Whose quote is this?

[Diatheke]

"It seems God is limited by our prayer life – that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him."

Must be a WoF minister - anyone know?

 

[Tamara224]

"It seems God is limited by our prayer life – that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him."

Must be a WoF minister - anyone know?

John Wesley.


Edit: I found a lot of people quoting this, mostly WOFers, but I haven't found any citation... When, where and in what context did Wesley say that? Do you know? Just curious...

 

[JimfromOhio]

John Wesley.


Edit: I found a lot of people quoting this, mostly WOFers, but I haven't found any citation... When, where and in what context did Wesley say that? Do you know? Just curious...

It is John Wesley's quote.

I have some of his books.

 

[Tamara224]

It is John Wesley's quote.

I have some of his books.

Which book is it in Jim? Would it be too much trouble for you to give us an idea of the context?

 

[JimfromOhio]

Which book is it in Jim? Would it be too much trouble for you to give us an idea of the context?

I will have to look them up for references. I remember his quote when I was studying "Prayer". John had a few books on prayer.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Did someone ask Him to create man and breathe life into him?

Did someone ask Him to send His only Son to die for us?

It seems to me that the statement may not be completely accurate.

 

[Atlantians]

I agree that the statement is certainly not completely accurate.

Further I would contend that it isn't accurate at all.
I am not a Wesleyan so I am not afraid to say this.

God is not limited by us.
He limits Himself for us.
He can do all He wants regardless of our wishes, He simply does not do so.

He desires us to want Him to help them.
So God can do anything for humanity, regardless of our prayer lives, but does not because He does not want to impose Himself on us in such a way.

 

[Debtfree]

I agree that the statement is certainly not completely accurate.

Further I would contend that it isn't accurate at all.
I am not a Wesleyan so I am not afraid to say this.

God is not limited by us.
He limits Himself for us.
He can do all He wants regardless of our wishes, He simply does not do so.

He desires us to want Him to help them.
So God can do anything for humanity, regardless of our prayer lives, but does not because He does not want to impose Himself on us in such a way.

God is ALL powerful YES!

However, there is one thing God can and will not ever do...

Violate our will!

God wants all people to be saved but not all will be.

Why?

Because they have set their wills against accepting His free gift.

God will not and cannot work in our lives if we refuse to allow Him too.

Sorry my friend, but that is just the bottom line.

Have you ever read in Malichi where God told His people that their words were Stout against Him???

Their words were in opposition to His Word and therefore hindered Him from working in their lives...

Check it out for yourself in chapter 3.

Debtfree

 

[JimfromOhio]

Did someone ask Him to create man and breathe life into him?

Did someone ask Him to send His only Son to die for us?

It seems to me that the statement may not be completely accurate.

I agree, God is Control regardless how we pray. I understood what John Wesley was coming from but many modern teachers are using this quote for other means than what was intended by John.

When reading his books, his explanation was this: WE should pray all the time. Ephesians 6:18 God wants you to ask and if its according to His will, He will do it. If you don't ask, even though it is according to His will, He may not do it. Its not that God is limited but rather, we are limited to our petitions in our prayer life. Prayer is important in a Christian life. A mature Christian will understand the attitude of prayer. Humility is putting God first in our prayers while pride is putting God last in our prayers. In Matthew 6:9-13 deals with the first half focusing on God, His will and plans before coming to our personal petitions. God does not always say yes to every prayer even though we expect Him to do so. We are not to have faith in prayer but rather have faith in God and His character.

