Prayer and Promises

An evaluation of God's promises through prayer

Problems

There are four main issues with prayer:

  • God can respond with "yes," "no," or "wait." If all three are possible, how do we know if prayer works?
  • Failed prayers can always be attributed to insufficient faith or misalignment with God's will.
  • Prayers show no more effective than chance.
  • If promises aren't literal, how do we discern which scripture should be interpreted literally?

Moving Mountains

Matthew 17:20

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"

Anything in Jesus' Name

John 14:13-14

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Believe and Receive

Mark 11:24

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

Ask and Receive

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Two or Three Gathered

Matthew 18:19-20

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

Ask in Faith

Matthew 21:22

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Greater Works

John 14:12

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Snakes and Poison

Mark 16:17-18

"...And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.'"


This section contains several extraordinary claims and promises. Some key observations:

  • This section of Mark is widely recognized as a later addition to Mark's Gospel
  • The original Gospel likely ended at 16:8
  • This addition demonstrates how miracle claims expanded over time. It introduces elements absent from Jesus' ministry in earlier texts. It is reasonable to conclude that this development of legendary claims about Jesus also precedes our earliest manuscripts.