Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss...
James 4:2,3.
That goes far in explaining why there is such a sad state of SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY in the lives of many [who profess to be] Christians today. But surely James was not addressing "Christians" when he said, "ye lust", "ye kill", "ye fight and war"!! Oh yes he was! The "epistle" (letter) of James is one of the most instructive writings in the New Testament and was directed against the errors of [Jewish] Christians. He asked if their aim in life was to submit to the Will of God or to gratify their own [selfish] desires to gain the pleasures of this world. It's still the same today: worldly-minded "Christians" pray for their own selfish desires, with no consideration for God's pleasure. (They have not studied the Word of God to learn that which God would have them do, they do not live in accordance with God's commands, they will not spend time in earnest prayer.)
What did James call this sort of "Christian"? Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4. Professing loyalty to God while consorting with the world! We don't pray for that which will glorify God: we want that which will glorify us--make us look good--gain us prestige, power or possessions.
Now look another time at that word, ENMITY: "being an enemy; hostile or unfriendly disposition; hatred". Just like ole' James wrote: ...whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the ENEMY of God. Like it or not, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other... Matthew 6:24.
...ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss. There are those who say, "I pray every day, yet I NEVER hear from heaven--God doesn't answer my prayers." Even more sadly, there are countless so-called (as opposed to "God-called") preachers who preach that the PROMISES OF GOD are "not for today". That's how they excuse their spiritual laziness and lack of sold-out-to-God commitment in their own lives and ministries. Get this fixed in your heart and mind, right now: We serve a LIVING GOD, Who CHANGES NOT ! (Malachi 3:6) So if we don't have power in our prayers, if we are not able to claim (and see the workings of) the promises of God in our lives TODAY, the fault does NOT lie with God!
Before we ever get into this study on Prayer and The Power of Prayer, let's get a grip on this right now: EVERY PROMISE OF GOD CARRIES A CONDITION ATTACHED TO IT. That's right, every promise has a precept. Oh, but the world and those who have fallen for the lies of the world will NOT like that! They will lift a hue and cry, "We live under Grace," or "We serve a loving God"--both of which are correct, BUT the Grace of God is NOT a license to sin! God is NOT looking the "other way"! And yes, God loves us. So much in fact that He has set forth promise after promise after promise in His Word to us, but EACH and EVERY ONE of them carry a condition with it. (We addressed this in If You, Then God.) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, AFTER ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:35,36. Did you see that? If you, THEN God!
The Word of God tells us in II Chronicles 7:14, IF my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Let's look at that again:
IF (meaning a qualifier/stipulation/condition follows) God's people will (1) humble themselves, (2) pray, (3) seek the Lord, (4) turn from their wicked ways (those 4 things are the condition) THEN (here comes the promise): God will hear them, forgive their sin and heal their land.Once again, If you, THEN God! Of course, there are those who will say, "But you don't have to work to be saved and that's working to be saved." No it isn't! We are presenting to you the formula for EFFECTUAL (effective) prayer that is available to each and every one of us as followers of Christ. Doesn't mean all will grasp it--doesn't mean all will accept it. However, we pray that this series of messages will teach YOU how to have the power in your life that [should] come (and stay) when we ARE saved by salvation in Jesus Christ!
Do we get saved to "have power"? Wrong reason. Do we get saved so God will "answer our prayers"? Wrong reason. We "get saved" because we RECOGNIZE we are sinners, sin separates us from our Heavenly Father, and we do not wish to be separate (apart) from Him ever again! Power and answers to prayer are benefits that we receive when we are saved, but they are not the reasons to be saved. God loves us; He wants us to love Him! He made the way easy, simple and clear--through Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY DOOR to God. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:9,10. Please note that Jesus very plainly said, "I am THE door." He told Thomas in John 14:6, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life: no man cometh unto the Father, but BY ME." THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO PRAY TO GOD: THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
So many "Christians", from pastors to lay people, ask, "Why are we making so little progress today?" Neglect of prayer. Why aren't more souls coming to Christ? Neglect of prayer. Why don't we have victory over the things of the world, our flesh, or the devil? Neglect of prayer. Why is there so much unbelief with so many being blown about by "every wind of doctrine"? Neglect of prayer. How is it so many live in a constant state of confusion? Neglect of prayer. Why isn't my son, daughter, wife, husband (or other loved one) saved? Neglect of prayer.
