Prayer is the most wonderful action
in the spiritual realm; it is also the
most mysterious matter.
Prayer is a mystery. After we present
a few questions concerning prayer,
we will see how mysterious prayer is.
These questions are hard to answer.
But this does not mean that the
mystery of prayer is unknowable or
that the questions concerning prayers
are unanswerable. It merely means
that those who have the answers are
few. For this very reason, there are
few who can accomplish works for
God in prayer. It is not a matter of
how much we pray, but a matter of
how much we have prayed according
to the principle of prayer. Only those
prayers that are prayed according to
the principle of prayer are
worthwhile.
The first question we will ask is: why
should we pray? What is the use of
praying? God is omniscient and
omnipotent. Why would He work only
after we pray? Since He knows
everything, why do we have to tell
Him anything (Phil. 4:6)? Since He is
almighty, why would He not do it by
Himself? Why does He need us to
pray? Why is it that only those who
pray receive, and those who seek
find, and those who knock enter
(Matt. 7:7)? Why does God say, "You
do not have because you do not
ask" (James 4:2)?
After asking the above questions, we
also want to ask: is prayer contrary to
the will of God? What is the
relationship between prayer and
justice?
We know that God does not do
anything that is contrary to His will. If
it is His will to open the door, why
does He have to wait until we knock
before He will open? Why would He
not open the door for us according
to His will, without us knocking? He
knows everything. If He knows that
we need an open door, why will He
wait until we knock before He opens?
If the door should be open, if it is
God's will that there is the open
door, and if God knows that we need
to have the door open, why does He
not just open the door? Why do we
have to knock? What convenience
does it give to God for us to knock on
the door?
We also have to ask: Since God's will
is to open the door, and since it is
His will to have the door open, will
God not open the door if we do not
knock? Will He allow His will and His
justice to be delayed and not
accomplished just for the sake of
waiting for our prayer? Will He allow
His will of opening the door to be
limited by our not knocking on the
door?
If this is so, then God's will is
restricted by us! Is God really
omnipotent? If He is, why can He not
open the door independent of us?
Why must He wait for us to knock
before He will open the door? Will
God really accomplish His will? If He
will, why does the opening of the
door (His will) have to be controlled
by our knocking on the door (prayer)
?
After we have asked these questions,
we will see that prayer is indeed a
great mystery. Here we can see a
principle of God's work. This principle
is that God's people have to pray
before God will rise up to work.
God's will is accomplished by the
prayer of those who belong to Him.
The believers' prayers accomplish
God's will. God will not accomplish
His will alone; He will only accomplish
His will when His people are
sympathetic with Him in prayer.
If this is the case, prayer is nothing
but the believers' act of working
together with God. Prayer is the
union of the believers' will with God's
will. The prayer of the believers on
earth is an utterance of God's will in
heaven. Prayer is not an utterance of
our own wishes, a plea for God to
yield to our cry and fulfill our own
wishes. Prayer is not to compel God
to change His will by force or ask Him
to do what He does not want to do.
Prayer is the believers' utterance of
God's will out of their own mouth; it
is the believers' request before God
that He accomplish His own will.
Prayer does not change what God
has ordained. Prayer never changes
anything. Prayer only accomplishes
what God has ordained. On the
contrary, the lack of prayer and the
absence of prayer changes things.
When God's people do not work
together with God, He will allow many
of the things ordained by Him to be
delayed and not be fulfilled.
"Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind
on the earth shall have been bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose
on the earth shall have been loosed
in heaven" (Matt. 18:18). These two
sentences are very familiar to us. But
they refer to prayer. This is why
following this, it says, "Again, truly I
say to you that if two of you are in
harmony on earth concerning any
matter for which they ask, it will be
done for them from My Father who is
in the heavens" (v. 19).
This passage explains clearly the
relationship between prayer and
God's work. God in heaven will only
bind and loose what His children on
earth have bound and loosed. Many
things that God should bind, He will
not bind alone; instead He wants His
people to bind them on earth first,
and then He binds them in heaven.
Many things that should be loosed,
God will not loose them alone;
instead He has to wait for His people
to loose them on earth before He will
loose the same for them in heaven.
Every action in heaven is directed on
the earth! All the moves in heaven
are restricted on the earth! God is
willing and happy to let all of His
works be managed by His people. (I
am not saying such words to fleshly
persons, for they are not qualified to
hear such words. We should listen
carefully, lest the flesh comes in, and
we offend God even more.) In Isaiah
there is one passage which says the
same thing as it says here: "Thus says
Jehovah, / The Holy One of Israel and
the One who formed him, / Ask Me
about the things to come... / And
concerning the work of My hands,
command Me" (45:11). When we read
this, we should be fearful and not
allow the flesh to come in. God wants
us—the humble human beings—to
command Him! His work is carried
out through our commanding.
Whether it be binding or loosing, all
of God's work in heaven is carried
out according to our command on
earth.

