Ask

The Lord urges us not to be afraid but to believe that He will come through for us as we seek to bring Him glory.

“After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” [1]

Abram’s calling was to produce a biological descendant, but his wife was barren and could not conceive.

“Then He [the Lord] brought him [Abram] outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he [Abram] believed in the Lord, and He [the Lord] accounted it to him [Abram] for righteousness.” [2]

A Roman centurion believed that Jesus could heal his paralyzed servant by just speaking a word.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’” [3]

Our Lord Jesus responds to faith. Faith in Him is what God wants from us.

“When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” [4]

Why should anyone doubt God? He created and sustains the world by His Word. His Word does not return void. His Word yields results. [5]

Our part is to believe in God and believe in His Word.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” [6]

We may feel unworthy like the Centurion did to have God act upon our need, but we should still honor the Lord by trusting Him to act on our behalf and on behalf of those we are praying for.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” [7]

God gave His only begotten beloved Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This was an extremely emphatic expression of His love for us. He says that He wants to give to us. He is ready to act upon our requests.

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” [8]

[1] Genesis 15:1
[2] Genesis 15:5-6
[3] Matthew 8:7-9
[4] Matthew 8:10-13
[5] Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 55:11
[6] Hebrews 11:6
[7] Romans 8:31-32
[8] Matthew 7:7-11