The Word of God
"...ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss..." (James 4:2-3).
In the above scripture, James was dealing with the carnality in the church. He said, you don't have, because you don't ask, and when you do ask, you don't recieve it because you ask amiss. Looking this up, James literally was saying, you don't recive from God because you ask foolishly. The word amiss literally means – bad, foolish, worthless, even harmful and evil.
This is the record of the modern day church as well. So much foolish asking, so little receiving. Even worse, not receiving because of not asking. "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41).
For the child of God there is an open heaven, Jesus said, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." Jesus makes two prerequisites to qualify the asking. The first prerequisite was His very next statement, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:14-15).
The scripture says, "The whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all" (Luke 6:19). Virtue simply means power! Power comes through a genuine love for God, based on an unshakeable faith, which produces an obedience to His Word. Nothing proves our love for God more than our obedience.
"But without faith it is impossible to please him..." (Hebrews 11:6). Faith dictates our obedience and obedience proves our profession of love for God. In this relationship of love, you can have what you ask.
The second prerequisite is, "If ye ask... in MY NAME". What does it really mean to ask in His name? Too often we believe that because we end our prayer by saying, "in Jesus name, amen" that our prayer has been heard. Nothing could be further from the truth. Prayer is not a divination of magical incantations or properly recited words. True prayer flows from a deep love for God and earnest desire that His will be done and His Name be glorified.
"And the Word was made flesh..." (John 1:14). "...His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). To ask in Jesus name is to ask in accord with the Word of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).
To ask in Jesus name is so much deeper, so much holier than we think. We take it all so lightly, we ask so foolishly and then expect to recieve from the hand of Holiness Himself.
Expect to recieve from God when we have placed Him on the throne of our heart as the supreme Lord of our life. When we walk in fear of such a Holy One so near to us, when we obey out of a heart that weeps should we ever grieve Him. When faith outshines the dark doubts and fears within us, when we step out in complete confidence that Jesus Christ and Him alone, is our answer to everything.
By Randy Munter
Think On These Things!
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
Paul's exhortation here to the Philippians was the follow up of, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5). The command of God is a new mind, "...but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2).
One of the greatest promises of the Bible is, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" (2 Peter 1:3). The key to obtaining all things is, through the knowledge of Him.
Paul said, "Let the same mind be in you, that was in Jesus." Jesus thought only of the Father because there is nothing outside of God that is true, honest, just and pure? Christ left us the example, and we must walk in His steps. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" (Proverbs 23:7).
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