<It is neither, sometimes healing does not happen, Did St Paul lack faith? He was not healed. You leave out The Lord, and think that he is a genie that grants whatever you think is good, but thank God he does not do that.
Jeff the Finn>
First off, the verse you are looking for is
2Co 12:7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
So just what did the Lord mean when he said his grace was sufficient for Paul? Did the Lord say to stay infected by this devil? No, he says his grace was sufficient. So what is grace?
Grace is something that you do not earn, nor do your deserve. It is what was given to us by Christ on the cross. Through grace we are saved by faith. Through faith we are able to use the name of Christ in prayer.
But lets look at using the name of Christ for our desires a little better.
First off, when it comes to infirmites, viruses, money, whatever, are suppose to have a care in the world about these things? NO. We are to cast them on the Lord.
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
We are NOT to be worried or anxious about ANYTHING. Including money or disease.
Phi 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication(request) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
So then, what are we to do when problems arise?
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mat 21:21 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
there is no IFS, no ANDS, and no BUTS in this scripture. Is there?
But what about the will of God? We must be in the will of good to keep our prayers met. So what is to be in the will of God?
1Jo 5:14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jo 5:15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
So, how are we in the will of God? When his WORDS (The Bible, The scripture is WITHIN us, and we are WITHIN HIM! Then and only then are we able to receive our answers to our prayers.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
"What if my desires are wrong?" Well why don't you get saved? Or if you are out of fellowship with God, then you need to repent. Those who are out of fellowship with God and those who are unsaved aren't going to be able to make Mark 11:24 work for them anyways. But a man who is saved and walking in fellowship with God has the right desires IN HIS HEART. You can't tell me a believers desires will be wrong if he is walking with God and keeping his flesh under subjection to his RECREATED, HUMAN, SPIRIT. A Christian is suppose to crucify the flesh. But in Mark 11:24, God is talking about the desires of the heart (spirit). We must realize that it is God's will that ALL OF our needs be met - Spirtual, Physical, financial or material.
Though we do not live under the Old Testament, we can understand more about the nature of God by studying the Old Testament. In the OT God promised more to his people then just spirtual things, but he promised them that if they would obey him, they would PROSPER financially and materially ( Deut 28:1-14)
God has given us EVERY provision for us for every area of our lives. He told his people in the Old Testament if they would obey them they would eat of the good of the land (Deut 28:1-14 Isa 1:19) The phrase "the good of the land" carries the implication that God's people are to PROSPER materially.
The Lord said that He would give good gifts to His children (Matt 7:11). Our heavenly Father is concenred about us ( I Peter 5:7) and in Mark 11:24 he is talking about the desires of our hearts and how to receive them.
All things must be ASKED in Jesus name. This is the key to ALL New Testament prayers. OT prayers were not through Jesus name nor did man have access to Gods throne room as we do now through our great high priest, Jesus.
Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name.
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.
"... that your joy may be full". This applies to everything in your life! Including spiritual and material! For instance, how in the world could your joy be full if you are laying in bed sick? If your rent is not paid? If collection groups are calling you every day demanding money? Are these problems to big or to small for God to fix? Is God willing to heal your cancer but not pay your bills? Why are you limiting Gods work in your life?
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
ALL THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO US when we seek the Kingdom of God. Each and EVERY Born Again spirit filled Christian has the Kingdom of God within them!
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Luk 17:21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
Amen