What then happens to those who have been asking, knocking, begging yet their request isn't met? sometimes some dread praying cos it seem the more they pray the more they don't seem to get but things still tend to fall in place only when they put their trust in God.

2nd question-

do we really know how to pray or ask or request from God in prayer?



3rd question-
Do we really understand the full essence of God's will concerning our day to day options, choices and decisions?

shdemidemi: What then happens to those who have been asking, knocking, begging yet their request isn't met? sometimes some dread praying cos it seem the more they pray the more they don't seem to get but things still tend to fall in place only when they put their trust in God.
2nd question-
do we really know how to pray or ask or request from God in prayer?
3rd question-
Do we really understand the full essence of God's will concerning our day to day options, choices and decisions?

My brother all questions are related and inter woven will get back to you when am less busy.

ichuka:
My brother all questions are related and inter woven will get back to you when am less busy.

thats fine by me bro.. take your time.

My bro..,all our prayers has to be According to God’s Will.
(1 John 5.14)says
And this is the boldness which we have toward him,
that, if we ask anything according to His WILL, he hears
us.

Also, In the third year of Cyrus King of Persia, a thing was revealed
unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was
true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had
understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning
three whole weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor
wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three
whole weeks were fulfilled . . . Then said he unto me, Fear not,
Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to
understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were
heard: and I am come for thy words’ sake. But the prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days . . . Then said
he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I
return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the
prince of Greece shall come. But I will tell thee that which is
inscribed in the writing of truth . . . (Dan. 10.1-21)

