What do you think about that statement? Do you believe that? I would be skeptical except for the fact that the person who made that statement is able to deliver the goods. He never says anything He doesn’t hear from His Father, so not only is the promise true, it’s available to all who will take Him up on the offer to ask.
I’ll share the entire verse in a moment. But those four words leaped off the page and into my spirit. The familiar took on a challenge almost. Everyone who asks, this proves that it wasn’t exclusive to a particular group only but to everyone with faith to believe the words of Jesus. What gets tricky is what do we ask for? James has the answer to that which we’ll look at in a moment as well. Our asking must always coincide with the Father’s will for us. His will is limitless. Find out what it is and ask away. The only things that will block our asking and receiving is unforgiveness, unbelief and selfishness. Get these out of our lives and our ability to receive flourishes.
Jesus, after encouraging us to ask, gives us insight into the nature of the Father, by contrasting our earthly parents' willingness to give us what we ask for with a caveat “how much more” will our good Father give good things. Our earthly parents are limited to natural resources, our Heavenly Father gives natural bread and supernatural bread. What we receive from our earthly parents fades away, we even outgrow them but not so with our Heavenly Father. He exceeds expectations. This asking and receiving though, isn’t limited to spiritual things, but to every need and godly desires of our hearts. Remember He only gives good gifts.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.”Matthew 7:7-11 NLT
Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
James 4:2b-3 NLT
In James 4 he gives various reasons why we don’t receive. We choose our own evil path to gaining things when all we need to do is what’s written in red in our Bibles. Doing life God’s way brings God’s results. It releases every good and perfect gift. When we ask with the renewed mind there’s no room for fleshly desires. Our will is intertwined with His. We ask for ourselves with others in mind. Our blessings bless us and others. There’s no selfish motive for asking. When our asking pleases God, our receiving does as well. He takes great pleasure in giving us good things. Is your asking being fulfilled in receiving? It should be. Jesus said everyone who asks receives. We don’t ask for what we need, we ask for what we want. That’s probably why we’re not receiving. We have trespassed on His territory.
The apostle Paul told us that God shall supply all our need. That’s a done deal. Why ask for a need if it’s guaranteed to be supplied? Thank Him for it! It’s a done deal. Move on to asking for and receiving your wants and godly desires. Jesus mentioned all the needs a parent supplies, bread, fish etc. but He goes further than basic needs to good things. The Desire of the heart is included in God’s good things.
So what do you want? He’s got your basic need covered. Ask Him. Are you among the everyone who asks? Then expect to receive. Jesus said it! Receive it. We have been given an open door. If we seek His way of asking, seeking and knocking, we’re guaranteed to receive whatsoever we’re asking for. Put His Word to the test, He will never fail you.
If we’re not receiving something is wrong! If we’re lacking manifestation something is wrong! But not with the Word but with us. I’ll give you a hint, using Jesus’ words. Then and only then, will we receive what we ask for.
“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”
Matthew 6:33 AMPC
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
January 18, 2022