Today, focus is on prayer as a sacred process that grants the created access to the oneness without sameness that describes the GODhead. The teaching that GOD answers prayer with No, Yes and Wait is not doctrine from the Bible, and can be attributed to an author and clergyman from the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in New York City, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, (1898-1993). In an article from June 25, 2013, Christianity Today magazine calls RCA “the oldest Protestant denomination in America.” Wikepedia reports that RCA was begun in 1628 as the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church, and presently has about 223,675 members. The Encyclopedia Britannica credits Peale as having tried to instill a spiritual renewal in the U. S. following World War II. Peale was raised as a Methodist, and first ordained to minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. The best known of the 46 inspirational books he authored, “The Power of Positive Thinking” (1952), is reported by Britannica as “a classic that ranked (behind the Bible) as one of the highest-selling spiritual books in history.” To date his book has sold some 5 million copies, and has been translated into 15 languages. Because “some criticized Peale for oversimplifying Christianity in his uplifting sermons and avoiding deeper confrontations with sin and guilt,” the book was spoken of as “controversial”. His radio program, “The Art of Living” lasted for 54 years; and his Guideposts Magazine continues with a paid circulation of some 4 million. A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “JohnnyBravo” (Level 1 with 166 points, a member since November 16, 2010) posted the following:
Where did Christians come up with the idea that God only answers prayers in one of three ways (yes, no wait)?
That's not in the bible.
The bible says:
John 14:13-14
"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33: 2-3, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Teach Us To Pray (03/21/2017); On Expecting Quick Results (11/07/2016); Why Pray For Victims? (06/14/2016); Answered by The Cross? (03/14/2016); The Silence of GOD (01/31/2016); How GOD Answers Prayer? (01/09/2015); When Prayer Works (10/11/2012); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Unanswered Prayers? (09/11/2012); When You Pray (09/12/2012)
“JohnnyBravo”, the popular tradition of “three responses to prayer” (yes, no, wait) acknowledges that the prayer life of believers on the earth also includes delay and disappointment. Many miss that prayer is more than simply a conversation, a dialog, or other verbal exchange between GOD and a believer. Prayer is a sacred process that exposes, imparts, and intermingles spirit substance from the makeup of Deity with that within created beings and living creatures. Prayer may include acknowledging faults and misdeeds, confessing needs, making requests, or declaring promises and vows, however, its primary work is the joining of self-will to divine will. Prayer can express commitment, humility, repentance, respect and reverence, yet, can not be used to “change God’s mind” or manipulate divinity. As born-again believers “grow up again” becoming mature as vessels of sacred spirit they must exercise importunity, longsuffering, patience, perseverance, and waiting for divine response as aspects of prayer. The appearances and outworking of permanent change often are only by gradual and serial events. Also, in our present state as believers, blessings, gifts, and endowments from GOD must be received as a deposit, a partial-payment, and an earnest of things yet to come. The frameworks of time and space are to be set aside as we come to comprehend the full truth that GOD is a spirit. Only following Advent (some say, the harvest, the Rapture, the Second Coming) and in the fullness of eternal life will certain answers to prayer and godly benefits finally be provided. Included are healing, immortality, incorruption, perfection, and purity. Consider again the following:
(1.) Daniel 10: 12-14, King James Version (KJV): 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
(2.) Jeremiah 42: 4-7, KJV: 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. 7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
(3.) Jeremiah 43: 1-4, KJV: 1 And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.
(4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Romans 8: 22-25, KJV: 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 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? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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