Just for my own info but if God exists what can I do to get them to grant me a wish?

[Jos]

I think you have God confused with the genie in the lamp or a fairy godmother. Those may grant wishes. God does not.

He seems to do with certain people who always get what they pray for.

 

[Jos]

It depends on your definition of God. I believe in God. But I don't believe in the "god" who is the Great Santa Claus in the Sky. THAT god is a false god.

Yet for some people that sort of being does exist.

 

[Jos]

Did he really give them what they wanted? Or only what they needed. They ate the manna for 40 years....they rarely saw any meat. They had no vegetables or fruit and yet they survived. God saw to it that their clothing didn't wear our or even their sandals. This may have been a miracle, but it was hardly granting wishes.

The time for blessings would come once they entered the Promised Land. But just before they entered, satan brought another test on God's people. The men were tempted by beautiful Moabite women who led them into immorality. Imagine! They had endured 40 years in the wilderness and just as they were to enter their God-given place of peace, disobedience once again caused them to miss out.

There is a pictorial lesson in this for us, who are wandering about in our own 'wilderness'....a spiritual one as well as a political one. The devil is sure to tighten the thumb screws as these last days draw to a close. If we are too busy complaining about our lot in life, we might well miss the opportunity to gain entry into God's promised "new earth" ( 2 Peter 3:13)

It's time to be grateful for what we have and to appreciate what is just ahead of us.....an opportunity to live the life God had planned for us all along. (Revelation 21:2-4)



Satan can 'blind minds' (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) so we can rely on God to prevent that kind of 'blindness' if we have genuine faith in him and his ability to carry out his will on earth. If you have ever prayed the Lord's Prayer, it is a request for God's Kingdom to come and for his "will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." That is still to take place.

You see, the devil can only blind "unbelievers". Those misled into the a fake kind of Christianity that Jesus foretold, have their minds blinded too. (Matthew 7:21-23) When the judgment comes, Jesus will reject them. He accepts only those "doing the will of the Father" at that time. This is what we need to be concentrating on...not having wishes granted.

What are we doing with our lives to be found among those whom Jesus will take into another "Promised Land"?

So I mustn't believe people who've had direct experience of miracles in the modern world? Why? What if God changed His mind?

 

[Jos]

Okay, so doesn't that end your argument?

Not totally since God refuses to do the same today or at least does it with some people and not others.

 

[Jos]

This is so easy. Prayer can be as simply as a thought. God will grant you anything as long as it does not interfere with your lessons or the lessons of someone else.

Yet some people seem to get everything they ask for

 

[Jos]

I don’t think you can do anything, but what would you wish?

It's kinda personal.

 

[nPeace]

Not totally since God refuses to do the same today or at least does it with some people and not others.

I am showing you, that is not so.
Again give me an example.
You already did, and I showed you, no.
If you want to do it again, go ahead.
Or should I remind you, where you did? Look here, and here.

 

[Jos]

I am showing you, that is not so.
Again give me an example.
You already did, and I showed you, no.
If you want to do it again, go ahead.
Or should I remind you, where you did? Look here, and here.

I'll get back to you.

 

[Stevicus]

Just for my own info but if God exists what can I do to get them to grant me a wish?

Well, you could always wish upon a star.

 

[Bird123]

Yet some people seem to get everything they ask for

That's a result of a narrow view of things. More knowledge lives beyond the surface than lives on top.

 

[Deeje]

So I mustn't believe people who've had direct experience of miracles in the modern world? Why? What if God changed His mind?

We have to be careful...here's why...

2 Corinthians 11:13-15...speaking of false Christians out to mislead others, Paul wrote....
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their end will be according to their works."

The devil mimics God by disguising himself as a good guy. He has "ministers" who serve his interests, performing so-called miracles in order to deceive people.

2 Corinthians 12:12...a genuine apostle was given the power of God's spirit...
"Indeed, the signs of an apostle were produced among you with great endurance, and by signs and wonders and powerful works." ......so how is the devil a mimic....?

Paul warned...
"But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved."

The devil is out to mislead.....these are not true miracles, but more like magic tricks...sometimes half baked...sometimes dismal failures. Jesus and the apostles 100% cured everyone who came to them...no failures.

You see, the real miracles were only for a time and a reason....they were a small scale demonstration of what was to come under the rulership of God's kingdom (Revelation 21:2-4)....healing the sick, raising the dead, and seeing the holy spirit in action. But these were to cease....

1 Corinthians 13:8-13...
"But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. . . . .When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, to think as a child, to reason as a child; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a child . . . .Now, however, these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love."

