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July 5, 2021 6:00 am
Jesus said to his disciples. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you received it and it will be doing now wait a minute. Is that really true. I mean we can ask for anything and if we just believe it will happen. What does that really mean what that statement. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with your finger Living on the Edge features the Bible to this daily discipleship program.
This idea of asking you will receive a very confusing part of our prayer life. Where is the line between approaching God with arrogance assumption bring faith or chip tackles this tough subject, as he continued the power of prayer, but just before we get started. If you don't get to hear all of this program, you want a shirt with a friend. You'll find this entire series on the chip and remap.
Now here's chip with his message how to pray with absolute confidence. Get your Bible with you open tomorrow. Chapter 11 you look in verse 22 through 24. The context of this is pretty interesting is very near the end of Jesus ministry and he's going into the feast in the festivals and as he goes in one morning is a thin Trina doesn't have any fruit on it and so in the morning Jesus curses this century and that afternoon there coming back in the room rates are up out of the ground and it's whether I mean just like that. And Peter basically says hi Lord, in a not bad pretty powerful when you speak things happen in response to that with his disciples in this private encounter.
Jesus said, as though they were surprised. Have faith in God. I tell you the truth. Basically, if you think that something I say the truth, disciples, followers of mine. If anyone says to this mountain, go, throw yourself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Pretty outrageous is that, but now he pushes it to the next level because the word therefore he generalizes and begins to explain this isn't just an instance is not just for unicycles but notice the therefore I tell you, here's the principle, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it.
Notice the result and it will be yours. Look at it again.
Nothing is as outrageous as a great promisor enemy and Jesus maybe just go over the edge. You know, flu virus, having a bad day didn't really mean to say this, I mean this is out, I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you received the enemy years is he really saying that we can muster up inside.
Unbelievably, I believe in you Mercedes, I'm only leveling of illegal check and lack is that what this is all about.
Somehow you can conjure up if you believe it and can think it will come true. Thanks so I think is one of the biggest and misunderstood promises and all of Scripture. I think he saying something very important here, but often is not what we think in the early days my Christian life and I like to say not recently been pretty recently. I think a lot of times in this passage we come up. I try and change this kind of change the topic.
How do you explain this one. I remember having a good friend who I was probably couple years old and Christ sophomore in college and he was in an accident.
He ended up paralyzed. We prayed and fasted as a young college group God's Spirit is life and he was in one of the Stryker frames you know where they just say what you together with a spinal cord injury and he was now a quadriplegic at the time didn't even know if is any uses arms and never come across this verse. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you received it enemy years and I don't have much background as I shared with you never read the Bible much in. But you know what whatever it meant to believe. I spent all day mustering up as much faith as I can keep praying and reading and reading and praying and trying to visualize God healing Frank and try to believe God was big enough to do it and trying to somehow conjure wonder what this kind of faith look like.
By 1130 that night I snuck in the hospital, you know, look this way. That way the nurses are looking at around one corner comes orderly faces like you know one of the backstairs. Finally I get in his room is in this bed and I got down on my knees and so I went up underneath and inferring you doing is awake to Frank and praying all day and not I came across passage quoted. We talked for Lawrence and Franklin pray for you. Believe because it says that if I believe that I received a constant and with all the seal and sincerity.
I can muster. Oh God healed Frank right now and I prayed a lot of stuff and I open my eyes, hoping that it's chip chip. I felt something warm and powerful go all over my body and hair didn't have only will happen tomorrow, maybe next week it and Maybe next month He still in a wheelchair. So… Me mean as is true or not true or deny so completely misunderstand what this is all about, but I wasn't praying the way God wanted any of you have this gig ever prayed. Some of these prayers, you know, like a God.
It says in your word and I've tried it. You know this went on work release for me while I like to suggest that probably the problem is getting back to what's it mean his here's one obvious observation about this passage regardless of what it does mean we can all agree.
Look at verse 22. Have faith in God.
Verse 23. If you do not doubt later in verse 23, but believes you ask for and believe there's one thing we can all agree on whatever Jesus is communicating and has a lot to do with faith right as something to do with believing whatever that means Jalisco before we even look at the main text and find out what the Scripture teaches. Think what is it and believe it or not.
In Hebrews 11. Want to put it in your notes.
He gives a definition for faith.
Nothing is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see faith is not subjective faith isn't conjuring something.
Notice what it says. The operative words being sure and certain faith is having absolute confidence that something that hasn't happened yet will happen. And it's something that you can't see will come to be excellent.
Faith is see for there to be biblical faith. You have to have a word from God. Faith boils down to. God says this. Do you trust what he said is true or not. If you don't have a word from God. You can't habitable thing I didn't have any word from God and have a promise from God and said he would heal my body sometimes God chooses to heal people.
