Keep On Asking

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:22

Sometimes, all we can do is ask.  Sometimes, all we can do is keep on asking.  Sometimes.

Asking can seem like such a small thing.  Yet, it is what He asked us to do.  There is something about a submissive spirit, and trusting and yielding spirit, that is required to ask someone in authority over you for something you need.  They could tell you no.  They could condemn or ridicule you for your lack of ability in yourself.  They could ignore you like you just don’t matter.  They wound you in so many ways, because the place of asking is the place of opening up your vulnerability.

Yet, sometimes, as we approach His throne, He is the only thing on our mind.  As the anointing comes, and as the glory enters, sometimes, with David, we can only say..

 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD

And to meditate in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

Sometimes, after all else settles down, and the comfort, security, and peace comes, we realize that the only thing we really needed personally was simply a greater revelation of Him!  He is our portion, and our supply.

I find it sad that there are so many denominations and sects out there that have an effectively dead understanding of prayer.  They understand God to be so sovereign, so mighty, and so “other”, that He already knows what He is going to do.  Yet, Jesus told us to ask.  In fact, He told us to ask ALOT! (Luke 11:8).

Like when Abraham pleaded for the deliverance of Sodom based on the number of righteous souls within it.  Like Moses and Aaron, as they interceeded for the nation of Israel when God said he would wipe them all out.  Like Jesus when He went up on the mountain alone.

The simple thing is the profound thing, the power is in the asking.  Our requests change things, and our continual asking moves God’s heart to move, and to move on our behalf where He would not have otherwise.

 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

James 4:2

We are required to come with a right heart, but if we do not ask, we may not always have.

And, if we do not see the results we wish to see at first, we must never lose heart.

Many today, as is evident by commentary after commentary, writing after writing, dismiss the simple call of Jesus to ask and receive, simply because, in their own minds, they have not seen it work.  They may see some answers to prayer, or they may see a certain percentage, but, because, in their minds, they do not see things like mountains being moved at the command of a voice, they wish to allegorize passages such as Mark 11:23, the mountain yielding to a word.

Yet, as always, Jesus, The Truth, said it.  It does not matter how many times you fail, it is His word against yours–It is impossible for God to lie.  Though we cannot perceive it, if we do not see what we want, we must assume there is simply a lack of faith or the presence of doubt.  Even if imperceptible to us, it is God that is perfect, and it is us that is fallible.

Jesus simply said to ask.  He showed His disciples the path of faith, and said, pray this way.  Until we die, until we see perfectly, until we part from this Earth and shed this earthly tabernacle, let us stand by our confession, that He is faithful, and He is true.  Let us stand claiming His word as true, and every man a liar.

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord, and stand believing.  As for me and my house, I know that my God saves.  As for me and my house, I will stand my watch, I will wait and pray, I will stand asking.

For, I know my God is faithful, and I know He is able.  He is not slack concerning His promises.

When Jesus had said to His disciples, concerning Lazarus, that the sickness would not end in death, what was the very thing that confronted them all?  An apparent broken word when Lazarus died.  Jesus was still an Old Testament prophet, mind you.  A false prophetic statement would mean death for Him under the law, and would have meant that all the disciples had wasted their lives, if you followed the strict Mosaic law.  This may help explain the retort, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Yet, Jesus’ words proved perfect.  The end of that sickness, was not death.  It did travel through death, and Lazarus’ life, like all mortal men, did end in death, but that sickness, though it passed through, came out the other side, and resulted in resurrection!  Jesus’ words are perfect, every time, no matter what circumstances look like in the mean time.

So, let us take Jesus at His word.

All things, whatsoever you ask, believing, ye shall receive.

His words.

So, let’s keep asking.