Bill's Bible Blog

In part 1, we looked at situations where things were impossible for people to do or believe, but not impossible for God. In part 2, I’m going back through the same chapters in Mark where the answer was not “Yes.”

1. Peter rebukes Jesus, Jesus rebukes him right back – Mark 8:32-33

When you think your spiritual leader is going astray, you quietly take Him to the side and tell Him so, right?

Jesus said, “NO! You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on those of people!”

Sometimes when we don’t ‘get it,’ it doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Be humble instead and ask for an explanation.

2. Boy Possessed by an Unclean Spirit – Mark 9:14-29

A father brings his demon-possessed son  to some disciples of Jesus to be delivered and they think, “We got this!” After all, they’ve been casting out demons for a long time now, right?  But…no.

Later, after Jesus casts out the demon, He clues you in. “This kind of demon cannot be cast out without much fasting and prayer.”

Moral of the story: Don’t think just because you know some things and have done some things that you know everything and can do anything. It’s always a good idea to check with God first.

3. Who is the Greatest? – Mark 9:33-37

You’re one of the chosen Twelve out of hundreds of disciples who believed in and followed Jesus, the Messiah, so you’ll be one of the Great Ones too when Jesus establishes His Kingdom, right?

Jesus says, “NO! Whoever receives a child in My name is receiving Me, and not only receiving Me, but God who sent Me.”

Wait, what? Is Jesus saying a child is greater than one of the Twelve? Seems like just another one of those topsy-turvy things in Christendom like:

“If you want to keep your life, you have to lose it.”

“He who would be greatest among you must become the servant of all.”

Jesus had to die and be buried in the earth before He could ascend to God’s throne in heaven.

We have to give up everything in this world in order to receive everything God has for us in heaven.

Doesn’t make sense, does it?

You see some guy you don’t even know, and DEFINITELY not one of your group, casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and you try to make him stop, and then you tattle to Jesus. That’s what you should do with impostors, right?

Jesus says, “NO!  Whoever is not against us is FOR us.”

Quite the opposite of what radicals today say, “If you’re not for us, you’re against us!”

Jesus is inclusive. Radicals are exclusive. That’s how you tell them apart.

5. Divorce  – Mark 10:2-14

The Teachers of the Law say it is allowed for a man to divorce his wife, so it’s okay, right?

Jesus says, “NO!  Moses wrote that Law because you’re a hard-hearted people. In the beginning, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body.’ So they are no longer two, but one.”

6. It is hard for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God – Mark 10:23-37

Rich people have been greatly blessed by God, right? That should mean they’re on the fast track to make it into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus says, “NO! It is easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved”

“So,” the disciples ask, “how can anyone be saved?Jesus replied,

That’s the whole point, isn’t it? If we could have saved ourselves, Jesus would not have had to come and die for our sins.

7. The Request of James and John – Mark 10:35-40

You want something really big, really bad and you build up your courage to ask Jesus in private…

…and He says, “NO! To sit at my right or left is not for Me to grant. Those places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

What we want is not always part of God’s plan. Leave room for God’s ‘No,’ and be willing to accept it.

8. Christian Leadership – Mark 10:42-45

You can’t wait until you’re in charge so you can tell everyone what to do…

…but Jesus says, “Not so! Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…”

9. Blind Bartimaeus – Mark 10:46-52

This blind beggar sitting behind the crowd as Jesus and His disciples pass by keeps yelling for Jesus louder and louder. “Shut him up!” everyone says…

…but Jesus says, “NO!  Bring him to Me.” And the blind man received back his sight.

Sometimes it pays to be the squeaky wheel, even in God’s Kingdom.

APPLICATION – Prayer

So, when will God say “yes” in answer to our request and when will He say “no”?
There are several guidelines in the Bible that can help us figure that out.

1. If we ask for something that is within the range of what God wants to do for us or give us, then the answer will be “yes.”

2. So, how do we tell what requests fall within “God’s will”? The best way is to become familiar with what God has promised, because in Jesus Christ…

Note that God has a personal motive for answering our prayers, that He would be glorified through us. God’s number one goal is that people know He exists, and that there are rewards for coming to Him. God wants to reveal those things through us to those around us by answering our prayers and then us letting people know.

Then God’s number two goal kicks in, saving as many people as possible through faith in Jesus Christ, but they’ve got to have this faith first…

3. To claim this promise, we must pray in Christ’s name. Jesus said:

It has been explained to me that asking God for something in Jesus’ means asking for the same thing that Jesus would ask.

So, it’s not just ‘WWJD’ That is, What Would Jesus Do?  It’s also ‘WWJA,’ What Would Jesus Ask?

Once again there is a purpose to God answering our prayers in Jesus’ name, that we would be filled with joy. And let me testify how great it is when I pray for something and God comes through!

As for God’s plan of salvation for the world? There is nothing more attractive to needy, hurting people than someone who has their own needs, but is filled with joy because God is answering their prayers about them!

4. And when it comes right down to it, we have to ask! That is the idea of our pastor’s recent book on prayer, ‘Just Ask.’

James said the same thing in his letter,

James also explains why we sometimes get a ‘No’ from God:

The opposite of asking ‘in Jesus’ Name,’ is asking ‘just for ourselves.’  Trying to get something for yourself out of your ministry to others for God will destroy your ministry. So too…

CONCLUSION

So, what will God’s answer to your prayers be, “Yes” or “No”? Whichever one it is, you can be sure of one thing, there will be waiting involved.

When we ask God for something, He’s not like a ‘genie in a bottle’ that has to give us what we ask for, when we ask for it, and how we ask for it. We need to remember that this is the LORD GOD we’re talking about. He is sovereign, which means He’s in charge of everything. He will choose the best way to answer your prayers, when to answer them, and how to answer them.

Also remember that God wants everyone to know it was Him. He often chooses unusual ways of answering and waits until the last moment. One reason for the waiting is for us to display our faith and trust in Him.

So, ask, believe, wait patiently and glorify God when He comes through. He does, He will, and I can testify to that too, AMEN!