Tuesday, 9 April 2013

John 16 (Six) To Ask or Not to Ask

Good day

For as long as it takes we are going to study the gospel of John chapters fourteen to seventeen. Some of it will be what I have already written and some will be new. Therefore it may sometimes appear that I leave off in the middle of a topic to be continued, since I have reached my daily word count limit.

To pick up the topic, you may need to read the one or two postings preceding this one.

“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full,” (John 16:23-24).

Jesus started this passage by saying that when His disciples will see Him again, they will ask nothing of Him and a little later stated that they have not asked Him anything up to that point in their relationship either. Why would this have been? Jesus knew their hearts and supplied their needs automatically without them having to have asked for anything. This was the extent of His love for people that He made sure He was aware every need of those around Him. We can learn from this.

When my wife was at Bible College they had a rule at dinner table. No-one was allowed to ask for anything at the table. Each one was supposed to note the needs of the others. In other words, if one wanted the butter or the jam, they were supposed to observe their need and supply it without them having to ask for it. This taught the students to focus away from themselves and meet the needs of those around them. Until today she and her friends that were with her at Bible College are very close and they still live like that.

Why did Jesus then for instance ask the crippled man at the Bath of Bethesda what he wanted? When He asked people such questions He still noticed their needs first, but it was to teach them to be bold about their needs. Satan and our flesh want us to continuously focus on ourselves, which is why we have uncomfortable circumstances coming our way all the time. We then are so busy with our own problems that we do not see and attend to the needs of those around us. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-33: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” and in Proverbs 3:5, 6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” There are many other passages where we are encouraged and instructed to trust the Lord do deal with our circumstances, primarily because He wants us to focus on the needs of those around us.

Why then did Jesus tell His disciples in the same passage under discussion: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you,” and “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”? While Jesus was with His disciples He set the example of caring for those around Him without them having to ask for help, but when He left He wanted us to show our faith, confidence and intimacy by asking for what we need and then promised that we will receive it so our joy may be full. However, sometimes we ask and it seems that we do not receive. Why would that be? We must remember that Jesus spoke to His disciples, who were trained by Him, and He knew that they would go all the way and sacrifice their lives for the sake of the gospel of His love. They therefore would automatically have asked according to the Lord’s will for the sake of the Kingdom. We, however, often ask selfishly and therefore do not receive what we ask. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions,” (James 4:3).

We may also receive what we ask for in a different way, since the Lord is busy working at us, pruning and forming us to become what He wants us to be. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:12, 13). He has a greater plan and knows our needs and hearts better than we do, and answers our prayers accordingly. How many times have we asked the company we work for or our organisation something, but they have given it to us in a different way than we expected it, since it served the organisation better that way. The same applies to God. When we learn to stop living only for ourselves and to start focusing of God’s needs, our prayers will be directed towards what He wants and will be answered without fail.

Lord, help me to see and meet my neighbours’ needs without them having to ask, and also to ask you according to your will.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.

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