I receive requests for prayer frequently, mostly for something specific like healing or for a relationship to be restored, and I thought it good for me to first share this teaching with you, and then point you to the word of God so you can find the seed of your answer before I agree with you in prayer. I think that after reading this article, you will be more likely to see more fruit from your relationship with God.
Prayer in the Absence of Truth
What would you say if I asked you to grow me a garden, but I didn't give you any seeds—only a bag of fertilizer?
Hopefully, your response would be, "You can't grow anything without first planting seeds!" You may even think I might be a little foolish or "off" to even suggest such a thing. Am I right?
But yet people ask for prayer in the absence of seeking the truth in God's word concerning a matter. Isn't this the same thing?
In my ministry experience, most people just want to be prayed for instead of hearing the truth. One example of this occurred in a Bible study group. A woman in the group was suffering from a sickness and her request was prayer for healing, saying, "Ask God to get off my back..."
I was shocked when I heard this, but instead of seeking the truth about God's love and His willingness and desire to see her healed and well, she asked for prayer. She had "knowledge" but it was dreadfully wrong knowledge.
People do this for two reasons: 1. Because they have been taught that "prayer changes things". 2. Because if nothing changes, they can place the responsibility upon God instead of where it truly belongs—with them.
Jesus said, If you continue in my word, then shall you be my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. [John 8:31-32]
The Bible says, But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God). For he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. [Hebrews 11:6]
Therefore, as much as it is irresponsible and foolish for me to expect you to grow a garden for me without first planting seeds, it is equally irresponsible and foolish for you to expect results without first having knowledge of the truth. If I agreed to pray for you without first ministering the truths of God’s word, then I would be doing you a great disservice.
The Bible says, Lay hands suddenly on no man… [1 Timothy 5:22] and I believe this can be related to what I’m teaching here—that you don’t lay hands on someone or pray for something specific without first telling them the truth. Then, as with any seed, you water it with meditation and prayers of thanksgiving that your prayer has not only been heard, but that you HAVE the petition you desired (1 John 5:14-15).
Here’s a great truth: It is impossible for God's will to come to pass in your life absent of you believing it.
Faith not only grants us access to the grace and promises of God (Romans 5:2), but faith also gives God ACCESS TO US! Have you ever considered it that way? God PURSUES US, but yet we are taught that we now have to "chase after" the promises of God. That's not completely true--God teaches us to diligently seek Him, but at the same time, He is seeking access into our lives. The teaching of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is a great example of this—where the father, upon seeing his son returning, RAN to him.
Here's another example: If I come home with a gift for my daughter, but her bedroom door is locked, I'm not able to give her the gift until she unlocks and opens the door, right?
Since the Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (not prayer) [Romans 10:17] believing that "God is..." MUST FIRST come through knowledge.
In fact, the Bible teaches that Grace and peace are multiplied unto THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of him who has called us to glory and virtue. [2 Peter 1:2-3]
If you do not know (or have knowledge of) God's will, how then can you trust in His faithfulness to give it? Again, you cannot believe something of which you have no knowledge, or furthermore, of which you are not confident.
The Bible says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? [Romans 10:13-14]
You could have never been saved unless you heard the truth of the gospel. Why then, after being saved, do people NOT seek the truth, but rather pray for an answer of which you have no assurance of receiving?
The Bible says, As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the FAITH, as you have been TAUGHT, abounding therein with thanksgiving. [Colossians 2:6-7]
God's word—the TRUTH—will tell you what His will is, and once you know the truth, and are convinced it is God's will FOR YOU, then you are in a position to receive the promises.
The Bible says, And this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we KNOW that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, WE KNOW that WE HAVE the petitions that we desired of him. [1 John 5:14-15]
Confidence (or faith), therefore, comes from knowing the truth—not from prayer.
The Bible says, Cast not away therefore your CONFIDENCE, which has a great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God (which is to believe v. 38) you might receive the promise. [Hebrews 10:35-36]
Some of you may be wondering, "Is he against prayer?"
I'm NOT against prayer as long as prayer is used correctly—as a fertilizer to help YOU to believe—and not change or influence God.
It is incorrect to even suggest that God is the variable concerning His promises. He is not slack concerning them as some men count slackness (2 Peter 3:9). God is NEVER the variable concerning the fulfillment of His promises (James 1:16-17).
The next time you have need, seek the truth from God's word (or from someone who knows the word and will show you it to you) BEFORE seeking prayer. I'd be willing to bet that you would get better results through this method. And if you're not getting the results you want, why continue to do the same thing over and over?
This may sound "different" to many of you, but don't reject it just because it's not in line with what you've been taught previously. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's wrong. I've shown you a bunch of Scripture in this, but yet many people don't let the Bible dictate what they believe. Furthermore, if what you've been taught previously isn't working, then why cling so strongly to it?
Only a fool does the same thing over and over and expects different results. If you want different results, then you must do something different. Consider Naaman the Syrian. Elisha the prophet called him to do something different, and even though he resisted in the beginning, he was healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).