As we read Daniel chapter 10 which tells us of how Daniel
prayed, we should notice at least two points.
Point One.
The first point to be noticed is that one who really prays is a
person who not only often approaches God but also whose will
frequently enters into God’s will—that is to say, his thought often
enters into God’s thought. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN PRAYER.
But,there is a kind of prayer which originates entirely from our
need.Though at times the Lord hears such prayers, He nonetheless
gets little or nothing out of them. Please take note of this verse: “He
gave them their request, but sent leaness into their soul” (Ps. 106.15).
What does this passage mean? As Israel cried to God for the
gratification of their lust, He did answer them by indeed giving them
what they asked for—but with the result, however, of their being
weakened before Him.sometimes God will hear and respond
to your prayers for the sake of satisfying your own needs, yet His
own will is not fulfilled. Let us see that such prayer does not have
much value in it.
But there is another kind of prayer, which comes out of God’s
own need. It is of God, and it is initiated by God. And such prayer is
most valuable. In order to have such prayer, the one who prays must
not only personally often appear before God but also he must allow
his will to enter into God’s will, his thought must be allowed to enter
into God’s thought. Since he habitually lives in the Lord’s presence,
such a person is given to know His will and thoughts. And these
divine wills and thoughts quite naturally become his own desires,
which he then expresses in prayer.
WE MUST LEARN THIS SECOND KIND OF PRAYER. Although most of us
are immature and weak, we may nevertheless approach God and let
His Spirit bring our will into God’s will and our thought into God’s
thought. As we touch a little of His will and thought we come to
understand a little more of how He works and what He requires of
us.SO THAT GRADUALLY THE WILL and THOUGHT OF GOD WHICH WE KNOWN and ENTERED INTO BECOMES IN US OUR PRAYER. And such prayer is
of great value.
Having entered into God’s thought and thus having touched His
will and purpose, Daniel found in his own heart the same desire as
God’s. The longing of God was reproduced in Daniel and became Pray According to God’s Will.
Daniel’s desire. So that when he expressed this desire in prayer with
cries and groanings, he was actually articulating God’s desire.My brother thats the kind of prayer a believer needs.
for it really touches the DIVINE heart.
We do not need more words; what we need is a touching more of the
Lord’s mind.Hence,the H/Spirit of God in us mingled/interwoven with our spirit making Gods Will AND Thought ours. By this, our will enters into His will and our thought enters
into His heart. And from there our prayer will rise to Him.
As we bring our will and thought to God His own will and
thought begin to be reproduced in us, and then this becomes our will
and thought.THIS KIND OF PRAYER is MOST VALUABLE and FULL of WEIGHT. Suppose the Lord is
grieved and mournful over the death of men. We too will develop
such a burden of not willing to see even one soul perish. And such is
a reproduction of God’s heart which enables us to pray with inward
sighings. with
the result that we will have the same yearning of not willing to see a
child of God fall into sin and darkness. Then prayer and intercession
will issue forth from within us. There we will confess, plead for
forgiveness, and ask God to purify His children.My bro..
God has many things to do on earth, touching many areas. How,
then, can we ever pray according to our own feeling and thought?
Daniel came and Prayed According to God’s Will.
he touched a certain matter; and then we saw that he prayed out
that thing with deep groanings.bringing God’s
kingdom, and cause God’s will to prevail on earth as in heaven.

Point Two.
The second point to be noticed is, that when we pray with such
prayer, our prayer will shake up hell and affect Satan. For this
reason, Satan will rise up to hinder such prayer. All prayers which
come from God touch the powers of darkness. Here involves spiritual
warfare. Perhaps our physical bodies, our families, or whatever
pertains to us will be attacked by Satan. For whenever there is such
prayer, it calls forth Satanic assault. The enemy so attacks in order
that our prayer might be discontinued. He may even try to throw up
some blockage in the air so as to delay the answer to prayer. That
prayer ought to receive a response quickly; however, the answer
seems to be suspended in the air. In just such fashion as this, the
answer to Daniel’s prayer was hindered for twenty-one days although
God actually heard him the day he began to pray. In such a situation,
what did Daniel do? He knelt before God and he waited until the
answer to prayer arrived.
Let me ask this question: Do we ever wonder why our prayers
remains unanswered? Perhaps it is suspended somewhere, still within
the period of twenty one days! The answer of the throne may
possibly have been given, yet it encounters opposition and,
consequently, is suspended in air. Why? IT AWAITS MORE PRAYERS on EARTH/IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO PATIENTLY and HUMBLY WAIT UPON GOD.
Nothing of the will of God is ever released without passing
through man, and nothing of whatever will of God released through
man is ever free from an encounter with the power of Satan. For the
realization of God’s will, there is the need for prayer; to remove
Satan’s opposition requires prayer. Let us exercise the authority of
prayer in loosing whatever must be loosed and binding whatever
should be bound. Let us not pray after our own will. Let us draw near
to God and pray according to the will which He has reproduced in us.
When God says that this must be done we also say it must be done.
When He says this must not exist, we too say it must not exist. We
ought to forget ourselves, touch God’s will, and express His current
will through prayer.
answers to ur ??.
1a.What then happens to those who have been asking, knocking, begging yet their request isn't met?
Two things,1.either they are not asking according to GODS Will and Purpose in there life/2.there prayers are been suspended by the devil.
1b.sometimes some dread praying cos it seem the more they pray the more they don't seem to get but things still tend to fall in place only when they put their trust in God?
We should always pray when been lead by the H/Spirit,in so doing its needless stressing ourselves,whenever His WIll becomes our will concerning an issue then we pray.but if theres no burden from within to pray,we should wait.
2.do we really know how to pray or ask or request from God in prayer?
Most of us dont know.like i said earler we should LEARN HOW TO PRAY ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE/WILL IN OUR LIFE.
3.Do we really understand the full essence of God's will concerning our day to day options, choices and decisions?
Am afraid we dont.because most times we are pre occupied with our personal needs{work,family and environment} Primarily, and GOD takes the secondly aspect of our lifes.the reverse should be the case.

