Prayer - Why do God's children take so little advantage of such a gift from God in Christ?  

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

When we hear of free food and water during hurricane, we go and get in line to receive. When people hear there are free vaccinations for Covid-19, they go and get in line. We seldom turn down such blessings. We don't send our stimulus checks back, do we? We wait for them and deposit them. Then spend that free money, or wisely save it. 

Jesus said that the Father knows our needs and are therein always available at our prayerful request. We just need to trust that He will give them when we ask. Our text here in Matthew says, "For every one that asketh receiveth…". In John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." In 1965 I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and He saved me. I accepted that in faith, faith that He gave me to exercise that day and thereafter (Ephesians 2:8). He promised to never lose me no matter what and finish His salvation work in me all the way to heaven, all by grace and His faith in me. (Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 2:20) This is for born again, saved believers, exclusively. You are His child and He is a perfect Father.

Now, He has fellowship rules. In James 4:2 "…ye have not, because ye ask not." But He goes on to say, as God inspired him to write, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Here we are only warned that if we are asking out side of God's sinless perfect well, He will have to withhold the need until we get that sin confessed and repent of it (come away from the practice of it. This has nothing to do with our secure relationship, being saved. That is relationship under the blood of Christ at the throne of the Father. This has to do with fellowship with the Father in a life that guards its language and actions to be in line with God's Word. We all sin, but we have the power to quite it. He gave it to us in the power of His Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin to be confessed and repented of (I Jn. 1:7-9). So, our Father does have one rule, ONE. Don't dishonor Him with sinful talk and walk and expect for those needs to be granted. They are there for you at your request, but not while you dishonor Him in walk and talk. It's simple enough, "confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive your sin. I John 1:9 "…he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Then ask in the name of Jesus all you need to use for him, not upon your own lust and He will give it. Believe it. He said it, and He is God who cannot lie.

Do you need a healing? Do you need comfort and peace? Do you need monetary help? Do you need Him to minister to your family? What is it you need from our Father in heaven through Christ? Matthew 7:8 "For every one that asketh receiveth…" John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Never pray and then walk away and think or say, "I hope He will answer." Believe, take God at His word. Learn to put all your expectations in our loving God who powers out to us His grace and mercy from His throne to us through in Jesus name. Faith is the foundation of our confidence in His saving us and keeping us in spite of us all the way to heaven (Philippians 1:6; I Peter). It is the foundation of our confidence in His keeping His Word. Remember, you can trust Him and His Word. He is God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Pray believing, not hoping.

Charles Empey is the Pastor of Cove Baptist Church, Orange, TX.