VICTORY NOT GUARANTEED.
It is ofren said that:
"He who kneels before God can stand before anyone"
First this is a wonderful quote, it is very encouraging and it is generally true. Notice I said it is,, "Generaily", true.
The reason why I said that is because there is a prevailing belief amongst us, especially in the Word of Faith movement, that if we believe in what the scriptures says, be it in the court off law or in the inferno of battle, that God will give us victory then He will surely grant it.
There are two problems with this sort of mindset:
1. We presume that He will grant anything
2. If He grants it, we'll likely commend ourselves for it. It's our performance in believing & repetative prayers which obliged God to grant in our favor.
And so what if we lose? And what if He delivers but not in a timely fashion? Does that mean that God broke His promise(s)? Many have left the faith because they think God failed to keep His promises with regard to getting what they desparately want.
The solution is not blindly believing that God will provide nor disbelieving in God's promises, but to trust that God is sovereign in all things.
Please recall in the book of Daniel when King delivered a legal dicate that whosoever fails to bow down to the statue he has erected at an appointed time. the offender will die in a fiery furnance. Notice when asked by the King why, how Shadrach Meshack, and Abednego responded to him:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up..
- Daniel 3:16-18
Any Word of Faith or any Charismatic infected with the Word of Faith theology would have left out vs 18, because they were taught John 15:14 out of context.
God will indeed give you, what you ask, but notice what else He said: "...in my name". This does not mean that if you use Jesus' name at every end of the prayer it will happen. It is in relation to God's will.
The best sermon I've heard yet is the following video; Paul Washer is a bit intense, but it's extremely good:
I'll Be Honest "Paul Washer Testifies to How God Always Provides" Youtube.com Jan 19, 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8OR61p-gbU
Caption this Meme