Matthew 6:33New King James Version (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Hello bro,

I have gone through all you said, I wouldn't go by the way of pinpointing parts i do not agree with but I will state reasons why we should view the issue from a different perspective.

I believe Prayer is important, it should be enjoyed between man and His creator. I see prayer as a time to open ourselves up fully to God as to release those things that seem heavy on our hearts. It should be as though we are dealing and relating with our spouse, I am sure we do more things together than just asking in our relationships.

We must understand prayer isn't just asking but asking is a part of prayer. as much as the bible does not limit what we can ask, we must accept the painful truth that asking does not necessarily mean we will get. God did countless things without been asked in the bible, even the dead who cannot ask also received life.

The bible assures us that God hears everything we say to Him, He also responds immediately. His answer is the best we can ever get or hope to get, but looking from man's view point, God's answer comes as a YES, NO, or NOT YET. As far as our soul life is concerned, the three answers in whichever way they come is perfect. But, we have our flesh, it craves comfort and pleasure, it gets displeased and disappointed when the answer comes as a NO or a WAIT.

If we compare what we have today in the church age relationship with God to that which they had in the old testament, we will realise the major difference. In the Old Testament days God dealt more directly than He does today. God doesn't have to talk to us audibly today. God doesn't have to appear to us miraculously either. In this present age of Grace, God is comparatively silent because we have the BOOK.

shdemidemi: Hello bro,
I have gone through all you said, I wouldn't go by the way of pinpointing parts i do not agree with but I will state reasons why we should view the issue from a different perspective.
I believe Prayer is important, it should be enjoyed between man and His creator. I see prayer as a time to open ourselves up fully to God as to release those things that seem heavy on our hearts. It should be as though we are dealing and relating with our spouse, I am sure we do more things together than just asking in our relationships.
We must understand prayer isn't just asking but asking is a part of prayer. as much as the bible does not limit what we can ask, we must accept the painful truth that asking does not necessarily mean we will get. God did countless things without been asked in the bible, even the dead who cannot ask also received life.
The bible assures us that God hears everything we say to Him, He also responds immediately. His answer is the best we can ever get or hope to get, but looking from man's view point, God's answer comes as a YES, NO, or NOT YET. As far as our soul life is concerned, the three answers in whichever way they come is perfect. But, we have our flesh, it craves comfort and pleasure, it gets displeased and disappointed when the answer comes as a NO or a WAIT.
If we compare what we have today in the church age relationship with God to that which they had in the old testament, we will realise the major difference. In the Old Testament days God dealt more directly than He does today. God doesn't have to talk to us audibly today. God doesn't have to appear to us miraculously either. In this present age of Grace, God is comparatively silent because we have the BOOK.

Hey Bro,
I quite agree with most of the you wrote.but i hve my réservation mostly on yur last post which says: In this
present age of Grace, God is
comparatively silent because we
have the BOOK.
how cn He b silent in anyway in our lifes.because of a book? Hw cn He b,whn He nolonger dwells in a far distance heaven alone bt also in our hearts.He is relatively more silent in the OT than now.
Secondly,though dead pple cnt talk,there love ones cn interceed for them as in the case of Lazarus.

