I was reading the TCSQ thread and Mrs Brattified offered to pray for Aquila. He refused. He wrote, " I'm not soliciting your prayers and, with all due respects, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't pray for me."
I remember listening to Jimmy Swaggart a few weeks after he made his confession. He walked down to an older lady in his congregation and said that he knew she was a prayer warrior, but that he never asked her to pray for him. He confessed that he could not remember asking for prayer from anyone in a long time. He confessed that it was arrogant to not admit the need for prayer and he asked everyone in the congregation to pray for him.
Is is right to refuse prayer? What would you say would disqualify a person offering prayer?
I don't know if it's right or wrong ... many different factors mitigate in various unique scenarios ....
I will say that often the " I will pray for you ... " phrase can be overdone.
Sometimes it's genuine but insensitive ... sometimes it's not ... sometimes its used to be manipulative and sometimes ignorantly misdirected.
Some use it as spiritual arsenal against a brother, also.
What I mean by this is that.... one may say this believing one has a moral superiority, a better understanding .... or say it to stick it to the other person that they somehow know what's better for them ... or are "in the right".
If done in the midst of an argument or disagreement... I'm often skeptical ...
Why does one have to announce it ... why not just do it?
I was reading the TCSQ thread and Mrs Brattified offered to pray for Aquila. He refused. He wrote, " I'm not soliciting your prayers and, with all due respects, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't pray for me."
I remember listening to Jimmy Swaggart a few weeks after he made his confession. He walked down to an older lady in his congregation and said that he knew she was a prayer warrior, but that he never asked her to pray for him. He confessed that he could not remember asking for prayer from anyone in a long time. He confessed that it was arrogant to not admit the need for prayer and he asked everyone in the congregation to pray for him.
Is is right to refuse prayer? What would you say would disqualify a person offering prayer?
I think if you were to read Aquila in detail you will find that is part of his underlying theory of life.
he has stated on more than one occasion that far too often, Christians will say "I am praying" as a way to not actually help someone in need.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I don't know if it's right or wrong ... many different factors mitigate in various unique scenarios ....
I will say that often the " I will pray for you ... " phrase can be overdone.
Sometimes it's genuine but insensitive ... sometimes it's not ... sometimes its used to be manipulative and sometimes ignorantly misdirected.
Some use it as spiritual arsenal against a brother, also.
What I mean by this is that.... one may say this believing one has a moral superiority, a better understanding .... or say it to stick it to the other person that they somehow know what's better for them ... or are "in the right".
If done in the midst of an argument or disagreement... I'm often skeptical ...
Why does one have to announce it ... why not just do it?
I think if you were to read Aquila in detail you will find that is part of his underlying theory of life.
he has stated on more than one occasion that far too often, Christians will say "I am praying" as a way to not actually help someone in need.
Don't get me wrong...I know many do help people in need.
For a long time I had a rule....if someone asked for prayer or asked that I pray for them sometime....I'd stop what I was doing and pray right there and then ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" This came about because I was opening up to a good friend about some things and asked for prayer....he couldn't even remember the conversation...... This happened a couple times. At one point I was at church and a brother who I had asked to keep me in prayer about something walked up and said, "How've you been? I've been prayin' for you." The Holy Ghost spoke to me so strong and said, "He never prayed for you. He saw you, remembered your conversation, and now just wants to know if you're doing okay." Later I approached him and said, "Do you remember me asking for prayer about *****?" He said, "Sure." I then said, "You said you prayed for me....I felt the Holy Ghost tell me that you didn't really pray for me, did you actually 'pray' for me....or did you just remember my situation when you saw me? Just be honest bro....I'm not upset....I just need to know if I heard the Lord." He got real quiet and said..."I'm sorry brother....I just forgot. But I remembered it when I saw you and while it was on my mind I wanted to see if you were doing alright."
These kinds of lies are often well intentioned...but they can hurt.
It's easy to say, "I'll pray for you"...and then go out to Applebee's, live it up, and never even think a second thought about your brother or sister's need."
Don't get me wrong...I know many do help people in need.
For a long time I had a rule....if someone asked for prayer or asked that I pray for them sometime....I'd stop what I was doing and pray right there and then ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" This came about because I was opening up to a good friend about some things and asked for prayer....he couldn't even remember the conversation...... This happened a couple times.
Somethings folks don't need prayer ... they need action and/or you to be the hands and feet of the Body .... and sometimes it's time to move on ....
Heard John Hopkins preach a message about a year ago on David who travailed for 7 days hoping God would spare his first son to Bathsheba who died as a result of his failure ....
Once he realized the baby was dead ... he arose, washed and anointed himself ... and did not continue that line of prayer ....
I pray for a some people on AFF that have never asked for prayer. It is just part of my daily prayer life now. And if it is a prayer request I stop right then and pray. I don't always pray by someone's name but just the forum members in general.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Don't get me wrong...I know many do help people in need.
For a long time I had a rule....if someone asked for prayer or asked that I pray for them sometime....I'd stop what I was doing and pray right there and then ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?" This came about because I was opening up to a good friend about some things and asked for prayer....he couldn't even remember the conversation...... This happened a couple times.
Chris, I hope I came accross as explaining where you come from on the issue and not condecending. Just trying to clarify the point....
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Somethings folks don't need prayer ... they need action and/or you to be the hands and feet of the Body .... and sometimes it's time to move on ....
Heard John Hopkins preach a message about a year ago on David who travailed for 7 days hoping God would spare his first son to Bathsheba who died as a result of his failure ....
Once he realized the baby was dead ... he arose, washed and anointed himself ... and did not continue that line of prayer ....
Sometimes you gotta realize the baby's dead.
He giveth and taketh away ....
I think that could be a misapplication. A dead baby or a dead person is no longer alive. There is no hope. But if someone is still alive and hurting....when are we justified in ending our prayers? If David didn't end his prayers until the babe was dead....shouldn't we pray and hold out hope as long as a person has breath?
Agreed ... Aquila ... it's like a knee-jerk catchphrase in Pentecost ....
Instead of going into the trenches ... we relieve any guilt by giving the person in need a pat on the back and the obligatory ... I'm praying for you ...
and they feel relieved on any further responsibilities ...
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