Conditional Prayers (2)
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3 ESV
Passions – But I thought being passionate was a good thing. Ah, if we only read it in Greek. Hedonais, the plural noun, makes it quite clear that James is talking about self-centered pleasures, not passions. As the TDNT says, this is “unsanctified carnality.” Originally the word meant only what is sweet, pleasant or pleasurable, but eventually the word came to mean the desire for pleasure, especially the pleasures associated with physical existence. By the way, that does not rule out pleasures of the mind. Those are also part of physical existence as we know it now. From this etymological background, hedonism becomes the philosophy of following the natural inclinations of the body and the mind. In other words, this is the realm of the noble savage, the rugged individual, the man who lets his “passions” rule his choices. This is an anesthetized way of describing an addict.
It’s easy to dismiss James’ remark. After all, we aren’t incessant gamblers, drunkards, cocaine freaks or sexual predators. We are nice, normal, ethically sound believers. We don’t go to prison for our “crimes.” We fit into society. We are good people. But if that’s all true, then why does James write these words to the twelve tribes dispersed? James isn’t writing to those convicted of debauchery, illegal drug use or financial malfeasance. He is writing to followers, Messianic believers in the first century. He is writing to the “good” people. And he says, “You ask but don’t receive because . . .” Maybe the clue to the real issues that face these people is found in the verb aiteo, “to ask.” The thing that prevents these people from receiving is not their passions. It is their motivation! They ask in order to get something that is fueled by desires that feed the yetzer ha’ra. They ask for what will please them, not for what will please God. No wonder He doesn’t answer.
Ah, this raises more than one self-test. The first test is, “Why did I ask for this? What was my real motivation?” I could ask for peace in my home, for a clearer vision of my ministry, for financial support, for insight into Scripture and still be fueling my own desires. It all seems so proper, so ethical, so Scriptural. But why I ask is an entirely different element. I ask for peace so that my life might be tranquil. I ask for a clear vision so that I might proclaim God’s special favor over me. I ask for financial support so that I won’t have to be engaged in the world. I ask for insight into Scripture so that I can prove my interpretation is right. The requests are the same. The reason is entirely selfish.
The second test is more difficult. When I don’t get what I ask for, am I ready to thoroughly examine my motives? God is a God who delivers. He rescues. He restores. He regenerates. When He doesn’t answer my request, am I too quick to pretend that it’s just because He has bigger plans? Do I dismiss self-examination with cavalier theology?
“You don’t receive because you ask with the wrong intention.” The implication is that if you asked with the right intention, you would receive. What does that say about all of our unanswered prayers?
Topical Index: ask, aiteo, passion, pleasure, hedone, prayer, James 4:3
I find that the only thing that works is to ask for his will to be done and then trust the outcome.
John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
I hear a lot of talk these days about “praying in the spirit”. But I am not quite sure by what people really mean by this. Does it mean that they really understand how to shut up in their own ignorance and let the Holy Spirit pray for them with “groanings which cannot be uttered” because they do not know how to pray for things, or do they mean something else? I wonder sometimes if some people are just looking for yet another flesh experience.
It is so hard to get out of the flesh. When it is too hard, I am told that it is just safer and more efficacious to let Someone Else do it for me. My spirit knows the truth about myself all too well. My flesh doesn’t seem to care. But if I do not pray the real truth, represent before the throne my real condition, then I am not in the right place to get an answer,either. I think when Esau went to “find a place of repentance”, he must have been crying tears of the flesh, and not of the spirit. His spirit would have known that his pride was the problem: But I think all his flesh must have been caring about was losing. Yeah, right, a condition of that pride. If the conditions of my flesh are ever going to get cleared up, it is going to have to happen in my spirit, because that is where all the trouble starts. The prayers I pray in my flesh do not work, I don’t think, because flesh just wants what is: truth is what should be. It is in my spirit that I determine what is. And choose what should be. Truth is a condition of the heart, and so truth is where I have to stay when I pray.
Considering our sinful nature and addiction to sin, is it possible for us to ask only “with the right intention”? Can we ask purely void of any motivation in “fueling my own desires”?
Dear Bill,
Please read the prior Today’s Word editions on sinful nature and in particular on Dwight Pryor’s analysis. Then see if you still have any questions.
