Friday, October 10, 2014

ASK


Ask, Seek, Knock

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.   "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:7-14

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

"According to Jesus Christ, if we lack things in our life it’s our fault because we don’t ask. Our Father God has everything that we need and more than enough of it. And He delights to give good things to those who ask Him especially the Holy Spirit and “The Kingdom.”  Of course our enemy, the devil, will try to do everything to stop us from asking, including showing how unworthy we are of anything. And then he will even try to steal from us what God has given to us. And many people, even God’s people, just freely let him steal their health, their riches, their good name and other gifts that God has given them. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

The kingdom of God is not only righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit but is also divine health, divine favor, divine blessings, divine prosperity, divine health and divine victory! And it’s all wrapped up in Jesus Christ who became poor so that we might be rich. It’s a fact that we are immensely rich because we have Jesus Christ and He is priceless. He is our all our, our brother, our friend, our Lord, our reward and our all. He is the best thing that we ever have or will have! And there is no one like Him or greater than He is. God’s word is unchanging:

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:  Who forgives all your iniquities,  Who heals all your diseases,  Who redeems your life from destruction,  Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.  For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4

But the other side of the coin about lack is that we cannot treat what God has given us freely unwisely and be unfaithful with the different gifts. One day we will give an account to God for all the gifts and giftings that He has given us. So we need to ask the Father for wisdom and discernment to handle the wealth and gifts that He give us and to use them all wisely. God’s word is unchanging:

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."  Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.  And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt.  Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Genesis 41:38-44

And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. Exodus 23:8

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:8-11

We must be filled with the Spirit of the LORD and be discerning and wise just like Joseph was if we want God to promote us and to use us greatly. We must discern good and evil and not be perverted and corrupted by others including the enemy.  We must have an understanding heart to judge God’s people and to understand to discern justice and the unsavory. Yes, we must cry out for discernment, and lift up our voice for understanding. God’s word is unchanging:

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Proverbs 15:21

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. Proverbs 19:25

"And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23

Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:18

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:29

Yes, we must discern between the unclean and the clean, between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Otherwise we will find ourselves in the judgments of God for supporting the unclean and wicked ones. We must discern the times we live in as well as God’s seasons and timings in life.  And we must not be undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful or we will find ourselves in places we never expected to be. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14 

EXTRACT FROM Be Filled With All The Fullness Of God 
 http://walthope.tripod.com/hear.htm
 

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