what are God's interests?

The purpose of man is to glorify God. That should be our priority. In fact, we are created for the glory of God (Isiah 43:7). That question was easy to answer. The harder one is the one that follows it: how do we glorify God?

Lanae said:

i read Mark 11:24 and it said at bottom at the page "Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or God's
so What are God's interests?

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God sent His only Son to die for our interests.
That happened.
There are no additional revelations you need to know about.
God cannot do MORE for your benefit.

Lanae said:

i read Mark 11:24 and it said at bottom at the page "Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or God's

so What are God's interests?

Click to expand...

frater_domus said:

The purpose of man is to glorify God. That should be our priority. In fact, we are created for the glory of God (Isiah 43:7). That question was easy to answer. The harder one is the one that follows it: how do we glorify God?

Click to expand...

I think the solution is in asking for petitions that glorify God. Mark 11:24 is a great way to pray in faith believing. But we must look into our hearts and see if Holy Ghost faith is present (faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit). And not mental faith that isn't worth the effort it takes to turn on, or sustain.

The plan and purpose of God is the restoration of his spiritual kingdom to it's former glory and beyond. We can glorify God by doing 'restoration' work in our own lives; physically, materially, and spiritually.

Lanae said:

i read Mark 11:24 and it said at bottom at the page "Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or God's

so What are God's interests?

Click to expand...

The Lord wants everybody to be happy. He gave us rules to follow, and if we follow those rules, we will be happy.

Lanae said:

i read Mark 11:24 and it said at bottom at the page "Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or God's

so What are God's interests?

Click to expand...

The verse he is referring to, in context, is:

“I tell you the truth, 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. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’” (Mark 11:23-25, 1984 NIV)

A tricky passage. Jesus says similar things several times in the book of John, too. One starting point for understanding this passage it to recognize God never acts against his will (Mark 3:24 among others). Another point is that v. 24 references faith ("believe"), which only comes from God (Ephesians 2:8). Not to mention that flesh and blood cannot do miracles.

However, your question is about a question posed by the author of the study notes, not about the Bible verse. God has many interests, but all those interests stem from the fact that God's is love (1 John 4:8, 16). His nature is that of sacrificial love. Everything he does comes from wanting to do what is best for others and not what is best for himself. In fact, he will never do anything contrary to that (2 Timothy 2:13). (We are to glorify and obey him for our benefit.)

God desires, for our long-term benefit, that we follow him. When we do the same things that Jesus did we share experiences with him and he with us and that helps us know him a little better. God's primary interest for any given individual is that he or she acts to draw closer to him. Aside from the many commonly described ways of following him (e.g., helping the poor), you can do things like ask him to make you more like him in some way, such as when you don't seem to have one of God's attributes as much as you would like (Galatians 5:22-23 for some examples of God's attributes; more in Exodus 34:6-7). You'll will reap greater rewards (for you and others) whenever it costs you something to do so, because you would be closer to being identical to him (like a son would for his father). (It also reveals greater devotion to him ala Mark 12:29-31, but don't overdo it and burn out, Galatians 4:18, his strength in 1 Peter 4:11).

But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5-6, 1984 NIV)

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45, 1984 NIV)

The more devoted to God we are, over time, the more unity with him we will experience (in whatever ways he chooses, however remember Jesus both rejoiced in his followers/children and also suffered for them). Connected to Mark 11:24: This includes his power, although I mention it only to point out how extreme his gifts to us are. However, prior to his power must come the wisdom to use it. It is through obedience we acquire that kind of wisdom over time.