Bob Josey - Thriving in Jesus Chapter 9 - Asking and Receiving - May 1, 2022

SLIDES

Thriving in Jesus

Chapter 9

Asking and Receiving

Introduction

How many of you have read The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren? If you have read his book, than you know the theme of the book. What is the theme of the book? It’s not about you! If it’s not about you, than who is it about? It’s all about God.” The book answers the question, “What on earth am I here for?” He says we are not an accident and even before the universe was created, God had you in mind, and he planned you for his purposes while you are upon the earth. These purposes will extend far beyond the few years you will spend on earth. In the parable of the minas in Luke 19 we learn that even during the Messianic Kingdom, the 1000 reign of Jesus upon the earth, that will occur after the second coming, we will reign with Jesus. We will have authority and responsibilities depending on our faithfulness on the earth. Our reigning with Jesus during the Messianic Kingdom is also seen in Revelation 20:6. The word reign means to exercise sovereign power, to rule.

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these

the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ

and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Our rewards at the Judgement Seat of Christ and our responsibilities when we reign with Jesus during the Messianic Kingdom, are directly related to our faithfulness while we are on the earth. Our rewards for faithfulness during our Christian life upon the earth is related to two things. One is our obedience to Scripture. The second is our faithfulness in accomplishing the works that God has individually planned for each of us. Most of the time directly related to our spiritual gift(s). We looked at Ephesians 2:10 during our last study, but let’s look at it again.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:1-10 demonstrates that though people were spiritually dead and deserving only God’s wrath, God, in His marvelous grace, has provided salvation through faith. Sinners are saved by faith alone in Jesus alone. Salvation is not given to sinners because of their works but believers are saved by grace through faith, but are created as God’s workmanship in whom and through whom He performs good works.

As I said earlier, the works that God has designed for each believer to accomplish are usually tied to their spiritual gift(s). George Muller, whom we discussed last week, fed clothed, provided shelter, and provided secular and spiritual education to 10,024 orphans in his life time. From a human level, this was an impossible task but not for God. Muller prayed constantly and depended on God as he used the spiritual gifts of faith, evangelism, administration, and helps that God had given him. George Muller when he prayed asked for things in God’s will not his own. It was all about God not about him. He prayed for the wellbeing and needs of the orphans, not his own desires and wishes. George Muller is a prime example and illustration of a man who prayed in the will of God and when he prayed in the will of God, God answered him. It all boils down to our subject at hand today – asking and receiving. Muller knew God’s will for him because he studied Scripture and prayed to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. He spend time listening to God and talking to God. He knew God wanted him to have the responsibility of taking care of the orphans God put into his care. Therefore, he prayed in faith that the LORD would provide for these orphans, and God did provide.

As Pastor Joel pointed out in this chapter on Asking and Receiving, Jesus promised that whatever we ask for, we will receive.

John 14:12-14

12“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Wow, what a profound promise. Verses like this is where Prosperity Gospel preachers and teachers come from. This is why they ask for a several million-dollar salaries, expensive automobile, expensive jewelry, private airplanes.

If we look at the context and another verse similar to it, we get more insight into the meaning. Notice that this promise is in the context of doing works for the Lord. These are the works designed for each of us as explained in Ephesians 2:10. So the first thing one must keep in mind is that whatever you ask for concerning things should relate to the works God has designed for each believer to do. It not like the

concept of a genie in a bottle answering all requests, but it is almighty God who has a twofold plan concerning believers. One part of the plan is to use believers to reach the world with the gospel. The second part of the plan is for using believers to meet the needs of other believers in Jesus. Both parts of His plan are tied to believers using their spiritual gifts to do the works the Lord has ordained and designed for each believer do.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Romans 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly.

Let’s read John 14:13 again. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that (purpose) the Father may be glorified in the Son. Notice the proposition so that. The so that gives the purpose for Jesus answering our requests. Jesus answers our requests for the purpose of the Father being glorified. If we ask for something that is not God’s will and it does not glorify the Father the request will not be

In 1 John 5:14 we find that requesting something in the will God is a sure way of having that request provided. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. The phrase He hears us actually means that He not only hears the request but also provides what one has requested.

