Good Morning All,
I do hope and pray that everyone had a blessed and safe weekend.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:10
One of the more difficult things to do in this life is ask, I know certain people that would not ask for help despite how difficult things may be. Yet I know some that will ask for anything, even if is through their own greed or laziness. But in the realm of reality, our hearts do not like to ask. We are commanded to do so, if we need something, we must ask… We must ask of God that He may give…
What is the key possession that restricts us from asking?
Pride - When we take a close look at the results of pride, we find that it is as a chain – a prison if you will, one that will not loosen its hold on your heart, one that compasseth your entire thoughts, emotions and life…Solomon said:
§ Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
§ Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
§ Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
o That plowing is the work of the wicked – led by a prideful heart. Pride is the one and only element needed in the life of mankind that will keep them from asking of God…It was Paul the Apostle that penned in Romans 12:3 (For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
o Pride will keep you asking yourself and others, but not God!
With that said, what is the key possession that enables us to ask?
Poverty – Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Contrite: dakka', dak-kaw'; from Hebrew (daka'); crushed (literal powder, or figurative contrite) :- contrite, destruction. David is referring to a spirit that is crushed – to literal powder…
§ The Church at Smyrna is considered to be the persecuted church; it is the church age that lived through 7 of the 10 Great Persecutions ending with the Roman Emperor Diocletion in 310AD. The attack was on true Christians, of which no other group suffered more than those of the Baptist doctrine…
§ The word Smyrna means myrrh – It is a mineral when tasted is bitter; but when crushed sends forth a sweet odor.
o Paul said in II Corinthians 2:14-17 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. [15] For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: [16] To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
When you enter in a state of spiritual poverty it is not too difficult to ask of God… Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. It is where we need to be, because that is where and when we receive from God! It is at this time we become as a sweet smelling savor unto the Lord.
We need to be a spiritual:
Pauper
Luke 11:13 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” To ‘ask’ means ‘to beg’ – The Holy Spirit is the One Who makes real in you all that Jesus did for you…When we ask, we must first ask of what we lack and second we are to never ask with an end in sight – when we ask with an end in sight we are not asking out of our lack, but out of our lust…
We must come to Christ to ask of His:
§ Wisdom – James 1:5
§ Will – Romans 1:9-10
§ Way – for He said: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
§ Words – II Chronicles 7:14 (everyone knows this verse, but the answer came in V.12, look it up and enjoy)
o Luke 4:4 “…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
The Life of a Christian is exhibited in what he or she exercises for Christ… What they possess is contingent to what and how they ask of Christ…
Alexandre Dumas, the French novelist, was once stopped in Paris by a beggar who asked for alms in a rather threatening manner. Said Dumas: “Why do you not take off your hat to me when you ask for money?”
“Honorable sir,” replied the man, “over on the corner stands a policeman. If he sees me take off my hat, he will know that I am begging and will at once arrest me. As it is, he thinks that we are merely two old acquaintances having a chat.”
Dumas was so impressed by the man’s ready retort he gave him 100 francs.
We must become a beggar – a mere Pauper in the state of spiritual Poverty in order to overcome Pride and therefore ask and shall receive…Have a wonderful day.
Today in History – August 17, 2009
1943 – In World War II, U.S. and British troops complete the Allied conquest of Sicily;
1969 – Hurricane Camille slams the Gulf Coast, killing approximately 250 people;
1978 – Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman of Albuquerque, New Mexico, become the first to successfully cross the Atlantic in a balloon when they land the Double Eagle II near Paris, 137 hours after leaving Maine.
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
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