Jesus Says, Ask In Prayer

40 minutes ago

3 min read

In yesterday’s offering, much was brought to us, reminding us of who Jesus is, and that He is the One, Perfect, Right and True, to say these words, I say to you. I remind you that when Jesus spoke these words, He put the God-seal as it were, on what He said about prayer. Remember, the Father has put all things in His hands.

As we come now to hear again what Jesus has stated about prayer and our praying, know the comfort of His Word. Relax on in, bask in it, and settle yourself completely upon it. The One who says to us, I say to you, is the All in All. How then can we, mortal beings, the created ones, think of the Creator as not competent and true in His, I say to you? How can we, the clay, dare say to the Potter, You got this one muddled up and it is not exactly as You say? How can we doubt Jesus’ efficacy, His trustworthiness and His honour?

Forgive us Jesus, for making prayer as unto what humans say and not what You have said. Forgive us that we take prayer as sometimes profitable and sometimes not. Holy Spirit, lift us about ourselves, so that we remain ever thankful to Jesus and for Jesus, who teaches His own to pray. Amen!

From the text, we will meditate upon three actions of prayer. Here again is the text.

And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. Luke 11: 9.

Jesus says to Ask

And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you.

Never move from this truth, this fact. Jesus is here speaking, to His disciples, who have asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus is not speaking to sceptics, doubters, unbelievers or enemies of the Way. He is not even speaking to nominal followers, sympathizers and people who admire the Way. No! Jesus is speaking to those who have already denied themselves, taken up their crosses and obediently follow Him. The disciples are students and servants of Jesus, who happily and gratefully follow where He leads. If this is you and you are a disciple of Jesus, then you will hear and obey Him in prayer.

In prayer, Jesus said that you are to ask. There is nothing stated by Jesus as to what you are to ask. It stands to reason however, that as learners, as students who are surrendered to Jesus, people who have died to self and live to Christ, only what is edifying and of good report, will be asked for. Every disciple is told and encouraged to ask in prayer. We pray, because we are taught what to say. We ask, because we are told to ask. Prayer is obedience! When we ask in prayer, we are obeying the One who said, I say to you, ask.

Here is the response, the virtue, the riches, the mercies guaranteed in asking. Will you hear it in this way? Will you hear it from the same Authority who said, I say to you? He has said, and it will be given to you.

This is Jesus, God Incarnate, speaking to you, me and all disciples who have asked to be taught to pray. Jesus never said that when we ask, it will be considered, whether it is to be given to us or not. Sadly, and disturbingly so, this is what prayer has been reduced to among many who profess to be disciples of Jesus. Will our Lord make bogus promises to His disciples? Will He command us to ask, seek and knock, and when we obey Him, He then falls down on His part? God Forbid!