Philemon 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
When we talk about consent, the immediate thing that comes to mind is individual autonomy.
We all know that any individual, be it a woman or even a man, has/should have control over their own bodies, personal space, and information. In the Bible, we see that God also respects our consent, which is called free will. We need to pray for things even though God knows what we need, for we give consent to God to intervene. Those who fully dedicate themselves to God (not just by words) are the ones who do not need to pray; they are the people who are written as ‘walk in the Spirit’. The only time they pray is for others and not for themselves.
Paul, as a Man of God, followed the principles of God, and we see him stating that without the consent of his student Philemon, he would not do anything that might affect him.
Let us respect the consent of people to be saved or not, to be enriched in spirit or not, to be rewarded in Heaven or not… in short, let us not try to kidnap or hijack to Heaven, it will not work. We may save them from Hell, but not enable their entry to Heaven.
We can only use force that is spiritual against the powers of darkness; else, we are called to be sober, timid, and gentle. It is for this reason that we cannot convert any person to be a Christian, but only bring out the Christian that is within them. Unless they have the seed of faith and love for God, all our work in them will be a waste.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You, Lord, are a Holy and Just God. You created all things, but when You created the Heavenly beings and also man in Your Image, You gave the right of free will. You did this so that the purpose of creating them would be fulfilled. Lord, we pray that we realise that unless we give our consent, You are unable to save us or bless us. It is our faith that does the work of giving consent, and our faithlessness that prevents the consent. We pray we seek total surrender so that we do not need to pray for anything and You have full consent over our lives…
This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
Mark 6:4-7
4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed [them].
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 4:26-29
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, [a city] of Sidon, unto a woman [that was] a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Dated 25 March 2026
Bro Rollwyn