When God says NO!

During the ministry of Jesus, it was not uncommon for Him to say no.

In Matthew 3:15, John refused to baptize Jesus, but Jesus wouldn't relent until John baptized Him.

In Matthew 8:21, Jesus refused to allow one of His disciples to first go bury His father.

In Matthew 16:22-23, Peter rebuked Jesus for saying that He was going to the cross and arising on the 3rd day. Jesus told Peter to get out of His face, Satan.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said that a true diciple lets Him call the shots and not the other way around.

In Matthew 19:16-26, Jesus refused to allow a young man to follow Him until He gave all His belongings to the poor.

In Mark 5:18, Jesus refused for a healed demon possessed man to follow Him.

I could give many more examples. Let's focus on this one.

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus said...

Have Faith in God. 

I assure you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in His heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

It appears that Jesus was saying that you could ask for anything in Mark 11:22-24, and if you really believed, it would be yours. However...

In Mark 10:35-40, Jesus has just rejected a request from James and John about having thrones at Jesus' left and right hand in the kingdom. 

The basis for the rejection was those seats have already been assigned (by God), and Jesus didn't have authority to grant them to anyone else.

Therefore, I would conclude if God tells you to speak to a mountain or request something in prayer. 

It will surely be yours if you believe, speak, and act in accordance with what God has said to you. 

However, if you ask for something outside God's will, your request will surely be rejected like James' and John's request to have adjacent thrones.

Some people teach that we are to have faith in our own words. They take that from Mark 11:23 when Jesus says 

"Go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." 

They go on to say that if it does not happen it was because the person did not really believe.

They will go on to say that to have this kind of faith that we have to believe that everything that we say is going to come to pass. 

They take that again from Mark 11:23 when Jesus used the word "says" (plural) and not the word "said" (singular). 

I have a little bit of a problem with that interpretation. Because this makes ME and my words, the focus of my faith and not God. 

In Hebrews 12:2, it says 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...' 

Our faith must be founded on God Himself and not on myself and the power of my own words.

In Mark 11:22, Jesus said to "Have faith in God". I would say that my words and prayers that originate with God and His Holy Spirit. Those words I can have faith in.

In Romans 10:8-13, Paul said that 

"the word is near us even in our hearts and mouths. 

That is the word of faith which we preach. 

That if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead we shall be saved. 

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

For the same Lord of all is rich unto all who call upon His name".
Some people say that we receive from God the very same way as mentioned in Colossians 2:6. 

"just as you have received from the Lord Jesus Christ so walk in Him".

Yes, I would agree that if you believe what God the Father says about Jesus being Lord and yield to Jesus's Lordship by telling Him and others so. 

But if you mean that you have to work up a belief in heart by saying something a million times. I have a problem with that.

The truth is God idea of salvation originated with God. 

In John 3:16, Jesus said that God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". 

In 1 John 4:10, John said 

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins".

God's love did not orginate with us. Neither does our faith in God, and neither does our answered prayers. All orginate with God and not ourselves. 

Even Jesus said that He could not do miracles apart from His Father's divine direction... 

"the Son can do nothing by Himself" in John 5:19. In John 15:5, Jesus said that 

"apart from me you (too) can do nothing".

Another strange thing that some teachers say that answer to prayer have nothing to do with a obedient lifestyle. 

In John 15:5, Jesus said ...If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can doing nothing". 

Jesus went on to say that if you obey my commands, you remain in my love....Then I will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:10,16)

To pray in Jesus name, means to pray in Jesus behalf. 

In other words to pray a prayer that Jesus would pray in that situation and in accordance with His direction by the Holy Spirit. 

Those prayers and confessions are answered. Those words and confession I will believe in.

Review...

1) Does God ever choose not to grant our prayers?

2) If not, why?

3) Can you think of any time that Jesus did not grant someone's request?

4) If not, did the scripture reveal why?

5) What is the basis of our answers to prayer? (Romans 10:17, Romans 12:2)

6) What can short out our prayers according to God's word? (James 1:2-5)

7) How can doubt short out our prayers? (James 1:5-8)

8) How can selfishness short out our prayers? (James 4:3)

9) How can unforgiveness short out our prayers? (Mark 11:25-26)

M. H. Dennis