This time I'm going to break this apart to address items individually.
Unbelief.. is simply not knowing what God says or who He is.. How can you believe in what He says about even Himself if you don't really know what He says or who He is??
This isn't true, because by saying this, you are saying that someone who disagrees with you is in unbelief. Because you and I differ in the way we view things, I am now an unbeliever. Even though I know exactly what He says, and who He is. You and I simply have differing interpretations of what the Word of God is saying, and we are both putting our full faith and trust in the Lord.
Faith comes by hearing.. and hearing by the Word of God..
This is absolutely true, which is why we all need to be daily in God's Word and daily in prayer. I would even add that we need to be in fellowship with other believers, being encouraged in the Word, and being taught from the Word.
Lets take prayer for instance..
Here is a scripture..
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears uswhatever we askwe know that we have what we asked of him.
We can have assurance that we can ask anything if according to His will and even in approaching God for anything we ask.. that God hears and we will receive what we asked.. But how can you know to do this if you simply don't know..
You might say.. well what is His will then..
His Word.. what God says and does.. Is His will..
This verse is often an area of contention between Word of Faith and those who don't agree with the Word of Faith teachings. Word of Faith tends to focus on "whatever we ask" while someone like myself focuses on "according to his will." Both sides of the verse are equally important, but each of us interpret the exact same passage differently. This isn't that one person or the other "doesn't know" it is simply a difference of opinion.
If God says anything about anything we know that is truth because God is truth..
So if we have read up.. studied.. what He says and who He is.. we can pray according to what He says and who He is.. and we can have assurance in what He says and who He is..
Yes, and if you and I both look at all the verses as to who God says He is, you and I will be nearly in agreement. Will we agree on everything? No, this thread is a clear example of that. But the basic character of God, the attributes associated with God, I'm pretty sure we will, for the most part, agree upon.
When people pray.. and that is just pray without knowing what God says and who He is.. How can they have assurance that God even hears.. and how can they know that what they asked for is His will or not.. They are really in indecision.. and this would cause doubts.. Which is unbelief.. not knowing God is truth.. and will do what He says..
Here is a biggie.. most people who pray.. say if it doesn't happen.. oh.. it didn't happen.. it must not have been Gods will.. But how can that be.. If they don't even know what Gods will is to compare it too??
This, again, is an assumption that another person "doesn't know" which isn't always true. Yes, there are some who are babes in their faith, who are just learning, and others who simply remain ignorant (for whatever reason). But to assume that another mature believer "doesn't know" just because they differ in opinion is why many are so hostile towards Word of Faith teachings.
Again, taking myself as an example. When I pray, I acknowledge who God is. I acknowledge that He is my Father in heaven. He is my strength. He is my fortress. He is my shield. He is my rock. He is my healer. He is my provider. I could go on, and would go on, depending on my prayer. I will use the Word in my prayers. Just as Moses "reminded" God of His promises to Abraham, I "remind" God of His promises to me. Not that God needs a reminder, but just out of humility to God. I would believe God's Word. At the same time, I pray for what I need to persevere through the trial. I pray how I can show God's love through me, through my trials. Yes, I want to be delivered from my trials, but more important to me is God's Will. And what is God's Will? That we should serve Him and bring others to the saving knowledge of the Gospel.
As you said, it is a matter of knowing who God is. My knowledge of God shows Him to be a loving and merciful God, slow to wrath and quick to mercy. He is longsuffering, and not willing that any should perish, and all should come to repentence. This "tent" I'm in is only a flash in the eyes of God, and I personally believe that the soul is more important than the body. Not saying the body isn't important, but it is only temporary.
If I come into agreement with someone.. it means I am agreeing with what they say.. now if they don't really know what God says.. and I do.. how can I be in agreement with them on this.. For we both believe differently.. So right from the start we are not in agreement... We both have to know and agree on the same thing.. for that agreement to be valid..
I see this as being the reason for not asking for prayer from others who don't see things the same way.
Because they cannot be in agreement..
As I have said repeatedly, it is up to you who you ask to pray for you.
My prayer won't undermine your prayer, nor would your prayer undermine my prayer. If we are both praying in the Spirit, the Spirit will intercede for us, and God will hear our prayers. If you have several in agreement, and it is in God's Will, then the prayer will be answered. I have no doubts to the contrary.
Again, this isn't about who we ask to be in our prayer circle, or why we ask for those people. It is about telling others, in a roundabout way, that they aren't good enough to pray. This is done by saying that their prayers will "undermine" yours or that they don't have the right "faith." If you don't want someone to pray for you, don't ask them to pray for you. If someone offers to pray for you, don't be afraid of their prayer, especially if you know you are in the Will of God (and the Word) in your own prayers.