Sometimes he chooses not to. You can't put God in the box and tell them what to do, but anytime God gives us a promise. Anytime we know what is. He says he says if you act on that. That's biblical faith.
In fact, look at verse six of Hebrews. The author goes on and develops not only the definition of faith, but how important it is. He says without faith without trusting in what God is said and acting on it.
It's impossible to please God is as you go to church.
You can praying in the United Way you can be morally pure. But if you don't believe God, you don't please him what he wants from you and me more than anything else is faith and that he gives the reason why because anyone who comes to God, you have a relationship with God you believe two things you must believe that he exists. Knowing for who he really is.
But you also only the second thing often we believe the first but not the second, and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly or diligently seek him. God is on the edge of his chair if you will forgive the little picture, longing to bless you longing control you close longing to reveal himself. Longing for you to take any kind of step in response to his word so they can say all right like a father watching a little baby or a toddler take a few little steps God's arms are out. That's the kind of God is faith is believing that he exists and is rewarder and so if you want to summarize it all, therefore, is having absolute confidence that whatever God says he will. That's all think it's you can feel close to God exercising. They have flu and exercise faith. You can feel distant from God. Exercise faith. But anytime you have absolute confidence that God send this and you believe it to the point of acting on it. That is what the Bible is talking about in terms of faith.
I want to ask you a question so personal. And the question I have when we get now back to praying is when you pray when you close your eyes and you decide to spend time with the God of the universe are you coming to God with absolute certainty and confidence what you're asking for will begin your thought, praying that life when you bow your head. Are you certain that the things that you can ask for God is going to answer specifically what you're praying for and some of you looking you like. I don't know if you can print out just where you going with this is one of those trick questions know is not a trick question. I like to suggest that God wants you in the great majority of your prayer time to have 100% absolute confidence before him and praying specific things in such a way you will know he will answer that specific thing where I get back.
Here's our text of the day.
Follow along if you will. As I read first John chapter 5 verses 13 through 15.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God is writing to his children, so that you may know that you have eternal life in the context as he said whoever has the son in verse 11 and 12 as life doesn't those who don't have the son don't have life so he's writing these things to assure them. All those people that are really in God's family. Now notice verse 14.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything in notice. This phrase according to his will he hears us stop and do a little analysis. This he says is the competence the worker, sneezing, boldness, assurance openness, absolute certainty when you come before the very throne of God. He says this is the absolute confidence the certainty that we possess before and what is that competence that if we ask anything and it lines up with his will according to his will he hears us not only word he hears is literally means his ears are open to us. Our request has gained an audience before the king of the universe. Now look at the next verse gets even more radical.
Verse 15 and if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have or possess what we've asked for.
If you had times like that in prayer you had times when you have prayed and you know since you're praying according to God's will that the very thing you're asking for God guarantees is an answer for you by the word. Notice the word no is repeated twice as to words in the Greek New Testament, for no one is a knowledge that comes by way of experience is another word that means no is of historical or verifiable objective fact like I know that gravity exists. If I do believe in gravity find if I don't believe in gravity find jump off a three four-story building.
Whether you believe it or not you have basically the same result.
That's this work is absolute certainty historical fact, we know that God hears us.
And if you pray according to his will and he hears us, then you know you can get whatever you ask that a radical thought for some of you this morning. You're looking at me like who I never heard this before. Did you know this passages in the Bible. Let's talk about how it works. How can you pray with confidence and certainty for the first question we need to ask is, to whom is this promise made to radical promise, but is not for everybody. Notice in verse 13. These things are written to those who believe in the name of the son of God. This is reserved for people who are God's children while people can praying God does different things, but this promise is reserved for people to personally ask Christ to come into their life, their sins, and then forgiven. The Holy Spirit is common taken dwelling inside of them and it bears witness with their spirit of the child of God's promises for anyone is in God's family. This way, no second question we might want to ask is will then how must we pray to know that God hears our prayers. In verse 14 inch if you're telling me that this passage guarantees the God you hear my prayer, but how I know that for certain. Look at the little phrase if we pray how you look what to say. According to the will of God. If you are I prayer anything according to his will and that phrase means that is God's intention, it's his highest desire is his authorized plan to be fulfilled. The next question is this passage opens up is not only how to pray according to God's will that fit this point. I hope your mind is is saying in him.
He only does have a quick aside, I hope your mind is saying in your heart of hearts I pray a lot of the prayers. I'm not sure I pray real.
Specifically, I think I instead of having faith in what I find my life and probably with many of you I find instead of praying in faith. I'm usually pray and hope all gone.