John 15:7 is another verse that relates to having all of our prayers answered in a positive manner. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

He says again that whatever one requests, it will be provided when one maintains an intimate relationship with Jesus. I have said for years that God always answers every prayer either yes, no, maybe, or wait. I want to amend that today to something I read last week. There are four ways God answers prayer: (1) No, not yet; (2) No, I love you too much; (3) Yes, I thought you’d never ask; (4) Yes, and here’s more."

But Jesus is really saying that we will receive everything we request from God. But you know there has to be a but involved. A.T. Roberson in his Word Pictures of the Greek New Testament puts it into perspective. "This astounding command and promise … is not without conditions and limitations. It involves such intimate union and harmony with Christ that nothing will be asked out of accord with the mind of Christ and so of the Father.” (Vol 5, p. 259)

Remember that we studied weeks ago in the metaphor of the vine and the branches that abiding in Jesus means to continually have an intimate relationship with Him.

Another verse that we should take into consideration is John 15:16.

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that (Purpose) you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that (Purpose) whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Jesus then reminded them that contrary to the common practice of disciples picking a teacher, Jesus had chosen them (cf. John 15:19). Even today students like to attach themselves to teachers they like. The purpose of His choosing them was for them to produce spiritual fruit that would have lasting effects. When they produced this lasting fruit, as we see them doing in the book of Acts, they could ask the Father what was needed for them to fulfil their mission to produce spiritual fruit and it would be granted to them. In this verse, as Pastor Joel points out in his book, there are two purpose clauses that connect bearing fruit and praying. There, then, is a cause-and-effect relationship between prayer and fruit bearing. Therefore, prayer plays an essential role in fruit bearing. In our next lesson we will discuss making a request to the Father in Jesus’ name.

Our motive for requesting things from the Father also has an effect wheather we receive what we request. We see this in James 4:3.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that (purpose) you may spend it on your pleasures.

Merriam-Websters online dictionary defines motive as something (such as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.

Each of us ask God for things to enable us to satisfy our own selfish desires ("ask with wrong motives"). Often we request more time, more money, more energy— so we can do things that please us ("spend it on [our] pleasures"), but that God does not desire for us at that time and maybe never. What we need to do is to ask Him to give us is more desire for what He promises and commands (for His will). We also need less desire for what is contrary to His will for us (cf. Matt. 7:7-11). Studying Scripture on a daily basis will help provide not only many of the promises and commands, positive and negative, He has for us. Knowing God’s will also come through prayer.

Questions or Comments

Luke 8:7 & 14 also give us some insight into why we do not receive from God what we request. In the parable of the soils, there were four different soils on which the gospel seed was spread. Two seeds died. The seed on the fourth soil was good soil. The seed germinated and grew, and grew, and grew to produce a fine crop. This represents the gospel seed that took hold in an individual that produces much spiritual fruit in his or her life. It’s the third soil that we are particularly interested in. Luke 8:7 says, Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. The word out is not in the text and it should say and it chocked it. The word out would seem to indicate it also died, but Jesus explanation of it in verse 14 shows it did not. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. The seed germinated and grew to a point but stopped short of producing fruit. This represents carnal Christians today who are saved but do not grow to spiritual maturity in Jesus because they worry too much, have a love for material things and the pleasurers that this life can offer. Therefore, they focus on these things instead focusing on pleasing the Lord, The result is no spiritual fruit being produced for the Lord. They do not pray or study much and the result of that shows. They do not have a grasp on what the will of the Lord is for them that results in not receiving what they request sometimes.

Now we want to focus on Paul’s view of asking and receiving from Philippians 4:19. This verse is probably taken our of context more than any other verse.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

In context this verse is speaking about the needs of the Philippian believers in relation to doing God’s works and supporting ministries.