Thanks for response-

When I said God is comparatively silent today, I was actually comparing this time to what it was when He spoke audibly to His prophets. He anoints/enables them to carry out assignments by His Spirit, this enabled such men the privilege to hear Him speak.

If we go by what the bible says, we must accept God isn't speaking based on hap or mishaps today. I believe God has done and said everything that pertains to life. The onus rest upon us to search and find what God have said concerning whatever circumstance we may encounter.

I also believe the book is spiritual, it is life and it is Christ hence it cannot be exhausted by man.

Secondly,though dead pple cnt talk,there love ones cn interceed for them as in the case of Lazarus

Going by the story of Lazarus, Mary and Martha had no hope that their brother will rise again. So, we can't say their prayers prompted Christ to raise Lazarus.

My take

shdemidemi:

"For we know God heareth not sinners"

When the OP started the discuss by showing that prayer was a mystery, it got my attention bc that's my position on prayers too. But when he tried to "solve" this mystery by suggesting that it our duty to "command God" or to make earth teach heaven what it must do, he lost me.

Indeed prayer is a mystery and we ought to leave it at that. Even the Son of God on earth did not receive all that he requested for: remember Gethsemane and that admonision in Hebrew that Jesus learnt obedience by the things he suffered? Its a wonderful thing when we pray and answer comes; we should be thankful. When we pray and there are no answers, we should trust God. When we pray and there is a delay, we should mix our trust with patience, while not forgetting to remain grateful.

When, however, we turn God to the One we must command, we make him into an idol and not the Sovereign Being that he truly is. When we find scriptures like "command ye me..." in the OT, we must use scripture to interpret scriptures or we run foul of teaching heresies. How many times did we hear Jesus and the apostles command God? Scriptures said Jesus offered up loud cries to the One able to save him. Paul told us how he begged God to save his companions from illness and God showed him mercy. These men were far from commanding God.

Let's limit prayer to the mystery that it truly is and let's not try to explain it away with mans wisdom. Let's draw near Gods throne with confidence, and let's believe him that regardless of his response, Gods desire for is anchored on the infinite love of the divine for the saints brought about by grace through Jesus Christ.

DrummaBoy: When the OP started the discuss by showing that prayer was a mystery, it got my attention bc that's my position on prayers too. But when he tried to "solve" this mystery by suggesting that it our duty to "command God" or to make earth teach heaven what it must do, he lost me.
Indeed prayer is a mystery and we ought to leave it at that. Even the Son of God on earth did not receive all that he requested for: remember Gethsemane and that admonision in Hebrew that Jesus learnt obedience by the things he suffered? Its a wonderful thing when we pray and answer comes; we should be thankful. When we pray and there are no answers, we should trust God. When we pray and there is a delay, we should mix our trust with patience, while not forgetting to remain grateful.
When, however, we turn God to the One we must command, we make him into an idol and not the Sovereign Being that he truly is. When we find scriptures like "command ye me..." in the OT, we must use scripture to interpret scriptures or we run foul of teaching heresies. How many times did we hear Jesus and the apostles command God? Scriptures said Jesus offered up loud cries to the One able to save him. Paul told us how he begged God to save his companions from illness and God showed him mercy. These men were far from commanding God.
Let's limit prayer to the mystery that it truly is and let's not try to explain it away with mans wisdom. Let's draw near Gods throne with confidence, and let's believe him that regardless of his response, Gods desire for is anchored on the infinite love of the divine for the saints brought about by grace through Jesus Christ.

