Prayer Answered To One's Own Harm

Bible Questions Answered:

“...thank God he answers all prayers...”

Birger/ Angelholm, Skane County Sweden

Bible Answer:

Bible Texts:

Isaiah 55:8,9 KJV

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith The Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

“...thank God he answers all prayers...”

Question: Is this good?

Answer: No.

Beloved James our Lord's brother wrote saying....

James 3:1 KJV

My brethren, be not many masters (Teachers - NKJV), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

This brethren, is why, only the following, should teach The Word Of God.

1. Those who are “called of God”, the ministry “is not a profession!”
2. Those who are educated in The Word Of God.
3. Those men who are “given,” to prayer and who seek with all their heart, God's Truth.

No, it is not good that all prayers have been answered.

“Well Pastor, the prayers wouldn't have been answered if they weren't good.”

Acts 17:10,11 KJV

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received The Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Question: Has God, and would He ever, answer prayers, that are not, His will?

Answer: Yes!

Example 1:

No matter what The Lord did for Israel, they forgot it, complained,  doubted and tempted The Living God.

Psalm 106:10-15 KJV (Read the whole chapter 1-48)

10 And He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy (The Egyptians).

11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they His words; they sang His praise.

13 They soon forgot His works; they waited not for His counsel:

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

15 And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

They demanded, water, food, and meat, not trusting The Lord.

Water, Manna, and Quails given: Exodus 15;22-24/ 16; 17:2/ Numbers 11

The thing to note here is verse 15 “He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

Yes, they received their requests, but they had no relationship with The God of all creation, but rather fell under judgment.

Example 2:

King Hezekiah, was a Godly king who restored sacrifices at the temple, and Passover.

II Kings 20:1-6 KJV

1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith The Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto The Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 And it came to pass, afore (before) Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that The Word Of The Lord came to him, saying,

5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith The Lord, The God Of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of The Lord.

6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.

What was the will of God for King Hezekiah?

“Thus saith The Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”

The King did not like that message, no matter who it was from! So ...

2 “...he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto The Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Refusing The Lord's message, he pouted and wept, listing all the good things he had done.

Well, what happened? The Lord, had a new message for Hezekiah. (He let him have his way.)

4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that The Word Of The Lord came to him, saying,

5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith The Lord, The God Of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of The Lord.

6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.

Hezekiah was healed, and fifteen years added to his life.

This certainly begs the question, just what happen in those 15 added years?

II Kings 20:12-17 KJV (A Kings Pride)

12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear The Word Of The Lord.

17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith The Lord.

What else did Hezekiah do?

He fathered a son named Manasseh. Manasseh was one of Israel's most ungodly king, who made Israel to sin!

These are but two examples of prayers answered, that would have been better, if never prayed.

Psalm 106:15 KJV

And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Do you think possibly, that the God who knows the future as well as the past, tried to keep King Hezekiah from such a ruined legacy??

Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:

What do you think is the import of these examples? It is to remind us that in prayer it is so important to know that ….

1. What we pray for is within the bounds of thus saith The Lord. (Acts 17:10,11)
2. What we desire in prayer, first and foremost, is The Lord's will, and not of our own selfishness.
3. What we pray for, is for the glory of God.

James 4:3 KJV

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Prayer:

II Samuel 22:31 KJV

As for God, His way is perfect; The Word Of The Lord is tried: He is a Buckler (Shield) to all them that trust in Him.

Job 13:15 KJV

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him..."

Psalm 5:11 KJV

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.