used like a magic wand).  It is a prayer request/update...

Hello All,
I ask again that remember my family in prayer today that the Judge, (Judges name withheld) is her name show favor to my brother (name withheld) on behalf of my niece (name withheld).  This is the same judge that had already ruled in his for child support and parental custodian.  The hearing is at 3pm
central time.
Thank you all so much,
(name withheld)

p.s.
[
Here is something I wanted to share with you all that my sister-in-law (name withheld) sent to me after forwarding my last email to a prayer warrior.

(name withheld),

I sent this to a prayer warrior that I know & this is what God showed him & told him.
God is still on the throne listening to our prayers!!

                                                         (name withheld)



(name withheld) , I will be calling you later on today but send this word on to them concerning this child. I saw and still see an arrow a flameing arrow, and it is screaming like one of those old fire works that whistles real loud and the scream is "The Arrow of the Lords Deliverance". God is going to vindicate this father and the Lord will chase this mother and back her into where she needs to be hit.She needs to hit the bottom to shake her world  to see the effect and evil twist she is putting in this childs life. Jesus said ,"If anyone offends one of these little ones, it will be more tolerable that a mill stone be tied to her neck and she jump into the ocean, than it will be in the day of judgement". He also said suffer the little children to come unto me for THEIR ANGEL is ever before my father in heaven,.THE ANGEL of that Child can see right now where she is and what is going on , as we pray the word of God for this situation Lets believe GOd to send that angel and any and all other ministering spirits to come and minister not only to the father in total peace and assurance ,but also to minister deliverance. And In JEsus Name iIcommand delivernance, that the child be delivered to the father forthwith, without any hesitation. may the hand of the Lord our GOd JEsus Christ be stretched out to save deliver and bind up all wounds right now in Jesus name!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, me, Anne here again.  I feel a bit guilty posting this, because I know the lady is concerned for her brother and niece in this situation.  But I just wonder why Christians always assume that God is going to do something they find favorable if they ask in "Jesus name".   Is that really the correct way to pray?

[Zeek]

Just started a thread on praying the end from the beginning.  what ya think?? 

[Raggedy Anne]

A similar question, but perhaps easier to tackle:

Would you pray to God for a particular team to win a game?  Do you think God would show favor to your preferred team BECAUSE you had prayed and asked him to?  

Of course we want good to prevail IN THE END, but how can we know the MEANS -- does this question make sense?

Anne

[Raggedy Anne]

Just started a thread on praying the end from the beginning.  what ya think?? 

I've not seen it.  I will search for it and let you know.

Anne

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Which is why I only pray for His perfect will to be done, unless He has given me something specific to speak and come into agreement with, ie. revealed His will in the matter. Blessings.....

[Raggedy Anne]

:cloud9: Which is why I only pray for His perfect will to be done, unless He has given me something specific to speak and come into agreement with, ie. revealed His will in the matter. Blessings.....

Exactly what I'm talking about Cardinal.  The day I quit church in 2001, the pastor was leading the congregation in prayer for God to punish America's enemies.  I knew immediately I could not go back to that church.  It was the Sunday after 9/11.  And I was astounded by the lack of heart searching.  It was instantaneous nationalism on the altar - I was stunned!

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Well, if you think about, praying/agreeing with something that is NOT His perfect will is missing the mark, ie. a hidden sin. I have had enough to overcome without adding to the list!  :laughing7: Blessings.....

[Redlettervoice]

The only kind of prayer to me that is worth saying is one that
is "given" to us by the Spirit....and I find that it is for US, for
OUR sakes, for us to learn the mind of Christ.......re something.
Pray for your enemies, for instance, look at the way Elijah prayed
"against" his enemies, at one time, and God showed him 7,000
in the remnant that were not "enemies" ........and then look at '
the "end" of those same "disobediant enemies" ........LIFE FROM
THE DEAD.......same people, different circumstances, different
timing, etc. God had decided to turn them to HIMSELF.  Romans 11.
Look who it happened thru.  The mercy of who? Somebody must
have grown in mercy and love........and become more aquainted
with God who shows mercy to the unbelieving while they are yet sinners..  What Abraham knew.
That is why it is written: The Prayers of a RIGHTEOUS man
availeth much...........me believes they are more than saying a name,
they are "bearing" one. The Lord never let one word that man said
drop to the ground!  Talk about honoring him!!!

