I will do whatever you...
Illustration
"I will do whatever you ask in my name." What horrible things happen when glory hungry people get a hold of this verse. Three women in a neighboring community had met for prayer on a regular basis for several years. As time went on the nature of their prayer time took a strange twist. Instead of focusing on God's faithfulness and the needs of others in the community, they developed an arrogant attitude about what good Christians they were and what power they had because of their prayers.
One day they went to visit Sandra in the hospital. Sandra has been diagnosed with cancer and was scheduled for surgery the next morning. She said that the doctor was very optimistic; that he believed they had found cancer at an early stage. The three pray-ers told Sandra that if she just had enough faith, they would pray for her and she would be healed. They advised that she cancel the surgery. Sandra was naturally frightened by the cancer and also very nervous about having surgery, so she took their advice and declined the surgery. The three pray-ers prayed, then told Sandra that she had nothing to worry about and they left. Two years later Sandra died from a cancer that could have been stemmed.
Listen! Jesus doesn't say "I will do whatever you ask." He says, "I will do whatever you ask in my name." Our prayers are to be Christ-centered, not ego-centered. The glory is God's, not ours.
--Kaul
One day they went to visit Sandra in the hospital. Sandra has been diagnosed with cancer and was scheduled for surgery the next morning. She said that the doctor was very optimistic; that he believed they had found cancer at an early stage. The three pray-ers told Sandra that if she just had enough faith, they would pray for her and she would be healed. They advised that she cancel the surgery. Sandra was naturally frightened by the cancer and also very nervous about having surgery, so she took their advice and declined the surgery. The three pray-ers prayed, then told Sandra that she had nothing to worry about and they left. Two years later Sandra died from a cancer that could have been stemmed.
Listen! Jesus doesn't say "I will do whatever you ask." He says, "I will do whatever you ask in my name." Our prayers are to be Christ-centered, not ego-centered. The glory is God's, not ours.
--Kaul
