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Originally Posted by moselle  I was listening to a recent sermon online (not a reformed church) and the pastor began by mentioning a family (I'm assuming from the church) preparing for a memorial service. He then told everyone to stand and join him in prayer that God would send this person's soul back to their body. After he finished praying, he sounded quite happy and said he couldn't wait to hear the good news reported back that she was alive and well.
He wasn't exactly praying for her soul, but more as though he were praying for a sick person to be made well. It gave me the creeps, and I'm just not sure if this is expressly forbidden in the Bible, or just very strange.
Sadly, he never mentioned prayer for the grieving family. |
Although it would seem that the details of this are somewhat sketchy, I would conclude such pastor is confused concerning our Lords design for us to come to Him. I have always had a problem with us coming with an unfounded confidence without respect to the Lord`s will.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1 Jn 5:14
Understanding the Lord has called us to approach with boldness;
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16
Yet the scripture does not seem to promise that God, at our beckoning, will give as we request but as He wills. Now much is made of James 5:
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. Jas 5:15-18
The scriptures give examples thusly that I must admit are a bit confusing to me. Maybe someone can help with these scriptures that the charismatics use so boldly and help me(us) to understand in context.