Many times, the answers to our prayers will be NO for one reason: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives" (James 4:3). This also may includes that He will not give grace as well. God will not respond to self-centered requests unless it is according to His good and perfect will (His plans). Mature Christians will not be discouraged for a "no" answer because it is more than likely that the answer is delayed because of His plans. The cause of failure is not failure itself but rather, other reasons why God chose to wait or look for grace that He have provided or any other answers He already gave that we may be over-looking. God does answer in a different way. The answer may not be the one you like or accept but God will give it to you anyway. Often He will give the promised compensating grace (Sufficient of Grace). We have to understand that God may be delaying the answers because He has something better for us than what we have asked (John 11:1-6; Luke 5:1-16; Luke 8:40-56). Also keep in mind that God may be witholding what we ask in order to do special work that He have placed us according to His plan and will (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Remember, God knows before you ask because He is ALMIGHTY God. Romans 8:26 says that "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for". The Holy Spirit will help us know what we pray for.

 

[Christina M]

It sounds a lot like Paul Billheimer.. in Destined for the Throne and Destined to Overcome

 

[JimfromOhio]

God do not need permission from us to do whatever He desire to do. But if there is something in our lives that we ask for, and if its within according to His will and plan, He will provide otherwise if you don't ask, He will provide later when you ask Him and He will give it to you whenever He decides when before you ask.

 

[Atlantians]

God is ALL powerful YES!

However, there is one thing God can and will not ever do...

Violate our will!

God wants all people to be saved but not all will be.

Why?

Because they have set their wills against accepting His free gift.

God will not and cannot work in our lives if we refuse to allow Him too.

Sorry my friend, but that is just the bottom line.

Have you ever read in Malichi where God told His people that their words were Stout against Him???

Their words were in opposition to His Word and therefore hindered Him from working in their lives...

Check it out for yourself in chapter 3.

Debtfree

I would contend that though He will not go against or personal will, He can.
And in the end, ALL will bow and say He is Lord regardless of their will. They might not want to declare that, but they will.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

God is ALL powerful YES!

However, there is one thing God can and will not ever do...

Violate our will!

God wants all people to be saved but not all will be.

Why?

Because they have set their wills against accepting His free gift.

God will not and cannot work in our lives if we refuse to allow Him too.

Sorry my friend, but that is just the bottom line.

Have you ever read in Malichi where God told His people that their words were Stout against Him???

Their words were in opposition to His Word and therefore hindered Him from working in their lives...

Check it out for yourself in chapter 3.

Debtfree

I don't know...God has interfered with my will many a time. I've noticed though that when I step up to the plate and ask Him to take care of my attitude it's been a lot less of a tramatic interference.

 

[akasmom]

I would contend that though He will not go against or personal will, He can.
And in the end, ALL will bow and say He is Lord regardless of their will. They might not want to declare that, but they will.

I don't think that it will be against anyones will. When one comes face to face with God, one can't but be changed by it and one must acknowledge the obvious: He is Lord of and over all. There is nothing to do but fall down in worship. And one day, we will all come face to face with God. That is what the verse is talking about.

 

[TheGloryisHere]

"It seems God is limited by our prayer life – that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him."

Must be a WoF minister - anyone know?

Kenneth E. Hagin

 

[TheGloryisHere]

Kenneth E. Hagin

"Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Ps. 78:41).

Can you limit God? The Bible says Israel did. And we have limited Him. We have limited God with our prayer life.

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said, "It seems God is limited by our prayer life. He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him to do it."

Why is that? God made the world and the fullness thereof. Then God made man and gave him dominion over all the works of His hands. Adam was made the god of this world. However, Adam committed high treason and sold out to Satan. Then Satan became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4).

God didn't just move in and destroy Satan. If He had, Satan could have accused God of doing the same thing he had done. But God devised a plan of salvation. And He sent His Son, whom Satan could not and did not touch, to consummate that plan. Through Jesus, God redeemed mankind!

Now authority has been restored to us through Jesus Christ, and when we ask God, then He can and will move. That is why it seems He can do nothing unless someone asks Him to do it.

Confession: I take my place in prayer. I join forces with my Father in carrying out His will upon the earth!


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Source: Faith Food Devotions by Kenneth E. Hagin [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]([/FONT]okay so I was wrong. LOL John Wesley said it. I actually heard it from Lynne Hammond who is always quoting Kenneth Hagin)