For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 1:11-12, NASB)
As I wrote on Tuesday, there is one gospel and one alone. The Bible is God’s revelation to us through the pens of men, and it is that gospel we who follow Christ believe.
Some of the so-called gospels being preached today aren’t found anywhere in the Bible—or are found only in part. The “name it and claim it” gospel, for example, is partially biblical. The Bible certainly includes verses such as Mark 11:24 (“whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them”) or Matthew 7:7, 8 (“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”). These seem to support the idea that “I ask, and I get.”
However, if Mark 11:24 is read in context, we learn so much about how we’re to pray, how we’re to ask. First, we need to, as the New King James Version states, “Have faith in God.” If we have faith in God, we will desire to do His will, and if we desire to do His will, then indeed, we will be able to ask for anything. And He will do it—within His will. The second thing that stands out is that we can’t pray for God’s will if we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts. (Partial excerpt from my book, The Best Laid Plans.)
Jesus Himself prayed within God’s will (see Matthew 26:39).
We must be very careful when we listen to men. And we must also know the Bible well. Then and only then can we be assured that the gospel we follow is God’s revealed word.
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