Posted on 05/19/2015 3:08:20 PM PDT by metmom
God said no, for no man can see My face and live. But I will let you see my back.
Using the criteria of this article did God answer Moses prayer or not?
“I simply don’t see it in the people around me, even those who hold to that doctrine.”
The issue is not “Can God still work miracles, heal, drive out demons?”...the issue is “Does God still work miracles, heal, drive out demons continually in order to authenticate and establish the Gospel?”
God parted the sea ONCE, then after that it is “tell your children the wondrous deeds of the LORD”. Faith! I cringe inside every time I hear...
“He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”—Psalm 78
Cringe at them—because as a story they are the ingrate villains—and then cringe at myself—who is EXACTLY like them in unbelief towards God’s goodness. But what has He done for us LATELY?!?!?!
Of COURSE God can still do whatever He pleases:
“Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.”—Psalm 115:3
Where He deems it needed, He heals, works miracles, drives out demons. But always...THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (without seeing).
I have always suspected that God does not answer Why questions.
“I just find this chapter seriously troubling.”
Exactly, because if you follow the thread of his argument is is! Perhaps, though, Tozer’s work in full would round it out. I don’t know, but this is why I prefer Scripture over the “great Christian authors” (i.e. ersatz mediators).
God’s goodness over against the world, the flesh and the devil IS the arena of faith. We believe WITHOUT seeing, just as Abraham did (his body was as good as dead!). Christian “faith” in miracles, signs, etc. as some form of continual practice of God CANNOT BE SQUARED WITH SCRIPTURE. The real problem is that is does exactly what Tozer does here: put right standing with God back on US, since we did/did not do something forcing God’s blessing-blocking Hand.
Try telling it to the messed up Corinthians! They were unworthy of the miraculous manifestations clearly displayed among them. They even got haughty about them (hello, Israel, pleased to meet you!). Modern “faith” preachers only want the cream, not the instant death sentences, of the early church (see: Ananias and Sapphira, drunken guests at the Lord’s table). If that era continued till now there should be a whole lot of dead preachers and teachers and church members! For that matter, why are you and I here, lol? Can I get a WITNESS?
Who—sans happy delusion—can ever look at himself and say “I have kept my heart clean?”
So...back to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we go! (Should have never left it)
“Does anyone find that last statement by Tozer troubling? “Morally worthy”? So I have to be “morally worthy” before God will answer my prayers?”
God is not an enabler. He knows and gives what is best for his children. Why would any person who claims to be a child of God ask a holy God to enable his/her lusting?
Yes, I wasn’t disagreeing with you. :)
I never saw that verse as saying that God didn't answer because of moral unworthiness. I always saw it as asking with the wrong motive or for something to be used wrongly.
We are always, in the flesh, *morally unworthy* but in the Spirit as are always worthy.
Well, as I said before, this was the next chapter in the book and I posted it for that reason. I did not feel right about eliminating any chapters based on my personal preferences.
And as I've said before, there are a couple areas where I disagree with Tozer and this is actually one of them.
And everything I read in the NT about miraculous works indicates that was their purpose, to confirm the message of the gospel to unbelievers, not for believers to use to make themselves fat, dumb, and happy.
Revelation 3:14-22 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
That’s good to know.....
I think he neglected to take into account that it’s not in our own name that we go boldly before the throne. As I read through the chapter I wondered if there would be anyone at all who would feel the freedom to pray.
Great Post. Thanks. I just dusted my Andrew Murray books. One is “ School of Prayer” I have one with 12 books in one of his books. I am looking at it now.
Remember Anne Graham Lotz is asking us to pray for USA and World this month with special intercessory prayers.
There are many people out there that think that GOD is their private ATM machine. Sorry folks, but that’s not what GOD is.
Right...and sometimes he says wait...and also No!
Yup.
Agreed. There are many Scripture passages that guide us in how we should pray and this includes the motives as well as the condition of our hearts and what God expects of us when we turn to Him. No one is claiming God turns His ear from those who earnestly seek to know Him - regardless of where they are in their spiritual walk. But, when we come to God asking for His blessing, leading, wisdom, healing or whatever our needs might be, we should be cognizant of why we are doing so and where we are spiritually. A few passages that speak to this are:
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