| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ( E ) ASK ACCORDING TO GODS� WILL As stated previously, the scriptures shared in section C have clearly revealed that what Gods� children need to do in order to receive anything from their heavenly Father is to ask in prayer. Christians are in no manner under any obligation to first satisfy and fulfill an essential pre-condition of an act of giving before they can expect God to supply any of their own personal needs, wants and lack. However, with that said, the scriptures do provide proof of another pre-condition ( along with faith ) which the Christian should meet in order to receive from God. Jesus stated these words; 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - John 15:7 If Jesus� words, ( this would also include all of Gods� Words and not just the words which Jesus Himself spoke ), live and dwell and rule in our lives then based on meeting and satisfying this pre-condition, the child of God can then ask whatever we will and what we ask for will be done. This statement is a powerful and serious remark which Jesus makes. Jesus is revealing a powerful capability in prayer which any child of God has and can have with God our Father. Jesus does not put boundaries on what we ask for. Yet, He makes the important pre-qualifying issue of abiding in Him and His words ( i.e. all of Gods� Word ) abiding in us. The conclusion and instruction of James helps to reveal the importance of this pre-qualifying matter of which Jesus speaks. James writes and concludes; 2. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. - James 4:2-3 Notice the plain and simple instruction of James in specific regard to why Gods� children don�t receive what they need or want. Asking amiss, that is to say, making requests and petitions and supplications of God our Father with a heart and mind that is lustful and selfish. Improper requests and false supplications which are not at all in line with the heart and mind of our heavenly Father and His holy word. Since that is the conclusion which James makes, then what is the cause and how do we, the Christian, fix the problem? Jesus already told us in John 15:7. The problem and cause of which James is speaking is that the Christian has not been abiding, living and dwelling in Christ. Which means that the Christian has not allowed and permitted the Word of God to abide, live, dwell and rule in the heart and mind. Without that level of relationship with God and His Word who is good and holy, then the natural condition of the heart and mind of the Christian becomes cold and distant from Gods� purposes, desires and ways of righteousness. Therefore, a Christian heart in that kind of faulty condition is in an improper state which causes what we ask God for to be asking amiss. Thus, our incorrect asking simply results in our not receiving from God. That kind of heart and mind which has not been continually infused, joined with and cleansed by the Word of God is a heart and mind which consequently can only make requests and petitions of God which are lustful, selfish and thus not in line with what God wants for our lives. To further prove this point, let us review a few scriptures beginning again with James. James writes; 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. - James 1:21 Notice what James instructs. Lay apart, put away from yourselves, ( that is children of God ), all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness. Basically, quit being full of and given over to lusts and selfish pleasures and desires. Well, what should we the Christian be doing instead? James concludes that we should receive the Word of God because that powerful Word is capable of saving our souls. James even goes so far to provide an interesting description of the ability of that Word by calling it the engrafted Word. What is James saying? James is basically saying the same things which Jesus Himself commands all Christians. The engrafted Word is accomplished when you and I, the Christian, allow and make that Word a living, dwelling and ruling part of our lives. Being engrafted to the Word is being joined to the Word. The Word truly becomes a living and active part of our lives. Meaning to say, we let Christs� Word abide in us and thereby we are also then abiding and dwelling in Christ. That activity causes the Word of God to engraft and infuse us with its� powerful and mighty life changing ability. The scriptures further prove this life changing ability of the Word when they write of the cleansing ability of Gods� Word, ( John 6:63 ; 15:3 ; 17:17 / Psalms 119:9-11 / Eph. 5:25-27 ). Gods� Word cleanses, sanctifies and results in life. Therefore, when we live and dwell in Christ and allow His words to live and dwell in us then the effect which that has is to remove any lustful and selfish faults and errors which we have. Consequently, a heart and mind which does this will then make proper prayer requests and thus not ask anything amiss or inappropriate of God. Again the scriptures prove these things from the words of John as he wrote; 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. - 1 John 3:22 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. - 1 John 5:14-15 Why does the Christian have the confidence that God our Father hears our requests which we ask in prayer? How do we know that God our Father hears us and that we have the desired petitions which we have asked and requested in prayer? Why do we receive whatsoever we have asked of God in prayer? John concludes it is because we keep Gods� commandments and as a result of keeping Gods� commandments, ( i.e. abiding in Christ and Christs� words abiding in us ), we then do those things which are pleasing in Gods� sight. Jesus Himself proved these straight forward and clear truths in His own earthly walk among mankind because the scriptures conclude; 29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. - John 8:29 21. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. - John 11:21-22 Jesus certainly had a perfect and a working relationship with God the Father. Jesus always pleased the Father. Why was this? Because Jesus always did the will of the Father. As a result, whatever Jesus would ask of the Father, Jesus would receive from the Father. Even the testimony of Martha reveals that whatever Jesus asked of God then Jesus would receive from God what He had asked for. ( Of course, all one needs do is read the gospels and know from all the wonderful miracles which Jesus did that He always received from God what He asked for. I share Marthas� words to simply offer a straight forward statement in regard to Jesus receiving all which He had asked of the Father. ). Asking to receive is the relationship which all sons and daughters are supposed to have with God their heavenly Father. But a crucial element which makes asking to receive work is abiding in Christ and Christs� words, ( all of Gods� Word, the holy scriptures ), abiding in us. It is simply a relationship with God the Father. When we as Christians meet and satisfy that pre-condition with our loving heavenly Father, then whatever we ask for we know we will receive. Again, take note of the words of James. James never concluded that the reason which Gods� people did not receive was due to not first giving. The problem of not receiving, ( according to James� conclusion ), had nothing to do with seed-planting or first satisfying a requirement of tithing or the giving of some gift or money to a church or Christian authority such as a teacher or apostle or evangelist. Why does James say that the Christian does not receive? Real simple answer. We do not ask. And then when we do ask, we ask and make inappropriate requests of God. That is to say, prayers and supplications which do not meet His standards of godliness and holiness for our lives. Not asking can only result in not receiving. This has nothing to do with tithing, giving or sowing ( seed planting ). The situation has nothing to do with satisfying a prior requirement of giving to any person or ministry. And once again, in John. John says that when we keep Gods� commandments and do those things which are pleasing in His sight, then the results are that whatever we ask and request of God then we know that God hears our asking and that God will give us what we have asked Him for. As a result of freely receiving from God the things which He has first freely given to us, then in like manner we freely give what we have freely received from God to those recipients and persons who have their own wants and needs. God our loving heavenly Father freely gives and blesses His children when we ask Him what we need or want. In like manner, we freely give, benefit and bless others in their needs and wants with those things which we have first freely received from God ( Matt. 10:8 ). Receive to give rather than give to receive. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |