14 Mar 2015 by Kim Yung CM –
Obtain an empty bottle, and pour into it water in order to make it half full. After that, fill up the rest of the bottle by pouring cooking oil into it. Thereafter place the bottle cap back on tightly and shake the bottle as best you can to mix it up. What resulted in performing that action? Nothing.
As soon as you stop shaking the bottle, the two different liquids will begin to immediately separate resulting in the original state. It is natural for oil and water not to mix simultaneously, this is also true in the case where one cannot have God if one is too hung up on the world and vice versa.
Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. (Ephesians 2:19)
When you decide that you belong to God more than you belong to the world you’ll be able to receive what God has in store for you in your life. There is a real difference in being in the world and being a part of the world.
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22-24)
Without faith, it will be difficult to please the Almighty; as faith and prayer are equally and simultaneously crucial in your understanding of the meaning of connecting to the Lord. From the verse above in Mark 11:22-24, Jesus said that He has given power to those who have faith in Him.
The meaning however, should not be mistaken for falsely believing that we will receive everything we ask for. Instead it is only when we focus on God to accomplish His purpose through our love for Him that He will reward us with our hearts desires as He deems fit. We can truly move mountains if we believe and are kingdom focused!
The Scriptures pave a path for us in our walk as a Christian. It allows us to walk in confidence in Christ allowing us to know God’s design as a whole and how to make our prayers impactful.
3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5: 3-5)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
We can pray as for something to happen however if it isn’t according to God’s will there is an understanding that the prayer will not through. In order to receive we need to also believe in God and His will. As His will is to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11) we can rest in Him and be in peace knowing that the outcome of what the Lord has given or has not will is the best for us at that point in time.
Hence, do not ask according for your own purpose but when you pray, ask according to the will of God. The promises of God are only to the followers of Christ. If we are not following Jesus Christ but are following our worldly desires, this promise does not apply. Our prayer has to be God focused.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-15)
In order to give you a better understanding of this matter, the Bible has provided a great illustration on how we receive when we pray according to God’s will in 2 Chronicles 1-11-12 as shown below.
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)
Solomon asked only for what he needed to accomplish the purpose God had called him to do. If Solomon had been short sighted and sought only to supply his own greed, Solomon would only have received a temporary pleasure and would have struggled or even failed in his calling. Solomon did not see the need to be egocentric or to ask God for pleasures and wealth. It was God’s desire to bless Solomon. Nevertheless, the most important that Solomon did was to seek God’s kingdom first above all things.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Matthew 6:8-13)
God has expressed the depth of His love for us so that we can have the confidence to seek His will. We give ourselves to God knowing that He has given and continues to give of Himself to us. Seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness and He will prove His promises to you.
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (Deuteronomy 28:1)
Reference:
https://bible.org/seriespage/8-promised-blessings-and-their-fulfillment-god-s-perfect-plan
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