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray
He clearly guided them to realize it was
all about having their hearts clearly with
the Father and being in pursuit of His will.
The architecture of “The Lord’s Prayer” is a
masterpiece of simplicity and intention.
We are to want what God wants.
But how do we get our selfish selves to that point?
As Mary said at the Cana wedding:
“Do whatever He tells you.”
If we DO, we CHANGE.
He’s already made it possible! “and He died for all,
that those who live should live no longer for themselves,
but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Cor 5:15
Another excellent article Skip. The Father always gets to the heart of the matter doesn’t He? Humility seems to be foundational here. If we walk humbly before Him, we will walk in right relationship just as a small child walks humbly before a loving earthly father, constantly receiving. Then we begin to hear rightly, and deception can no longer infect our minds. We really are eternal receivers of His grace.
The Praying Man
~ ..the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.. ~ (James 5.16)
Prayer #1. – (let’s begin at the beginning!) ~ LORD, teach us (also) to pray! ~
“IF” (and this is a “conditional if”) it is our heart’s desire to pray and “if” we want our prayers to be “effectual”, then our prayers also should be purposeful (direct), pure (what’s my motivation?), particular (specific), and passionate (mean what you say – say what you mean).
Let us begin at the beginning (again), starting with “LORD.” Do we call Him, do we know Him as “LORD?” Is Jesus (who is the) Christ, LORD? If He is not LORD of all, then He is not LORD at all. There is no way in Heaven or on earth, to say “no, LORD.” Our only (right) answer to Him is our “Yes.” (Amen).
Why is this so? Because we are His by right of creation (it is He who has made us and not we ourselves”- “I will praise Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”) and we are His (once again) by right of Calvary. We are His “purchased possession.” He has purchased His Bride-to-be with His own blood, -freely given at Calvary, for “whosoever will.”
And when you pray, say, “Father..” (1 John 3.2) ~ Beloved, (dear friends) now are we the sons (and daughters!) of God..~ and it does not yet appear what we shall be.. (Selah!- Stop. and think about this!) Is God your Father? Are you today, -right now, this very moment,- a son or daughter of El Elyon? Do you belong to HIm? Have you been “bought” (purchased, redeemed) with a price? And if so, – what was the price that was paid? What is your very soul worth? What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
God has purchased for Himself a people, and “blessed are those people whose God is the LORD.” ~ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) to those who ask Him!” ~ (Selah).
We now pray to the Father, through the Son, inspired by the Spirit and ours is the privilege of prayer – because of Calvary. Calvary has made prayer possible for every man. The veil of the temple has been torn in two, from top to bottom. – “Enter in..” “Come unto Me..” This is His invitation..
God has spoken. Are we listening? Prayer is as much listening as it is speaking.. Our prayer many times should be, “speak LORD, your servant is listening..”- rather than “listen LORD, your servant speaks!” Be secret. Be still. Be silent. Stop. Look. Listen.
“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people..” – Why would God do this? Ask. The easy answer? Wandering sheep, the Good Shepherd knows what He is doing! – and.. He is (always) good.
if I send pestilence among My people and My people who are called by My Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
“Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place..” (2 Chronicles 7: 13-17) Where is this “place?” It is wherever and whenever, the knees are bent. This is the place of blessing! Was Christ (Himself) a “praying man?” – The servant is not above his Master.
“LORD, teach us (also) to pray..” Amen. We learn by doing, (so) ~ Pray without ceasing! ~ Avad ADONAI always! Amein.
I am so grateful for the Word that also tells us how to pray…
Yahshua has said, “IF you shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”” Again He says, “IF any man serve Me, him will my Father honour.” John 14:14, 12:26. IF we live according to His Word, every precious promise will be fulfilled to us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him.
“And this is the boldness that we have in Him, that if we ask whatever according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 Is it not according to His will to pray for pardon of sin, the Holy Spirit, to have the mind of Yahshua, wisdom and strength to do His work, or for any other gift He has promised? These are our greatest needs. But, we must remember these blessings are conditional on us living according to His Word and serving Him. Would you not agree that every promise in the Word of Elohim furnishes us with subject matter for prayer; while presenting the pledged word of YAH as our assurance.
To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, YAH answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.
Have a wonderful Shabbat everyone!!