Online Reporter
GREETINGS to the nation. Matthew 7:7–11 says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
When we read the Scriptures, we see Jesus giving his disciples instructions about asking, seeking and knocking. We are living in a generation that claims to have things, even though this is not evident in the physical world. We are a generation that trusts God for certain things, yet does not trust him for others. For example, we may trust God to heal headaches and stomach aches, but not trust him to heal cancer, high blood pressure and other terminal diseases or to lead us into other spiritual dimensions.
We see Jesus telling his disciples that there are possibilities in God that can become available to us. But these possibilities, dimensions or levels may not come to us because we assume that God already knows what we need. Jesus taught that in his kingdom, we can ask for the things we want or desire, and they can be given to us. We can also ask for direction or guidance.
Some people say, “God knows that I want this or that, so he will give it to me.” They say, “God knows that I want to grow spiritually. I want a job, and he knows that I want to travel.” Brethren, yes, God knows that you need these things. But in Matthew 7, we hear Jesus telling his disciples to ask and it shall be given to them. Remember, we are talking about the sovereign God, who knows everything about us. Yet he still wants us to ask him.
The devil has been telling some people that they ask God for too much, and that there are certain things they should ask for and others they should not. But God is our Father and he wants to provide for us. Jesus says that if our earthly fathers, who are evil, know how to give us good things, how much more will our heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him?
When we read the Gospels, we see Jesus asking a blind man what he wanted him to do. Jesus could see that the man was blind, but he still asked him. Then he said, “Your faith has healed you,” and commanded that his sight be restored.
There are people who are struggling in certain areas of their lives and are trying by every means to succeed. Some are frustrated and ask themselves why they are failing to overcome their challenges. Instead of humbling themselves before God and telling him how frail and weak they are so that he can give them strength, some make vows that they will not do certain things again, only to find themselves breaking those vows.
So, instead of trying to be a strongman, go to God and ask for help. Surely, he will help you. Asking God for help is a sign of dependence on him. You are letting God know that without his help, you are nothing. It will bring humility because you will recognise that you need his help and guidance.
James 4:2–3 says: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
When we read the book of James, we see the apostle James speaking to the church. He says, “You lust and do not have.”
How many people lust after things that belong to others? We become bitter about other people’s testimonies and achievements, not realising that we too, can have what they have. As men and women of God, we may begin to hate others because they are operating at levels we have not yet reached. We start gossiping and envying them and we backbite them so that others will hate them too.
All of this is caused by not having these possibilities. I want to deliver others from jealousy: stop envying and stop competing. You can still go to your Father and ask and he will give you the increase you need. I have seen men and women of God attack certain gifts simply because they do not operate in those gifts. This is because of the lust that comes from pride and not asking God.
May God help us to reach a place where laziness dies in us and we begin to ask through prayer. Yes, we know that some people use dark powers to obtain certain things from the devil but that should not stop us from asking. God is a giver to those who diligently seek him. The Bible says that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God, who gives liberally and without reproach.
God is a generous giver.
There are many fights taking place in the body of Christ because of envy and lust. The Bible says that we murder and covet, and that there is war among us because we are too lazy to ask and pray. There is so much laziness because we assume that God knows what we need. Even though God knows that we need certain things, we are still commanded to ask.
There is so much hatred in the body of Christ. The Bible says that if we hate one another, we have committed murder. How many murderers are in the house of God simply because they have not asked?
We see that there is another kind of asking called asking amiss. Our attitude when asking God is what disqualifies us. Do you know that everything God gives us must benefit his kingdom? We are a selfish generation, a generation that does not want to see others prosper — a generation of “me, myself and I”. This has destroyed the church of God.
We ask for things simply to show off and be seen, instead of empowering one another. God wants to bless us so that we may be a blessing to others. The gifts God has given us are for others. May we not be like Elisha, who died with the mantle.
Some people ask for marriage, but marriages should reflect God’s love for the church. When young people look at our marriages, many no longer desire to get married because they see nothing in them that reflects or benefits the kingdom of God. Our marriages have become a way to show off, they no longer reflect God’s love. As a church, we need to repent.
May God grant you the desires of your heart as you seek Him. May He grant you what you ask for, in Jesus’ name.
I would like to invite you to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that he is your Lord and Saviour and you shall be saved.
May God bless you all. Amen.
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