Tag: ask anything
“Do you now believe?”
Scripture reading for April 28: John 16
“Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:30-33
Jesus’ disciples had just experienced the last Passover meal with Jesus where He had shared with them the coming events. One (Judas) would and had betrayed Him. Peter would deny Him three times. And now, all of them would be scattered and forsake Jesus during this coming trial. Jesus would give His body and blood as atonement for sin, demonstrating the love of God His Father for each of them and for the whole world. He had shared an extensive teaching on the Holy Spirit, the Father’s Gift of Comforter, Helper, and constant companion. He told them that they would be able to ask in His Name for anything, and it would be done. They would go through sorrow, but their sorrow would be turned to joy.
They had professed to believe in Him and felt that Jesus had demonstrated His knowledge of all things. They claimed to know that He came from God. But now Jesus declared all of their coming fearful reactions to His crucifixion. “Do you really believe?” was Jesus question for them. He had told them all these hard truths that they might believe in Him and have peace in the midst of the trial and afterwards. He declared peace over their lives and assured them of His own victory over death and the world! The rest was up to them to choose faith and begin believing, asking and living a life of peace.
What claims, promises, or declarations of Jesus have opened your eyes to truly believe in Him? “Do you now really believe?” What indications of believing stated by Jesus can you list as confirmation that you are living by faith?
Prayer: Father God, I have often wrestled early in my faith life with whether my faith was sufficient. Thank You for assuring me through Your Word that I am Your child through faith in Jesus Christ. Let Your peace in my daily life be a reason that others ask me for the reason! I gladly will share Jesus Christ! Amen.
Believing and asking and peace!
Scripture reading for April 24: John 14
“”Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My Name this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”” John 14:12-15
People who simply live in the natural world are often quite negative and pessimistic about life and its circumstances. They are bombarded each day by negative news and sights and sounds of trouble, violence and pain. Jesus had just told His disciples about His betrayal and coming crucifixion. He told of Peter’s coming denial after Peter had boasted of his willingness to die for Jesus. (John 13:38) But Jesus countered all this negative news with some encouraging instructions and powerful truths.
Jesus promised those who believed in Him that they would do the works that Jesus had been doing, but even greater works because He was going away to His Father. He told them that they had the privilege and authority to ask for ‘anything in My Name’, and He would grant the answer to their prayers! They were instructed not to live with troubled hearts or live in fear during difficult times. (John 14:27) Faith in Jesus would be the key to this optimistic world of possibilities, good works, healing, deliverance and greater works (in number) than even Jesus had done. Faith would involve asking in Jesus’ Name and obedience to His instructions and commands. Jesus promised peace in the troubles to His followers.
Do you ever find yourself weighed down with trouble in your hearts or fear? Do some of Jesus’ statements cause you to have fear about your own loyalty? Are you countering the fear and troubled hearts by believing and living victoriously in peace?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for becoming troubled in heart over the bad news that often overwhelms my senses. May these words of warning and of truth in believing in Jesus Christ daily bring me into Your promised peace and the power to do the greater works that You want to see through my life. Amen.
You know the Helper!
Scripture reading for November 10th: John 14
Key Scriptures: John 14:12-17 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My Name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.””
Jesus gave His disciples several amazing promises in one of His last teaching before going to the cross. He prophesied that those believing in Him would do even greater works than those that He had done. This did not mean greater in the sense of more spectacular or impacting, but greater in number and scope as the disciples multiplied. He promised that whatever His disciples asked in His Name, He would do it! He also promised that He would ask the Father to send them a ‘Helper’, the Spirit of Truth, to be with them forever. This ‘Helper’ would be live in them and be with them in every trial and event of life, even into eternity. He also said that His disciples would know the ‘Helper’ because of their abiding relationship! Amen!
John 14:20-21 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, I know that I am in Jesus Christ and He is in You. I am thankful for the gift of the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, Who leads and guides me into all truth, helping me to know You and obey Your commandments. I ask today that these promises would be claimed by faith by each of my children and grandchildren. May I proclaim these truths that others might know You and Jesus Christ and receive the Helper! Amen!
John 14:26-27 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Assurance of eternal life!
Scripture reading for November 25th: 1st John 5, Psalm 97-98, Proverbs 19
Key Scriptures: 1st John 5:11-15 “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And it is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”
John assured his readers of the reality of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation was a gift that came by faith alone. It was a gift of God the Father, coming through the obedience of His only Son, Jesus Christ. We can have confidence in Jesus Christ. We can ask God for anything in His will and expect to receive it. Praise the Lord for confidence in Jesus! Ask largely and receive gratefully!
Faith Confession: I am confident of my salvation because I simply and dependently believe on Jesus Christ, Son of God and His finished work on the cross. I am thankful that I can ask God in His Name for anything in His will!
Psalm 97-11-12 “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to His Holy Name!”
Ask and receive!
Scripture reading for April 24th: John 14, Psalm 82, Proverbs 20
Key Scriptures: John 14:11-13 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”
Jesus made some fantastic promises to those who would choose to believe in Him. He promised His disciples that they would do the same works that He had been doing. He also stated that they would do greater works. In fact, whatever need that they had, they could ask in His Name and He would do it. Faith to see what Jesus wanted to do and to ask Him would bring results!
Faith Confession: Thank You Jesus for these precious and magnificent promises. Help me to see what You want to do each day and to ask You for needed resources. (Action step: Ask Jesus in prayer for a need that you have and expect results.)
Psalm 82:3-4 Father, I pray Your Word: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Amen.
Ask Me for Anything!
Scripture reading for April 25th: John 14
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 14:11-14 “Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”
Jesus gave His remaining disciples an amazing promise! He told them that they could ask Him for “anything in My name, and I will do it.” He also told them that because He was going to the Father, they would do even greater miracles than He had done! This was all received by faith that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him. These promises were not just for those disciples, but were written down to call all disciples to faith and action!
Observations for over-comers: Prayer is one of the greatest privileges of a disciple. We have an invitation and a promise of action as we ask for what we need in the name of Jesus Christ! “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!” (Psalm 105:1-3)