"But we've BEEN praying!" Have we? Or have we merely been saying words, performing a "duty", going "through the motions"? Do we really know how to pray effectively? Some say, "That's easy. Just pray as Jesus prayed." That's NOT all there is to it: we must ALSO live as Jesus lived. No, not walking around in sandles and long robes, but with our wills submitted to God, our lives glorifying God in word and in deed. Remember? It is AFTER we have done the will of God, that we receive the promise.
So how do we know the Will of God? Through prayer and studying the Word of God! In trouble already, aren't we? We "don't have time" for all that, do we? Even so, we are instructed to: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. I Timothy 2:15,16.
Go back and read the history of the early church as recorded in the Acts of The Apostles. It is a story of ongoing progress and constant victory. Acts 2:47 tells us ...And the Lord added to the church daily... In Acts 5:14 we find, And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Some might say the difference in the "early church" and churches today is because the "early church" did not have the "opposition" that we face today. Well, what would you call your very life being in jeopardy? The true difference is, those of the early church refused to cower in the face of opposition.
Then there are those who say, "But all the Apostles are dead. These things were only for the "days of the Apostles". They don't apply 'today'." Wrong! Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle AND High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1. For I am the Lord, I change not... Malachi 3:6. So it's NOT God Who changed from the time of the "early church" until now; there is still an Apostle (Jesus Christ) Who lives (and reigns at the right hand of God). Why then are we powerless?? ...ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss...
Let's face it: we do not live in a praying age. And you can well forget the "effectual, fervent" part! Folks equate fervent with "emotionalism". Isn't that the oddest thing? They can scream their "heads off" at a football game or wrestling match, but let's not have any intensity in our prayer life, OK? It's hard enough to get folks to church once a week. Don't have revivals anymore--folks are too tired to attend. But not too tired to sit up until late hours watching all manner of ungodliness on the tv. "Christians" have a "special occasion only" relationship with God--in times of crisis, at "Easter" and at "Christmas".
"Well, I don't need to go to church. I can pray and worship right here in my home." Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider ONE ANOTHER to provoke unto LOVE and to GOOD WORKS: NOT FORSAKING the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: and SO MUCH THE MORE, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25.
Prayer is one of the most powerful instruments God has placed within our grasp! Yet, this is the age of "man's" determination to do for himself, "man's" confidence in himself (the self-esteem factor) and "man's" power to achieve by himself. We have all kinds of machinery (organizations and plans) to do things, but no matter how great the machinery, if it lacks power to run, it's a bunch of J-U-N-K! We are powerless to overcome that which comes against us, we are ineffective in our prayers, we don't have the patience to run this race or the strength to finish our course because we don't have our "machinery" plugged into The Power Source.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures MORE THAN lovers of God; Having a FORM of godliness, but DENYING the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY. II Timothy 3:1-5.
Prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouses of God's infinite Grace and power. Prayer has just as much power today, when men and women are on praying ground and are willing to meet the conditions of prevailing prayer, as it ever did! Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1. God has not changed! But now let's read the next two verses: But your INIQUITIES have separated between you and your God, and your SINS have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. Isaiah 59:2,3. Ouch!
There can be no true prayer without study of the Word of God. There is no true study of the Word of God without prayer. Your growth (and mine) into the likeness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is in exact proportion to the time and sincerity we put into prayer. Did you know: The ones who exert the greatest influence on our lives are those we spend the most time with? Had you ever realized that? We can NOT be MUCH like Jesus, if we refuse to spend time with Him! We can NOT grow in His likeness if we do not know His Ways! And how do we learn His Ways? Through prayer and studying the Word of God. Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29.
THEN shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with ALL your heart. Jeremiah 29:12,13. (Promise: God will hear us when we pray. Condition: seek Him with ALL our heart. A dedicated seeking of Him.)
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31. (Promises: shall renew their strength, mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint. Condition: wait upon the Lord.)
"Well, I am trying to serve God as best I can in my own weak way." STOP it! Serve God in HIS STRONG, VICTORIOUS way! You have no natural ability? Then get a SUPERnatural ability! If you are a true follower of Christ, you have the power of God through Christ by the Holy Spirit in your life. And if you don't have it, get right with God. Get on PRAYING GROUND and get it!
"Ye Have Not, Because..." Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Sikes.
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