OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 12/12/2014 - POWER TO ASK & TO RECEIVE - BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

POWER TO ASK & TO RECEIVE

Memorise:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:14

Read

1 John 5:14-15

5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

MESSAGE

Many people do not know that there is power behind asking and receiving. If you do not believe this, study the story of Jesus and His disciples’ encounter with the demon-possessed boy in Matthew 17:14-20. Only the children of God can decree a thing and have it established (Job 22:28). This is why it is important to be born-again if you want to possess the power to ask and to receive what you ask for. The boldness to ask (in faith) and the power to receive belong to God and He gives these to His children.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Romans 8:26

In light of the above scripture, there is a need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to possess the power to ask. In other words, the power of prayer is given by the Holy Spirit. The disciples of Jesus found it difficult to effectively pray when the Holy Spirit had not come upon them. The story in Matthew 17:14-20 confirms this and also the several instances where they slept instead of praying. However, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were not only able to pray effectively, they started decreeing things (Acts 4:31). Another resource from which the power to ask can be derived is the immutable promises of God as contained in His word. Such promises like the promise of Jesus in John 16:23-24, makes the power to ask tremendously available.

However, it is one thing to have the power to ask and it is another thing to have the power to receive. It is amazing that sometimes, when God releases blessings to some people, they tend not to have the power to receive it. Peter experienced this and he almost missed out on God’s blessing, but for the mercy of God. When he encountered Jesus at the lake of Gennesaret, he pleaded with Jesus to get away from him because he was guilt-ridden (Luke 5:8). To possess the power to receive therefore, we must have faith in Jesus. Also, we must keep our mind void of offences (Psalm 66:18). Moreover, our prayer must not be marred with lust or ulterior motives (James 4:3). I pray that you will be empowered to ask and receive from today in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point:

Father, grant me the power of effective prayer so that whatever I decree here on earth may be established in heaven.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Nehemiah 4:1-6:14

Ecclesiastes 8:1-9