Mature Christians were no longer to rely on miracles, childishly looking for 'tricks' to confirm their faith....once the Christian congregation was firmly established, then the traits of a child were to be done away with...."Faith, Hope and Love" would now identify true Christians.

 

[Deeje]

I'm just saying. It seems to me that everyone and their mothers are ALWAYS praying for something specific when they pray. They ask for help for whatever problems, strength to cope with whatever situations, cures for whatever illnesses etc.

And it seems to be a very American thing to do I have noticed....since America seems to be more inclined to follow 'pie in the sky' religion for some reason.... It seems to be the same kind of faith that small children have in Santa Claus.

We don't do that in Australia. Social media is full of people (mostly Americans) praying about one thing or another, without much acknowledgment as to whether their prayer gets answered or not...it just seems like the thing to say when you have nothing else to say. Prayer chains always amaze me.....as though if enough people pester God he has to say OK....?

Make up your mind. Either prayers are answered or they aren't. Which is it?

Some prayers are definitely answered as I can attest. I have had many prayers answered in ways I didn't expect. It all depends on what you are praying for. As I said, this is not the time for miracles...its the time for endurance....it is the time for showing God who we are and where our faith is.

So, in other words, your prayer is indeed a request. A request for "strength" to cope with whatever, just like I said above.

If God grants you that strength, it would necessarily mean that this god has to intervene in physical reality and manipulate your brain to help you mentally handle the situation.

How is that different from praying for a cure or whatnot?

Do you understand why humans get sick and die in the first place? If you do, then you will know why prayers for cures are not answered.....just yet. God will give us the strength to endure hardship for the present, if we ask him in sincerity. The big answers will come later when the Kingdom assumes its authority over all humankind. (Matthew 6:9-10)

I think a loving god wouldnt' create a world where innocents suffer from cancer or horrible deseases or parasites or what not in the first place, so I'm probably not the person you wish to ask that question.

God didn't create a world where innocents suffer.....The world he created was perfect.....humans messed it all up thinking that they were the better judges of what they need. God stepped aside to show humans exactly what they signed up for when the devil offered himself as their god.
We will see all things rectified when God has finished demonstrating what a lousy choice they made. Life lessons are not quickly forgotten.

So, in your opinion, every single claimed "miracle" since biblical times, are false claims?

Read my last reply to Jos. (above)

Then prayer is useless, since that would mean that if the prayer isn't done, it would happen anyway since it was god's will anyway.

God's will is the only important thing.....it will be accomplished, with us or without us. By prayer we show reliance on God as our rightful Sovereign, and we demonstrate that we need him to guide and direct our lives. Obedience is all he has ever asked of us.

I don't see how it matters, if the assumption is that god's will will be done regardless of who prays for what.

Personal prayers said in accord with God's will are answered. But selfishly asking God to win the lottery or to help you to climb the corporate ladder, or if you play sport to help you win a competition.....will never be in accord with God's will.
Praying that a dying person be cured or a suffering person to have their pain taken away is not selfish, but in this world, God does not intervene in those things. Why? Because satan claimed that humans would be better off making their own choices about everything....that they don't need God to make good decisions. But I think humans are demonstrating every day that they are nigh on to useless when it comes to making good decisions about a lot of things. Look at the state of the world and see what a hash we have made of self reliance....we suck at it!

So, to conclude: praying is useless.

No, not useless at all.....its a very important communication with the Almighty who lets his worshippers know that he is with them in all the ways that count.

 

[Jos]

I am showing you, that is not so.
Again give me an example.
You already did, and I showed you, no.
If you want to do it again, go ahead.
Or should I remind you, where you did? Look here, and here.

Fine you win.

 

[nPeace]

Fine you win.

No. I did not win. It's just proven that I am correct.

 

[firedragon]

Just for my own info but if God exists what can I do to get them to grant me a wish?

What if God cannot grant you a wish?

 

[WalterTrull]

I've read this hint a bunch of times. Still grappling.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. "

 

[Jos]

What if God cannot grant you a wish?

Idk.

 

[Milton Platt]

No I'm saying that I want my wish granted. Besides if God is all knowing there's no way they can be manipulated.

If god is all knowing, you are wasting your time asking for something the god knew since the beginning of the universe you would want now. It follows that if the god wanted you to have it, you should already have it.

 

[Jos]

If god is all knowing, you are wasting your time asking for something the god knew since the beginning of the universe you would want now. It follows that if the god wanted you to have it, you should already have it.

Good point.

 

[WalterTrull]

Ya know... tee hee
There's a difference between knowing everything and being whatever knowing is. On the one hand, possibly subtle on the other maybe not.