The sermon was on television Sunday, February 9. The gist of Joel Osteen's message is to believe that our prayers for divine intervention are answered in the present, even though the result may not be immediately apparent. He asked us not to pray for something we would like to be given to us some day but to be given now. He cited two examples from the Gospels.
The first was healing of the centurion's servant at the very moment the centurion expressed his faith in Jesus. [2] The second was a woman who was suffering from bleeding for twelve years and was healed when she touched Jesus' cloak. [3]
In these two instances, the results were immediate but also in these two instances, Jesus was there. Jesus had resurrected but He is still answering prayers. Depending on the urgency, some prayers, I believe, are answered presently. Others, however, are answered in time. I believe the prayers that are not immediately answered are not appropriate for us to receive because God sees that we are not ready to receive them or that they are not appropriate for us to receive and that there is something else that suits us better, or because that we, deep down, truly do not want them answered because we are afraid or are not prepared to have them answered, or because we do not have enough faith in God and are skeptical that God answers prayers.
Of the forgoing reasons that prayers are not answered presently, the most compelling is that we truly do not want them answered, despite our denials. However, if we insist, our prayers could be answered, even though we might not be ready for them, or that they may not be good for us. As the saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for." [4]
[1] February 09, 2014, #605, "Today Is Your Day!" See http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/ThisWeeksMessage.aspx , accessed February 11, 2014.
[2] See http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:5-13 Quoted, in part, below:
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed....Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.[3] See http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9:20-22 Quoted below:
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.[4] For example, parents who wish to have a million dollars so that they can quit working and have a nice home in an upscale neighborhood and send their children to good schools. What will they do with all that time, face each other all day long? Will they fit in with their new neighbors? Will their new neighbors enjoy having them? Will they miss their children when they are far away in college? Will their educated children be ashamed of their less educated parents? Will they be truly happy? Mr. Bieber is truly rich. Did he wish to be rich at one time? He has security guards. He flies around in private jets. He drives fancy Italian sports cars. He had millions of fans and can date them all. He was recently arrested for driving under the influence, and resisting arrest. See http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/showbiz/justin-bieber-arrest/ Is he happy? Mr. Seymore Hoffman was a talented actor. He won acting awards. Did he wish to be a famous actor? He recently died from a drug overdose. See http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/philip-seymour-hoffman-70-bags-heroin-police/story?id=22342702 Was Philip Seymore Hoffman happy?
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