In Reply to: what about posted by porceleindoll on August 20, 2004 at 02:44:24:
Dear Porceleindoll, first of all I like to apologize for not answering your email times ago...I am sorry...terrible of me.I have changed computers & email address & had too many things going I felt obliged to...but all that is not an excuse...pls. pardon me...
I noticed, you ask often the "wrong" ; ) kind of right questions...means, not so easy to answer...
But I always felt, it takes more the tough questions, the seeming contradictions etc., reflecting on these things really get us started & further...after all, there are many things we already understand plenty...yet are we doing them?...like loving our neighbour...
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. Mt. 20
Seems to me, we are not the only ones having the trouble, what when to ask.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Mt. 17
Comforting to see, that they weren't "automatically successful", I figure the fasting was missing (more faith!?)..He sent them out two by two, so obviously two of them didn't have the desired results...by the way, something similar happened "in Acts"...
Remember the very well TF- liked/favoured verse,
all things are possible to him that believeth...
emphasis IMO on if thou canst believe...
I think in our wilfulness we prefer the all things are possible part only to realise later, that it works out less than desired.Problem could be the desire.
condition for being heard (also prayer of the publican & pharisee)
KJV Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me
KJV John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
KJV John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
KJV Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
KJV Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Quite often it looks to me - with verses like the last one and others - that God is answering His own "dear prayers"...
KJV Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. {ordained: or, prepared}
At least I found out, that the more I read The Bible, the less I can theorise & have too many private interpretations...it really dwindles down with time & my dream would be, to really not have so many deviations from the truth...
A professor once said, that he preferred students with very profound questions (rather than "studied answers") & personally I am careful about people, who give the impression ,that all is clear to them.