I hope this happens. Oh God, this is the desire of God and this is be nice if you did it is not what Jesus Jesus said when you come asking in faith believe that you received it and will be given to you. I don't think he's joking people.
I don't think he just threw that one out to impress Peter and the boys. I think he was saying if you can know the will of God is once you understand my will and you can ask for and I will deliver you can take. I want you to pray specifically and with certainty and with confidence and I will answer will join us here in studio with his application for just a minute you've been listening to the first part of his message how to pray with absolute confidence series the power of prayer, whether you're a new Christian or a seasoned follower of Christ. Prayer is absolutely essential to our relationship with God is how we communicate with them as his children, we are given free access anytime, anywhere. But how does that actually work in this series, you'll discover the steps to developing a dynamic prayer life. How to remove common roadblocks to answer prayer and what it means to pray with confidence for limited time the resources for the power of prayer are discarded and the MP3s are always free for additional ordering and pricing details, visit LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at AAA 83336003 hapless nurse top special offers. I want to pause before we continue, and I want to thank just for the last few weeks we've talked about this match. We talked about the ministry we talked about what God is doing and the response and the generosity has been overwhelming. Thank you very very much, and I also want to say that tomorrow is the last day where your dollar will be matched dollar for dollar.
So as God has been speaking to you which you please move your good intention to an action the Lord is much work during these very challenging times in our world. We can make a difference and we can do it together. Thank you. Whatever God leads you to do will be just that by partnering with Living on the Edge, you'd be helping us take the truth of God's word across America literally around the world. Not only do we teach pastors from all over the US but we have unprecedented discipleship ministries going on in China and the Middle East. There's never been a better time to join the team because between now and midnight tomorrow night. Every gift we received will be matched dollar for dollar to send the gift just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or give us a call at AAA 83336003 that's AAA 83336003 hapless nurse. Just Donate. Thank you in advance for your generosity as we close today's program. We addressed a passage as I said earlier in the teaching that is probably one of them misused and probably one of the most misinterpreted of all in the New Testament, Jesus said, therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you received it and it will be yours and like you, I've heard people say basically if you can muster up some level of emotion and tell yourself I really believe this somehow you can speak it into existence and the whole issue is about how hard or how much you believe in God will do anything and he's cut at your beck and calling and in the teaching what we did is we clarified okay. Who was that written to what's the context of that are you praying according to God's will is your desire in the context do you really want what God wants or is this for selfish gains. In fact, this is one of those passages where you might really want to listen to the last couple broadcast will be talk about the roadblocks because there's five or six very clear roadblocks that just us believing intellectually or having a lot of emotion will keep prayers from being answered. But what I do know is that there's the flip side of this and we can be critical of people who say just believe this but there's a level of expectation.
There's a sense in which when we come to God.
He wants us to come not like hoping, not wishing. I think a lot of us pray with the sense of just wishing I don't really believe it's can happen, but I hope it happens I I wish for this and got up there somewhere, somehow, would you please, may be sort of do this and that's not the prayer of the New Testament. The prayer of the New Testament is coming before a God who you know who loves you and that you can know his will because he's made it very clear in his word. So when you're thinking about work in your thinking, should I take this job or another job and you don't know what to do. God has given you a promise that will give you wisdom, but the condition is you'll do whatever he says you sign up for. I will do whatever you say God just show me and hears his promise to let you know this job or another job in the same is true. Should your kids go to unit X school, or why school is this the right relationship. Is this a person you need to marry your relationship that no no you need to break up all those kind of things you can come with full confidence because God has given you very specific promises.
And when you're praying according to the will of God when you're praying to bring him glory.
And when you're praying according to a very clear promise from God. Here's what I want you to get you can expect that he will answer and you can claim that promise. And when Jesus says when you believe that you received it. There are times were God will whisper in your heart you don't need to pray about that anymore. It's going to be done and it's not because you're wonderful, it's because God answers prayer in response to the prayer of faith that are rooted in the alignment with his will. The motive for his glory and rooted in the very promises of God. Keep want you to pray with authority. Let me encourage you if you've never picked up a little devotional called magnificent prayer by Nick Harrison.
He gives a little section every single day that is inspired me to pray boldly like no other resource of ever read just before we close owner thank those of you who faithfully pray for our team and support the ongoing ministry of Living on the Edge. Amazing things are happening in your part of that. If you want to join the team.
There's never been a better time between now and tomorrow night at midnight. Every gift you give will be matched dollar for dollar to send the gift just go to LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at AAA 83336003 hapless nurse just tap donate. We'd love to have you with us all that wraps up this program until next time. This is the same. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge