The Impact of Swearing on the Word of God and the Silence of Unheard Prayers

Since you’ve learned the model prayer that Jesus instructed us to pray, let’s make sure we keep God’s holy Word sacred. I am combining two messages, and hopefully both will be taken into consideration as to what the Word of God says.

1)      Swearing on the Word of God: I refuse to swear on the Bible due to what the Word of God says, but I will affirm whatever it is to be true. Dictionary- Affirm: to state something as true.  Swear: to put to an oath, administer an oath to; to bind by an oath

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;  nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one (Matthew 5:34-37).

Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, so that you will not fall under judgment. (James 5:12).

The legal system will not force anyone to swear; they will allow the truth to be affirmed; this is from my own experience. I never considered what Jesus said: But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.

However, if there is a court summons in the future for me to be a witness to something, I will look further into it and see if they accept ‘Yes’, or ‘No’ because my walk with Christ and what He says is more important that a judicial system. I choose not to do anything to dishonor my Lord. And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:12).

When someone answers to: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me (you) God? I know from my unsaved days, I did not tell the truth, therefore I had to be swearing against God. That is the very reason I am apprehensive about “swearing” on an oath, and that is why it’s so serious to me. I may seem to be a little rigid, but that’s me. I will stick to what I believe the Word of God means.

2)      Prayers that Don’t Reach the Throne Room of God

Unforgiveness: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.  Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head (Romans 12:17-21).

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44). If I regard iniquity in my heart [unforgiveness], the Lord will not hear (Psalm 66:18)

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).

Taking Communion Unworthily. Division among brothers and sisters in the church is dangerous; can lead to sickness and death, because of taking communion unworthily. When not considering others (thinking one is better than the other), we are not considering what Christ did for us! His body has already been divided. It’s a shame to divide Christ’s body after all He did for us (1 Corinthians 11:27-34).

Let’s make sure to examine ourselves carefully before taking the sacred communion. 

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org