Hi,D.boy.
All prayers in ascension/heavenly realm are prayers of
authority.and such prayer is a command to God. Our
prayer is not begging but
commanding.like i say
in Isaiah 45:11, God says, “Command
ye me.” Sometimes this commanding
is a direct command to God, and
sometimes it is an indirect command
to our environment. Examples are:
Moses standing on the shore of the
Red Sea commanding the water to be
divided, the Lord Jesus in the boat
commanding the wind and the sea to
be still, and the Lord commanding
sickness to leave men. If we have
learned to pray by standing in the
realm of ascension, we can even
command poverty to leave us.
If we have touched the heavenly
position with its authority, one can
even say in prayer,“I command poverty to
depart from me.” This is not our
imagination. Some definitely have had
such an experience.
In the Bible, on the one hand, it says
that we should pray without ceasing,
but on the other hand, it does not
show us that answers to many prayers
will be forthcoming according to what
people expect. Bro, anyone who can pray
conveniently does not know what
prayer is. If we really know the
position and the authority of prayer,
then we shld know that worthwhile
prayer is not that easy.
Of course, God is gracious to us in all
things, and He always listens to our
prayer. I admit this is true. However,
God also shows us that prayer is a
matter of being in ascension/heavenly realm. If we
really wish to have some worthwhile
prayers before God, we need to be
able to give out some authoritative
commands before God.if our position is wrong
and our condition is not in the
heavenly realm, such prayer would be
an insult to God. But if our position
is right and our state is in the
heavenly sphere, then such prayer
would be a real pleasure to Him. The
words we pray are equal to God’s
administration; they are equivalent to
executing His commands. I can testify
that God answers such prayers.
It is not that when one goes out to
the street and points with a stick the
cars will stop; rather, it is when the
traffic policeman points with his stick
that everyone will stop, for he has the
POSITION and the AUTHORITY. The most
simple and easy prayers are these
kind of commanding prayers,
authoritative prayers. But in order to
have such prayers, we need to
acquire a position of ascension. What
is a prayer of authority? It is a prayer
by one who is able to give out
commands by standing in the position
of ascension.
Because our spiritual condition today
is too low, very few among the
children of God know, and fewer
actually practice this kind of prayer.
But if we go on properly in the Lord,
we will realize that we are in the Holy
Place, not the outer court. We will also
realize that we are in the realm of
ascension and cannot be touched by
numerous things. We are together
with the Lord in the realm of
ascension and on the throne.
Therefore, we are able to give orders
and command everything according
to the Lord’s will. Whatever we pray
from such a position is an order, a
command.
When we come to the point where
we have the heavenly position and
the heavenly authority, and are thus
able to utter forth authoritative
prayers, we are in union with He who is on the
throne, standing in the ruling position
together with the Lord. Just as He
reigns at the right hand of God, so
we also reign together with Him in
the heavenly realm. At this time, our
prayer is not only an authoritative
prayer but also a reigning prayer.
our prayer is to rule with authority,
executing God’s orders. So at this
time, all our prayers become God’s
administration, the execution of God’s
rule. If we are willing to learn,
we will arrive at a place where we can
utter such prayers.
In summary, there is only one
position for prayer—the heavenly
sphere. Once we leave this sphere
we lose the position of prayer. Prayer
is not only concerned with certain
matters; but, much more, it is
concerned with a certain position. we
need to be in the heavenly sphere.
Then we have the position to pray with authority, sitting on the throne and
uttering forth prayers of the throne.

JesusisLord85:

"For we know God heareth not sinners"

Whats the meaning of this?

shdemidemi: Thanks for response-

When I said God is comparatively silent today, I was actually comparing this time to what it was when He spoke audibly to His prophets. He anoints/enables them to carry out assignments by His Spirit, this enabled such men the privilege to hear Him speak.

If we go by what the bible says, we must accept God isn't speaking based on hap or mishaps today. I believe God has done and said everything that pertains to life. The onus rest upon us to search and find what God have said concerning whatever circumstance we may encounter.

I also believe the book is spiritual, it is life and it is Christ hence it cannot be exhausted by man.

My take

You are right in this ascertation.

shdemidemi: Thanks for response-
Going by the story of Lazarus, Mary and Martha had no hope that their brother will rise again. So, we can't say their prayers prompted Christ to raise Lazarus.

