Bayless does teach false doctrine. Example: In His booklet "How to pray" page 30 - 32. He quotes John 16:23-24 "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. [24] Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Bayless concludes this: "He's commanding us to ask. And another condition - it's got to make you happy: "That your joy may be full." ". He goes on to describe how he prayed for a simple boat and how God answered his prayer. SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH ASKING FOR THINGS SO THAT YOU CAN BE MADE HAPPY? LETS LET JAMES ANSWER James 4:3-4 "You ask and do not recieve, because you ask amiss, THAT YOU MAY SPEND IT ON YOUR PLEASURES. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Who ever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" Its the same temptation satan gave to Jesus in the wilderness when he tempted him to turn a stone into bread. He was tempting Jesus to use His power for Himself. If Jesus would have done it He would have satisfied a desire of His flesh. Bayless thinks the boat came from God. Its very possible that "the god of this world" 2 cor 4:4 could have been the one providing the boat. So be care full in how you pray. Your prayers should be for the Glory of God and for others! I pray often that God would make me more like Christ, is it a sin that I am praying for myself like that. No, because my motive is the Glory of God! That He would be glorified in the transformed life that I live. But should I be praying for a boat? NOT if I am doing it for my own HAPPINESS or PLEASURE! But Bayless would tell you its ok to pray for your own Happiness. So why does scripture talk about having "joy" in John 16?? When your truely seeking God and His Glory - your prayers won't be selfish. The will centered on others. Your prayers will also line up with the written will of God for your life. For example: You will be praying for God to make you a "fisher of men" Matt 4:19. Because you desire to see people come to faith in Jesus. Thats a prayer that God will shurely answer in your life. He will make you a oul winner. Or you could pray for the Lord to make you a "Doer of the word and not a hearer only" James 1:22. enough said. False teachers often preach things that satisfy the lusts of your flesh. Beware!