[Raggedy Anne]

Good word, Carlene.   Thanks for chiming in.   :gangel:

Anne

[Raggedy Anne]

Praise Report from my friend this morning:

I am so very grateful and thankful to our mighty God.  The Judge showed favor to brother and restored the sole custody order and my niece was returned to him.  The Judge said that the emergency order that the mother got signed by the other judge should never have been signed and it was wrong.
Thank you all for your prayers.  Praise the Lord for his wonderful mercies!
Please keep in prayer as my brother has filed a Full permanent custody.
God bless you all, (name withheld)

I will take this as a lesson about the power of prayer.  I know that the book of James says we have not BECAUSE we ask not.  And there are many admonitions in the scriptures to bring all our needs before God's throne.  So I reckon I'm presumptuous to think that such prayers are improper.  

[Redlettervoice]

Praise the Lord! :icon_flower: :icon_flower: :icon_flower:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Amen, PTL! Blessings... :girlheart:

[martincisneros]

The day I quit church in 2001, the pastor was leading the congregation in prayer for God to punish America's enemies.  I knew immediately I could not go back to that church.  It was the Sunday after 9/11.  And I was astounded by the lack of heart searching.  It was instantaneous nationalism on the altar - I was stunned!

I genuinely see what you mean about much of this, but according to John 16:23, it's what we ask the Father in the Name of Jesus, in faith believing according to Mark 11:22-26, from a heart that abides in His Word according to John 15:7 that is what is brought to pass.  And as to your example above, the Scriptural Universal Restoration message is the declaration that one of God's methods of saving is by punishing and destroying that which is evil, so a prayer for the destruction of America's enemies is perfectly consistent with a prayer for God reviving our land, remembering mercy, bringing national repentance, etc., because a blanket prayer like that could have a blanket answer with God punishing all of the hardness of heart in our midst, all of the putting self above God's purposes, all of the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life being completely wiped away, etc.

A really good prayer actually is for God to target all of our enemies and to deal forcefully with them BECAUSE it'll deal with MORE roots than merely fruits out here in the natural realm.  Obviously, a prayer like that can be prayed without a heart rooted in the Scriptural revelation of the Universal Restoration and with the coldness of many a theologian of the dark ages, but going back to the Scriptures that I started this post with, it's not anything God would be obligated to answer because it wouldn't be something you could legitimately pray assuming the personhood of Jesus, and it's definitely not a prayer that would have it's roots in genuinely abiding in His Word and His Word abiding in them in all wisdom according to Colossians 3:16-17.

The book of Zechariah says repeatedly several times that He's destroying the enemies of the people of God and it says it again and again and again to where a good Calvinist would be salivating, but then He tells you exactly how He's going to do it BY POURING OUT HIS SPIRIT AND REMOVING THE INIQUITY OF THE LAND IN ONE DAY THRU THE FOUNTAIN FOR CLEANSING FROM ALL UNCLEANNESS that He's provided thru Christ Jesus.  God's not in the regular habit of answering prayers for one's enemies that are rooted in a heart full of strife.  Isaiah 58 says to put away the pointing of the finger and striking with the fist of wickedness AND THEN your voice will be heard on high.  The moment there's a spirit of debate and strife, Holy Spirit and any true prophet just walked out the door, and took all answered prayer with them.

It's genuinely fun to fast and pray for enemies without food and water for a few days 'til you're to the dropping point as though you were walking the Via Dolorosa.  Genuinely lay down your life for your enemies and He'll crucify every enemy within you of their's :Sparkletooth: AND THEN He'll begin to deal with them and give them their Road to Damascus experiences :HeartThrob:

[Redlettervoice]

.


No, Anne, the Lord is NOT a Santa Clause.  Not in that respect.
In "every" situation, the mind of the Lord must be shown, because
that is what is going to be done. 

When we come to "faith" which is NOT "under the law" ........but
is the Righteousness of God, He will give us the disires of our Heart
but by that time, we will have the same desires He does...........

Read the account which says, "Up til this time, you have asked nothing
in my name."

Where are you Anne?