In Defense of the Faith - Jesus Promised, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything ...

In Defense of the Faith

Reasons for Unanswered Prayer

Question: Jesus promised, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew:18:19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
See All...). I have never seen it demonstrated that any two Christians getting together can have anything from God upon which they agree. Was Christ’s promise not true?

Response: Perhaps nothing is more badly misunderstood by the average person, both Christian and non-Christian, than prayer. It is generally thought to be a means of persuading God to fulfill one’s dreams and ambitions and to satisfy one’s desires. But a moment’s reflection should quickly dispel that deadly delusion.

            The basic problem in the world is the conflict of wills and the resulting competition for power and supremacy. Prayer, then, would only make matters worse if it released a supernatural power that each person could call upon in order to impose his will upon others and upon the universe. Rather than bringing unity and peace, prayer would then only increase division and conflict by giving each person the power to enforce his will upon others.

            God must remain in charge of His universe. Of course, there is much that is done that is not according to God’s will because He has indeed given man the power of choice. God will not, however, become an active partner in effecting the will of man. He will not lend His power to merely fulfill our selfish desires. Prayer must be according to God’s will: “If we ask anything according to His will…we have the petition” (1 John:5:14-15 [14] And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
See All...). Prayer must also meet certain other conditions in order for God to grant the request.

            The agreement of two or more together is only one of the conditions for prayer being answered. Here are a few of the others presented in the Bible: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”  (Matthew:21:22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
See All...); “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John:15:7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
See All...); “Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James:4:3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
See All...); “Whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John:3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
See All...).

            These are not all of the conditions for answered prayer. These are enough, however, to suggest why so many prayers are not answered in spite of the earnestness of those who meet together to petition their heavenly Father for whatever it is they desire.