Semikkah7

05/22/2024 – Hermeneutics defined: “The Theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text.” // Illustration: Jesus speaking on prayer – six verses. / 3 of ? on quotes for the book

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Do we really believe what we say we believe is really true?

“Here is a sampling of what Jesus had to say on the subject of prayer:

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14: 13-14)

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22)

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

“If we really took Jesus’ invitation seriously, if we really believed in the sort of prayer that Jesus talked about, the modern church would have a hard time getting its people to do anything but pray. In actuality, we need to be motivated to pray. And that’s because most people, even the most serious, mature Christians, don’t buy prayer as Jesus described it, not entirely anyway.

The motive behind all true intercessory prayer is love for the other. Jesus isn’t describing some real-life version of wishes to a cosmic genie that occasionally come true if you figure out the formula. He’s talking about he kind of prayers that with love for someone else and end with inviting God’s activity into places where that love is lacking. Intercession is a willing and intentional choice to turn from the endless spiral into the self — my desires, my needs, my circumstances — to the desires, needs and circumstances of another. To utter even a syllable of intercessory prayer is a profound act of love.”

Reference – Pgs. 97 – 99 – “Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools” by Tyler Staton. (See excerpts posted on 05/17/2024)

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For Hermeutics, we’ll start with 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Practical application: “Let scripture testify to scripture so that we can correctly interpret the Bible.”

For Bible verses that “testify” to 2 Timothy 3: 16-17, I submit the following as a start:

Psalm 19: 7 – 11 / Hebrews 4: 12 / Psalm 19: 7 – 11 / Hebrews 4:12 / Psalm 119: Verses 30 & 97 through 104./ Romans 15:4 / Galations 2:20 /Isaiah 26:9 / Psalm 145: 1 – 21.

I would be interested in your comments on Tyler Staton’s premise:

“If we really took Jesus’ invitation seriously, if we really believed in the sort of prayer that Jesus talked about, the modern church would have a hard time getting its people to do anything but pray. In actuality, we need to be motivated to pray. And that’s because most people, even the most serious, mature Christians, don’t buy prayer as Jesus described it, not entirely anyway.”

Comments? Most all of us older generation that have been Christians all of our adult life have prayed for a love one(s) to be healed spiritually and/or physically, with the result that the loved one died before we witnessed an answer to that prayer. The Bible is without error; Jesus is Holy and all-powerful God, therefore all of His promises must be fulfilled.

As Christians, we would be asking in His name. So, I believe that all of our prayers are in fact answered, just as all these verses promise, but not necessarily prior to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. God loves us more than we love ourselves, so the answer to our prayer has to be to our net benefit, more than we asked for. And that includes the tragic death of loved ones. How is that possible? I don’t know but I trust God, for whom all things are possible. It is the only plausible conclusion left. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not, as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 27: 39). We see through His Word that prayer was definitely “answered”, an infinite net benefit not only to us, but to God as well, for He is glorified all the more.

Listed below is the link to the Christian Research Institute article on the (14) attributes of God. #13 is
“Incomprehensible”: “God is incomprehensible, not in the sense that the concept of God is unintelligible, but in the sense that God cannot be fully and directly known by finite creature, because of His uniqueness and His infinitude.”

The Attributes of God: What Are the Attributes of God?

Once again, with full confidence I conclude: “I don’t have nearly enough faith to be anything but a Christian!”

Soli Deo Gloria!