To Demand Anything From God?
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. — John 15:7 King James
Exactly how bold can you dare to be in prayer? Do you have the right to come into the Presence of God and make certain demands of Him? What are your rights, your limitations, and your boundaries when it comes to the issue of prayer?
Do you think some of Jesus' followers thought he was a bit obnoxious when He was speaking to the disciples about prayer? (John 15:7). The King James Version says, "Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." The word "ask" does not mean beg or plead. If we can ask, that means we must be in relationship with the Father. And as such, we request and even demand assistance to meet tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, and so forth. On the other hand it does not give us permission to be arrogant or rude in this approach to God.. Our approach should be with honor and respect knowing we have a full expectation to receive what was firmly requested.--out of confidence of who we are in Christ and What the Word tells us we have a right to.
Jesus portrays someone who prays authoritatively, in a sense demanding something from God. This person knows what he needs and is so filled with faith that he is not afraid to boldly come into God's Presence to ask and expect to receive what he has requested.
Remembering the rest of this verse will keep us in proper perspective: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you." Jesus knew that if His words would take up permanent residence in your heart and mind, you would never ask for something that is out of line with His will for your life. His Word will so transform your mind that your prayers will always be in agreement with what He has already said. In fact, this transformation process--the new you-- is what gives you the confidence to boldly come into God's Presence and make your requests known! You ask boldly because you already know it is what He wants to do!
When you know you are praying according to the will of God, you do not have to cower down sheepishly and utter your requests.. Rather, you can boldly assert your faith and expect God to move on your behalf! To tell the truth, God wants you to act boldly and courageously in prayer. He wants you to seize His will for your life and demand that it come into manifestation! He is just waiting for you to ask!
And don't think you can only come to God for spiritual blessings. Jesus plainly stated in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek the Kingdom of God first, God will see to it that all the material things we need are provided. On the other hand, James 4:2 teaches that believers often do not have what they need because they don't ask! So ask and be willing to do your part in acquiring those things.
Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Paul has fallen in step with Jesus, as he urges us to be bold, authoritative, and commanding. However, he also tells us that our approach to God must not be rude and arrogant but rather filled with gratefulness and thanksgiving. Another scripture: Enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts! This means we should have a thankful, grateful heart as we come to make our requests known.
As you allow God's Word to take an authoritative role in your heart and mind and you give that Word the freedom to transform your thinking, your mind will become renewed to God's will. When that happens, it will cause you to pray in accordance with His plan for your life. Once you are in this position, you are ready to experience the blessing.
That is when you can begin to boldly, courageously, and confidently move into higher realms of prayer to obtain the petition you desire of God! As you make your bold requests known to God, take the time to show your respect by thanking Him for all He has done in your life!
if this message helps you understand prayer and the role you play let us know! You can be a blessing to others by sharing what was revealed to you!
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