POWER TO ASK & TO RECEIVE
Memorise: And this is the
confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his
will, he heareth us: 1st John 5:14
Read: 1st John
5:14-15, Bible in one year: Nehemiah 4:1-6:14, Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
Many people do not know that
there is power behind asking and receiving. If you do not believe this, study
the story of Jesus and His disciples’ encounter with the story of Jesus and His
disciples’ encounter with the demon-possessed boy in Matthew 17:14-20. Only the
children of God can decree a thing and have it established (Job 22:28). This is
why it is important to be born-again if you want to possess the power to ask
and to receive what you ask for. The boldness to ask (in faith) and the power
to receive belong to God and He gives these to His children.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for
we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
In light of the above
scripture, there is a need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to
possess the power to ask. In other words, the power of prayer is given by the
Holy Spirit. The disciples of Jesus found it difficult to effectively pray when
the Holy Spirit had not come upon them. The story in Matthew 17:14-20 confirms
this and also the several instances where they slept instead of praying.
However, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were not only able to pray
effectively, they started decreeing things (Acts 4:31). Another resource from
which the power to ask can be derived is the immutable promises of God as
contained in His word. Such promises like the promise of Jesus in John
16:23-24, makes the power to ask tremendously available.
However, it is one thing to
have the power to ask and it is another thing to have the power to receive. It
is amazing that sometimes, when God releases blessings to some people, they
tend not to have the power to receive it. Peter experienced this and he almost
missed out on God’s blessing, but for the mercy of God. When he encountered
Jesus at the lake
of Gennesaret, he pleaded
with Jesus to get away from him because he was guilt-ridden (Luke 5:8). To
posses the power to receive therefore, we must have faith in Jesus. Also, we
must keep our mind void of offences (Psalm 66:18). Moreover, our prayer must
not be marred with lust or ulterior motives (James 4:3). I pray that you will
be empowered to ask and received from today in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point
Father, grant me the power of
effective prayer so that whatever I decree here on earth may be established in
heaven.
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