Wednesday, January 29, 2025
“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).
In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….
As any Berean Bible student knows, denominationalism (vain church tradition and philosophy) has robbed a great many souls of the ability to understand and enjoy the Holy Scriptures. “Unanswered prayer” is one of the heaviest prices we have paid for failing to use God’s Word, God’s way. For the vast majority, prayer has been reduced to nothing more than an exercise in superstition—say just the right words for God to grant your wish (problems magically disappearing, material blessings raining down from Heaven, and so on). When this fails, the inevitable ignorant questions arise, “Where was God? Did He not care? Why is there still suffering?” Resentment, displeasure, apostasy, agnosticism, and atheism fester and fester and fester. The Bible ignorance becomes reinforced—and it will easily and swiftly escalate into a “personal, lifelong crusade against all forms of religion.” It has happened time and time again throughout history.
Let it be known that, contrary to popular belief, prayer is not like playing a slot machine or sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. Prayer is talking to God in light of His words to us. He must speak first, and then we talk to Him according to what we heard Him say. Praying outside of God’s will is a guaranteed disappointment, for it was unbelief not faith. According to the Bible, Paul is our apostle, Jesus Christ’s “sent one” or messenger to us Gentiles (Romans 11:13; cf. Acts 26:17,18; Ephesians 3:1,2). That means God’s will for us is confined to the Bible Books of Romans through Philemon, Paul’s 13 epistles or formal doctrinal letters, to which the content of our prayers must (MUST! MUST!!) conform. We study the whole Bible, but we also remember, “Study to shew [ourselves] approved unto God, … workm[e]n that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Pauline prayer will get us through all of life’s vicissitudes, every situation and circumstance resulting from living in a fallen world….
333 Words of Grace 