https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/SalomesRequest.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Matthew 20:17-28<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. We don’t know much about Salome, other than that she was the wife of Zebedee and the\nmother of the apostles James and John.\n
A. She made a request of Jesus that he turned down – Matthew 20:20-22<\/p>\n B. Jesus later tells the disciples that they can ask anything and Jesus would do it –\nJohn 14:13-14\n C. Yet, here is a case where the request was turned down and why it was turned\ndown is an important lesson for us about prayer\n
II. It was not God’s will<\/p>\n
A. Salome’s request assumed that Jesus was going to set up a physical kingdom<\/p>\n
1. Jesus wasn’t here to create another nation – John 18:36<\/p>\n
2. When people tried to force the issue, he left – John 6:15<\/p>\n
B. Thus, what Salome asked was contrary to God’s designs for the world<\/p>\n 1. The requests we make must be according to God’s will – consistent with\nHis plans – I John 5:14-15\n 2. When Jesus taught how to pray, a part was to emphasize that God’s will be\ndone – Matthew 6:10\n
3. Asking God to contradict His plans is wrong<\/p>\n C. This means that before we pray, we need to study what God said to make sure that\nwhat we are asking fits in with God’s plans.\n
1. Study – II Timothy 2:15<\/p>\n
2. Understand – Ephesians 5:17<\/p>\n
D. Examples of improper prayers<\/p>\n
1. Asking God to bless an unlawful marriage<\/p>\n
2. Asking God to help an illegal business venture to succeed<\/p>\n 3. Asking God to save by a mere prayer when He said salvation comes in a\ndifferent way and way is not being followed.\n
III. It was not for God’s glory<\/p>\n A. Salome wanted her sons elevated to the number one and two spots in Christ’s\nkingdom. The focus was on their glory and her ability to bask in their reflected\nglory\n 1. The other disciples saw the request as an attempted power grab – Matthew\n20:24\n 2. Jesus explained that the greatest in the kingdom was not by appointment\nbut by service – Matthew 20:25-28\n
B. Many prayers fail because the beneficiary is ourselves – James 4:3<\/p>\n
1. People focus on worldly things that only bring temporary benefits<\/p>\n
2. What is the motives for your request?<\/p>\n
3. Our actions are to bring God glory – Matthew 5:16<\/p>\n
C. Examples of improper prayers<\/p>\n
1. Praying for success or wealth with no other reason that to succeed<\/p>\n
2. Praying for a good looking spouse<\/p>\n
IV. It was not in God’s Time<\/p>\n
A. Salome’s request aimed for instant success<\/p>\n
B. Our lives are in God’s hands – Psalms 31:15<\/p>\n
C. Wait on the Lord – Psalms 27:14; 37:34; Isaiah 40:31<\/p>\n
D. Too often we don’t just want an answer, we want it NOW! <\/p>\n
1. Rarely is now the best time or the best answer<\/p>\n
V. The answer might not be what you expect<\/p>\n
A. Salome’s request while turned down was not outright rejected. <\/p>\n
B. James and John would be great in the kingdom, but only after their service<\/p>\n
1. James died – Acts 12:1-2<\/p>\n
2. John was imprisoned – Revelation 1:9-10<\/p>\n
3. Jesus asked if they were prepared to suffer – Matthew 20:22-23<\/p>\n C. To answer Salome’s request, at least partly, required molding and shaping her\nson’s characters\n
1. Hardships are need to improve us – Romans 5:3-4<\/p>\n
2. Temptations must be endured – James 1:12<\/p>\n
3. Our faith has to be tested – I Peter 1:6-7<\/p>\n
4. James and John’s greatness came with great change in themselves<\/p>\n D. When we pray, do we realize that the answer to our prayer likely will require\nchanges in ourselves?\n
1. We pray for growth. What will that require?<\/p>\n
2. We pray that the word be spread. What will that require?<\/p>\n
VI. What will you ask of God?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[Based on an article by Joshua Welch]<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 20:17-28 I. We don’t know much about Salome, other than that she was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the apostles James and John. A. She made a request of Jesus that he turned down – Matthew 20:20-22 B. Jesus later tells the disciples that they can ask anything…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1510,1314],"class_list":["post-63417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-prayers","tag-salome"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33385,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/where-does-it-say-that-salome-was-james-and-johns-mother\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":0},"title":"Where does it say that Salome was James and John’s mother?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Where does it say that Salome was James and John's mother? Answer: \"And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons\" (Matthew 27:55-56).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54930,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-you-give-me-more-insight-into-marys-sister\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":1},"title":"Can you give me more insight into Mary’s sister?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: The Bible talks about Mary having a sister who is the wife of Clopas whose name is also Mary. The Bible states that this Mary had kids and in\u00a0an article that you wrote you stated her kids were James and Joses. But when we look at Matthew 13:55, it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38750,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/claims-of-contradictions-in-the-resurrection-accounts\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":2},"title":"Claims of Contradictions in the Resurrection Accounts","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 1:1-4 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People who don\u2019t want to hear a message will try to find some way to discredit either the messenger or the message \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If there is a perceived flaw, then they feel justified in tossing out everything they don\u2019t want to accept\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9236,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/who-was-herodias-daughter\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":3},"title":"Who was Herodias’ daughter?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Who was Herodias' daughter, the one who was a dancer? Answer: \"But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod\" (Matthew 14:6; see also Mark 6:22). The daughter's name is not mentioned in the Bible, but we know from historical writings that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51722,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-life-of-the-apostle-john\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":4},"title":"The Life of the Apostle John","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 8, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 20:20-28 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Early life \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Matthew 4:21-22 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His father\u2019s name was Zebedee. His brother was James. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He was a fisherman by trade, working with his father and brother. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mark 1:20 - His father was prosperous enough to have hired servants \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Luke 5:10-11 - They were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44994,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/new-testament-apocrypha-infancy-gospels\/","url_meta":{"origin":63417,"position":5},"title":"New Testament Apocrypha – Infancy Gospels","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:13-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Reasons for existence \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Promotion of a false doctrine because support cannot be found in the Scriptures \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gaps led to speculation \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Have you ever wondered what Jesus\u2019 childhood was like? So have many others, which has lead to infancy gospels to tell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}