Listen to this articleWhen it comes to making requests, God has given us an open check. You can ask God anything you want to ask from him.
John 2:3-8 New International Version (NIV)
3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so,
When wine ran out at the wedding, Marry went to Jesus and told him her problem. Jesus then used his divine power to give people wine to drink at their feast. One thing we learn from this is that you can ask Jesus concerning your everyday needs and he will use his divine power to meet your request.
1 John 5:13-15 New English Translation (NET Bible)
13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.
Mark 11:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 14:14
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
From these scriptures i see no reason for another person to limit people in what they can ask from God. God himself says ask me anything. He says, whatsoever you desire, when you are praying, ask…
God does not like hypocrites. If you desire to have money for you rent… ask him. If you desire to have money for school fees for your children, ask him. If you desire a house, ask him. If you desire to prophesy, ask him.
Feel free to ask for anything. Healing, Salvation, Boldness in preaching, Favour at work, Which spouse to marry, Money for living, A good Job, Paying clients….. anything. Because he says so….
I know a lot of people are now saying we should not ask God for anything because it’s ours already. Just take it.
Those are naughty children who don’t understand that our father has protocols and rules.
Look at this scripture:
Mar 11:24 WEB Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have receive them, and you shall have them.
When we pray, she should ask believing that we have already received these things from God. Most people, when they pray, feel like they have to convince God to want to grant their request. God has already given us all things. You must believe this when you pray. You must believe that God has already given us healing and salvation and the Spirit and authority and success.
This will no doubt affect how you pray. You are like a son asking for his bike to go play with. Not a son asking a father to buy him a bike. Believe that the things you ask for have already been given to you, and you will have them.
Consider also that Jesus gave power to the apostles.
Luke 9:1 NET
After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Acts 1:8/NET
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
Yet, when it came time to use it, they asked God to work his healing power.
Acts 4:29-30/WEB
Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Peter says we have ALL THINGS given unto us, do I ask for what I have?
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Blessed with ALL spiritual blessings, do I have to ask for what I have, is the use of the word ALL in those scriptures meaning something apart from what we all know?
1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
What things have been freely given unto us, and do we need to ask for them seeing we have been given them?
Practical everyday examples.
In everyday living, you find that we are always asking for things which belong to us.
Remember we are part of the Household of God. In order to understand certain things, look into your own natural household. When a man is hungry he will ask his wife for some food. Even the children will ask their mother for food which is in the house. This food is theirs, yes, but when one needs it they ask the person in charge of it
If the man is the holder of the moneybag. The wife will ask her husband for money for certain things. She’ll say, I need more flour, can you please get me flour. The kids need shoes, I need $50 to buy. That money belongs to her, but she has to ask because its in His hands.
Same with kids. You can buy your child certain things, video games, bicycle etc and yet put limits such that when they want to use them they have to ask. Even though you bought it for them.
You can set aside money for your child’s welfare or school fees, but if your son, goes into your wallet and takes out money without asking you, you will discipline him. Though you had saved that money for him. He still needs to come and ask you first.
Just a man who just comes back into his house and starts opening pots, and dips his hands to take meat and walks away will have issues.
Even so. In God’s household. We have an inheritance and blessing given to us, but there is order. We ask the father when we want to use these things. In the same way, when we know that God has already given us these things, our prayers will be phrased differently.
No doubt, the knowledge that God had already given healing power to them, affected how they phrased their prayer.
2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
This scripture says we have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness.
I believe when the New Testament speaks of life to the believer, it is speaking of the life of Christ. Life eternal.
1Jn 5:11-12/WEB
- The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.
I believe this is what Peter meant when he said we are given all things pertaining to life and godliness.
John 20:31 WEB
But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
I don’t think that Peter was referring to Bentleys and BMWs when he says life. Note that he says… These things pertaining to life and godliness come through knowledge of God. The life that comes through knowledge of God is eternal life.
John 17:3 WEB
This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I am a firm believer that God blesses us even in material things. I just don’t believe that 2 Peter 1:3 is the scripture for it.
God gave to us, His Son Jesus. He gave us his Holy Spirit. He gave to us the written word as scripture. These are all the things you need, pertaining to life and godliness. If you have these three things, you will be full of life and godliness.
Eph 1:3 WEB
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Note something there. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing…. But this blessing is in Christ Jesus. So if you want access it, you speak to him. Knowing that it’s yours but in Christ. After saying that We had been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Paul uses this to ask God for some of these blessings which are in Christ to come upon the Ephesians. Let’s continue with the chapter.
Eph 1:15-17/NET
- For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16. I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,
Knowing that God has given us all spiritual blessings gives Paul the boldness to ask for Spiritual wisdom and knowledge.
But note… He is not trying to convince God. He asks knowing that these things are already assigned to us, but they were placed in Christ my master, and now i need access to wisdom.
I am disturbed when another Christian, especially a pastor, preacher, anointed man or woman of God says we are “not supposed to ask for material things from God.” Those who say we have “everything we need when we have our needs met and we should not ask God for anything else.” I VEHEMENTLY do not agree!!! Herein, I offer another school of thought: I feel like once our heart has been truly given to the Lord, and we love Him totally and completely, as well as our “neighbor” as ourselves – since He is our Father, we can ask Him for our “desires” as well as for our “needs” because Ps. 37 states: “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” A “desire” is clearly not a “need.” If we have kept His commandment by bringing our tithes and offerings, as well as contributed to other vital ministries that we are led to “sow into”‘; and we have been obedient to Him and His Word, and we are growing and metamorphosing as we renew ourselves daily, and when our request will benefit others as well as ourselves, I feel we can ask God for the material, as well. Just as we ask our natural father for “things” it also runs parallel in the Spirit realm. God delights in seeing His obedient sons and daughters happy. And if we are truly committed and dedicated in our heart, we will not, we CANNOT ask for the wrong thing. Whatever we ask for may well benefit others as well as ourselves. Therefore, after having done all, if what we ask for is something that will enhance OUR personal happiness, God delights in rewarding His obedient children. GOD IS RICH AND HAS NO PROBLEM WITH MANY OF HIS CHILDREN BEING RICH TO BENEFIT THE BODY OF CHRIST ON EARTH! If we only have enough for ourselves, how can we help someone else? Yes!!! After we have met all of the Lord’s requirements, We CAN ask God for our desires, as well.
Amen. Thank you for this addition
This is the prosperity gospel ala Copeland, Benny Hinn and co. Do not fall for that.
I parying that you and your family can work with me are one family in Jesus Christ in Liberia African here. Let Almighty God bless you and your family. Give this message to your mom and your dad for me brother like we come together to work are one family in Jesus Christ.
Amen