Who Answers Prayers? The Father or The Son?

Given the situation is Jesus' comment in John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" is not a promise given to us.

 

We pray to the Father, yet in these verses Jesus says that He (Jesus) will do whatever the listeners (the disciples) ask in his (Jesus') name.

 

How do we differentiate between what Jesus promises the disciples in these verses and the promises he extends to those who will believe in Him (Jesus) through the apostles' word? 

 

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Regards,
John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Hail to the Chief" was written for James Madison because he was so short that no one ever noticed when he entered the room.

Grace vs Kindness

When Paul told the people in Ephesus that we are saved by grace through faith what does grace mean? The grace of God is kindness of God. God did not have to reconcile us with himself but because of his kindness he reconciles us to himself if we have faith that God exists and rewards those who diligently seek him.

 

Jesus is the expression of God's grace but what is the definition of grace other than the kindness of God. The word grace means nothing until you know the definition. Jesus is the expression of God's kindness. God did not have to do that but because of his kindness he did. If we ever get to real definitions it will be easier for people to understand the difference between faith, kindness, etc. Much like the word baptism which is a horrible word because it means whatever an individual wants it to me. The definition is immerse or immersion and that cannot easily be used to define sprinkling or pouring. God's kindness is not something separate from God. We are saved by our belief that God exists and that he rewards people who diligently seek him because he is kind enough to provide a way.

“How a Church Loses Its Distinctiveness.”

The situation addressed has been around since Pentecost.

Apparently the people you mention are still in the kingdom. Jesus told his disciples to let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest. As bad as Judah was there were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They remained members of the tribe and whatever the bad guys were doing it had no affect on them.

No matter what is going on around us it seems nothing can separate us, as individuals, from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, except ourselves.

The loss of distinctiveness you mention is also caused by the good Christians, those who say the right words, do things "right" on Sundays, but fail to read the Bible. It seems most congregations of the church of Christ are so intent on shortening the time they have to spend together the Bible has been dropped from the assembly. And, we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find ways to shorten the Lord's Supper. But we have the "worship" right, which we think makes us the good guys. Sometimes it is more difficult than first thought to identify the real church of Christ.

Add to that the inordinate amount of time spent on sports.

Ministry of Reconciliation

When talking about ministry of reconciliation it occurrs to me reconcile what and to what? I know what it is but do we practice it?

 

According to The Zondervan, Pictorial Bible Dictionary, Merrill C. Tenney, General Editor, synagogue is a place of assembly;

A Jewish institution for the reading and exposition of the Holy Scriptures. It is supposed that the synagogue had its precursor in the spontaneous gatherings of the Jewish people in the lands of exile on their day of rest and also on special feast days.

From the second century B.C. onward, the sect of the Pharisees assumed a leading role in the synagogues. (In other words clerics took control replacing the laypeople. My addition.)

The chief purpose of the synagogue was not public worship but instruction in the Holy Scriptures.  For the Jews it was not to be imagined that a people could be righteous without knowing God's holy character, and what was right in his eyes and what was wrong. And if God had revealed these things, plainly revelation was the place to go to learn them.

Jesus and his disciples frequently taught in the synagogues (Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:2; John 18:20; Acts 13:5, 15, 44; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:2-4, 10, 17; Acts 18:4, 26; Acts 19:8).

 

Strangers were regularly asked to address the congregation: Acts 13:15 after the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it." 

 

We do not consider that today. We protect our assemblies and enthusiastically guard our "pulpits." Could it be we hesitate to be more evangelistic because we are afraid we might attract someone not like ourselves? Today, diversity is not a favorable term in the church of Christ. Congregational autonomy is tolerated only when the other congregation functions as we function and thinks the way we think.

 

Could it be that the concept that our assembly's primary purpose is to worship with edification and encouragement being secondary limits us? We do not want to attract people different than ourselves. They might have different ideas than we have. We have concerns Paul did not have. We have property and pulpits to protect.

 

Could evangelizing from a defensive position be having a negative affect? Should be on the offensive?  That would require us to leave our stronghold.

 

Within the comfort of our stronghold do we do anything that possibly makes strangers uncomfortable? Do our suits and dresses make people in t-shirts and faded jeans uncomfortable? Does the formality of our assembly intimidate those not familiar with our customs? Does not being able to distinguish local members from the visitors encourage local visitors to want to come back?

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.

 

When an ambassador spends most of their time in the embassy are they having the desired affect and influence?

 

Our new building can be a great tool and surely will be intimidating unless we make a concerted effort to make it not be.