My take

Thé réal question is do they have faith in Him?? I believe they do.
John 11:
25Jesus told her, “I am the
resurrection and the life. e Anyone
who believes in me will live, even
after dying. 26Everyone who lives in
me and believes in me will never
ever die. Do you believe this,
Martha?”
27“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have
always believed you are the Messiah,
the Son of God, the one who has
come into the world from God.”
As long as they believe in Him thats all that matters in relation to the OP though.

ichuka:
Thé réal question is do they have faith in Him?? I believe they do.
John 11:
25Jesus told her, “I am the
resurrection and the life. e Anyone
who believes in me will live, even
after dying. 26Everyone who lives in
me and believes in me will never
ever die. Do you believe this,
Martha?”
27“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have
always believed you are the Messiah,
the Son of God, the one who has
come into the world from God.”
As long as they believe in Him thats all that matters in relation to the OP though.

I think Martha believed Christ as the resurrection and the life(going by her words), if she believes Jesus can yet raise Lazarus is another thing.

She was more or less confused in that story. At one point she says-

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

After saying this, she was told that her brother will rise. She replied saying 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day'.

Meaning she isn't even thinking Lazarus will come back to life there and then.

The sister also went to Jesus, indirectly blaming Him for the death of their brother- 'Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died'.

They had lost hope, they all started to weep, so much that Christ wept for their unbelief. Jesus eventually commanded that stone be rolled away from Lazarus grave. The same Martha started giving excuses why jesus cannot raise Lazarus.

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus needed to do what He did because of their unbelief not because they did believe or prayed in a certain way-

Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.


Going by the story, I don't think they had faith that He could do what He did, so they couldn't have prayed for such miracle. God had to make them see to make them believe. Will God do a miracle to make us believe today? No.

They were Jews, they believed in signs. We are christians, we live by faith and not by sight. In other words, God will do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do them according to His mercy, grace, will and purpose regardless of how and if we ask.

shdemidemi:
I think Martha believed Christ as the resurrection and the life(going by her words), if she believes Jesus can yet raise Lazarus is another thing.
She was more or less confused in that story. At one point she says-
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
After saying this, she was told that her brother will rise. She replied saying 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day'.
Meaning she isn't even thinking Lazarus will come back to life there and then.
The sister also went to Jesus, indirectly blaming Him for the death of their brother- 'Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died'.
They had lost hope, they all started to weep, so much that Christ wept for their unbelief. Jesus eventually commanded that stone be rolled away from Lazarus grave. The same Martha started giving excuses why jesus cannot raise Lazarus.
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Jesus needed to do what He did because of their unbelief not because they did believe or prayed in a certain way-
Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Going by the story, I don't think they had faith that He could do what He did, so they couldn't have prayed for such miracle. God had to make them see to make them believe. Will God do a miracle to make us believe today? No.
They were Jews, they believed in signs. We are christians, we live by faith and not by sight. In other words, God will do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do them according to His mercy, grace, will and purpose regardless of how and if we ask.

I didnt say that they believe He could raise Lazarus frm the grave.all i said is that they believe He is the Son of God.that alone is sufficient, for He stood on the grounds of there believe of Him been the Son of , God and rose Lazarus.though they doubt His capability of been the Ressuration n Life then,but they still believe Hes thé Son of God,and that alone is sufficient periodically.
How u dey today self.

ichuka:
I didnt say that they believe He could raise Lazarus frm the grave.all i said is that they believe He is the Son of God.that alone is sufficient, for He stood on the grounds of there believe of Him been the Son of , God and rose Lazarus.though they doubt His capability of been the Ressuration n Life then,but they still believe Hes thé Son of God,and that alone is sufficient periodically.
How u dey today self.

I dey fine my brother.

That emboldened statement didnt flush down well with me though.

shdemidemi:
I dey fine my brother.
That emboldened statement didnt flush down well with me though.

Lol,abeg make we leave am like that for now.
Lets forcus on the up coming Convention.