TEXT:
‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’ – Ephesians 3:20
THOUGHT:
The Book of James makes a startling statement, ‘You do not have because you do not ask’ – James 4:2. Why we are reluctant to ask can usually be boiled down to just two main reasons.
We have the wrong opinion about God
We think that He cannot or will not do it, even when there is a Biblical promise that He will! Or that He is really not interested with what is happening in our lives as individuals because He has far too much to do looking after the universe. Nothing could be further from the truth. Knowing the number of hairs on our head proves how intimately He knows us – Matthew 10:30. Jesus also said, ‘Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him’ – Matthew 6:8.
We have the wrong opinion about ourselves
Feelings of guilt and low self-esteem paralyse the desire to ask, for we feel we are not worthy. Why should God bother about me when there are much better people around? We forget that Christ came to save sinners and we all qualify in that respect! Once we have the right perspective of God, it makes it easier to have the right perspective about ourselves.
‘Ask and it shall be given unto you’ – Matthew 7:7. We can ask for anything that is in line with God’s Word as Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14 and 16:23-24 make very clear. There are also some specific things we are encouraged to ask God for and these form the basis of Today’s Teaching.
- For Rain – ‘Ask the Lord for rain’ – Zechariah 10:1
Rain was essential for an agricultural country like Israel. Far too many people like to blame God for the weather, whether it is too hot, too cold or too wet! This verse encourages us to bring God into the needs of everyday life. Rain refreshes, revitalises and restores. We can also ask for rain in a spiritual sense. When our experience becomes dry and dreary, then God can revive us with a time of refreshing – Acts 3:19.
- For Wisdom – ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God’ – James 1:5
We are encouraged to ask for wisdom when we do not know what to do. Solomon asked for wisdom to be a good king and that really pleased God – 1 Kings 3:5, 10. King Jehoshaphat, facing an invading army with inadequate resources, gathered the people together to, ‘Ask for help from the Lord’ – 2 Chronicles 20:4. Joshua and his elders on the other hand, allowed themselves to be deceived because they did not, ‘Ask for the counsel of the Lord’ – Joshua 9:14. It proved to be a costly mistake. God wants to help us with the difficult decisions of life, if we will only ask. Let our friends and families see that we are wise because God has answered our prayer for wisdom.
- For the Holy Spirit – ‘How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him’ – Luke 11:13
To be able to benefit every day from the Holy Spirit whom Jesus described as our Teacher, Comforter and Guide, all we have to do is ask!
- For a Double Portion – ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me’ – 2 Kings 2:9
Elijah invited Elisha to ask for something and he did! He wanted the rights of the first-born to be Elijah’s successor. It was not a small thing he asked for but thank God that he did. Elisha got exactly what he asked for. Let faith arise and ask for double. It could be to double the size of your family, business or church. When you allow the Holy Spirit to influence and inspire you to ask, you will be surprised by what your faith will ask for and receive!
- For the Nations – ‘Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance’ – Psalm 2:8
Ask God to help you to reach all nationalities with the Good News about Jesus Christ. This is exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Jerusalem was filled with people from all nations and thousands became believers in Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. When our asking is for God’s help to reach people with the gospel, that will be a prayer that pleases God and one that He will be quick to answer.
The invitation to ask is there for all. When you know that you can ask and what you can ask for, keep asking until the answer comes. The Syro-Phoenician lady is a good example of this. ‘She kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter’. The answer soon came, ‘Go your way, the demon has gone out of your daughter’ – Mark 7:26, 29-30.
‘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.
Recent Comments