The Lord through Paul told the Philippian believers that even though times were tough, that He would supply their material, financial, spiritual needs of the ministry of the church, as well as the ministry of each believer in relation to using their spiritual gifts. It is recorded in Scripture that believers in Philippi, Macedonia, Corinth, Israel were going through hard times because a famine in that part of the world. There were probably other cities that were not named in Scripture where churches existed that were going through hard times because there was a famine. Even though times were tough, these believers were helping each other, like is recorded about the Macedonians believers, the Corinthian believers, and the Achaian believers sending aide to the believers in the Jerusalem. As 2 Corinthians tells us, they first gave themselves to the Lord and then helped others in need. The Lord through Paul also told the Philippians that their needs for ministry would come through God’s unlimited resources of wealth and wisdom at His disposal.

You may say, “Well, I’m not in the ministry.” If you are a believer in Jesus, you have a least one spiritual gift. You may have more than one. If you are a believer with at least one spiritual gift, you have a ministry. You have a ministry in relation to that spiritual gift. This ministry was given to you directly from God when you were saved and ordained for you to do before you were born. Are you using your gifts to its full potential?

You may even be involved in a ministry that has nothing to do with your spiritual gift or is not associated with JFBC. If God has led you to help a ministry, He will supply the funds and the spiritual wisdom and insight to be involved in that ministry and support that ministry as well. If God leads you to support a para-church ministry, God will provide the funds to do that as well. Whatever ministry God leads you to help or support, God will supply the funds and the wisdom for ministry. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says,

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

This verse is saying something very similar to Philippians 4:19. The word grace in this context means divine enablement and the word abound means to supply in abundance. Basically what Paul is writing in this verse is that God has the capability of giving you all the resources and wisdom you need to do ministry or to support other ministries through His divine enablement. He will give you an abundance of wisdom and material resources for every good deed or ministry that He leads you to do.

I was a director of vocational programs in a school district in Mississippi during the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Three of our vocational programs taught different types of welding as part of their curriculum. To be able to learn and practice welding skills requires not only welding machines, but also metal. There was a manufacture of earth moving equipment in Vicksburg, Mississippi called LeTourneau Industries. They graciously provided metal each semester for our vocational programs so students could learn and practice welding. We were always thankful to LeTourneau Industries for providing this metal because it would have been very expensive to buy.

My daughter graduated from Tocca Falls College in Tacco, Georgia. On that campus there is a dormitory and several buildings that were built by donations given by R.G. LeTourneau. How many of you have either heard about R.G. LeTourneau or are familiar LeTourneau Industries? R.G. LeTourneau was perhaps the most inspiring Christian inventor, businessman and entrepreneur the world has ever seen. A sixth-grade dropout, Robert Gilmore “RG” LeTourneau went on to become the leading earth moving machinery manufacturer of his day with plants on 4 continents, more than 300 patents to his name and major contributions to road construction and heavy equipment that forever changed the world. Two thirds of the heavy equipment used during WWII was manufactured by LeTourneau Industries. Most importantly, his contribution to the advancement of the Gospel ranks him among the greatest of Christian Businessmen of all time.

During the great depression, LeTourneau struggled financially. Then after the great depression, his business began to boom. Both he and his wife were strong and dedicated believers in Jesus. Because God had begun to bless their business, she suggested that they give 90% of their personal income to the Lord and keep 10% for themselves. From that day forward, they gave 90% of their income to spread the gospel around the world and to support Christian ministries. LeTourneau exemplified what a Christian businessman should be.

From the Scripture we have studied today and the examples of George Muller and R.G. LeTourneau, we learned a very important principle. We learned that whatever we request from God in relation to the works He has asked us to perform and/or a ministry that He has led us to support, that He will provide whatever we request.

Do you want a higher batting average when it comes to receiving what you request from God. If you do, talk and listen to God more. Then be obedient to what He leads you to do. Then, you will receive whatever you request from the Lord.

SELAH!