What does Jesus say about asking?

Question: “What does Jesus say about asking and receiving that which we have asked?”

Bible Answers

To prevent duplication, the following verses that Jesus spoke regarding asking and receiving are taken only from the Book of John.  

Jesus said that we are to ask for anything in His name and we will receive what we have asked. Meditate on Jesus’ Words and let them sink into your heart.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:14).

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).

so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you (John 15:16).

Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (John 16:23).

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete (John 16:24).

Conditions

Are there any limitation or conditions for receiving what we have asked of God?  We can receive anything we ask for as long as our request falls within the will, obedience, and timing of God, as the following verses demonstrate.  

if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him (1 John 5:14-15). In most cases, His Word clearly defines His will.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7). Are you walking in God and being obedient to His Word?

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (James 4:3).

And without faith it is impossible to please him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is believing with confidence that God’s Word is true.

you should go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16). We bear fruit by telling others about Jesus.

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We need to keep praying and patiently wait upon God’s timing.

Summary

If we ask in His will, in His name, believing in faith, and do not give up, we will receive what we have asked. God wants to honor His Word, but we must do our part, we must believe with all faith.

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Has anyone ever done greater works than Jesus?

  Question: “While Jesus said that we could do greater works than He did, I must admit that it is hard to believe that I could do greater works than Jesus. Can you explain?”

Bible Answers

Jesus said in John 14:12, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. But how can that be and what works has man ever completed that where greater than Jesus’ work?
In the Bible, miracles occur mostly to authenticated God and His Word and to draw the lost unto Himself. In Acts, we see some pretty spectacular miracles, including miracles that Jesus never did, such as Peter’s shadow falling on the sick and healing them.

As a result, they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them (Acts 5:15).
Another miracle that Jesus never did would be Paul’s spectacular healing using handkerchiefs. And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

And what about present day works. In Jesus’ day, He saved maybe a few thousand souls. Today, with the direction and power of God, millions are being reached. For example, Billy Graham ministry saved 2.2 million at crusades plus those responding to television and Internet messages. The 700 Club has seen over 100 million come to the Lord, One Hope has touched 1.3 billion with the gospel, and Every Home for Christ has reached over 2 billion homes with the gospel and seen 211,520, 278 souls saved since 1946.
Clearly God has used people to complete works greater than Jesus, but never lose sight of the simple fact that all miracles occur at the hand of God and that man is only a conduit for God. For Jesus said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (John 16.44).

Miracles are still occurring around the world, but admittedly not with the frequency of the early church. Why is that? I submit that Jesus gave us the answer in Matthew 9:29. “According to your faith will it be done to you”. Receiving all things from the spirit world into the physical world requires faith. Unfortunately, most, including most pastors just to do have sufficient faith to receive. It is mush easier to say that God is no longer performing miracles than to pray for a miracle and then try to explain why a miracle didn’t happen. Denying God’s miracles can be dangerous, for Jesus also said, So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33).

Most of God’s 3,000 plus promises in the Bible require that a condition be completed to receive the promise. Faith that believes that the Word of God is infallible and completely trustworthy fulfills the greatest of all conditions.

While it is hard to imagine that I could do anything greater than Jesus, the answer is, yes I can, if I am willing to believe and let the empowering of the Holy Spirit occur.

For more information visit: https://www.getbibleanswers.org/greater-than-jesus.html

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What are the best priorities for my life?

Most people have three primary phases to life. The young look forward to what they will do in the future. Those in the middle years are busy fulfilling their occupations and the old look back over time reminiscing of what they would do differently if they could.

Unfortunately, for many, only as they look backwards do they learn the truth.  That God, the wife and the kids didn’t want money and things as much as they wanted them. They wanted a relationship, love and more time to be with them. They want to feel loved, wanted, and a part of your life.

The Bible spells out our priorities as being God first, then spouse, then kids, and last is our job.  

Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37).  You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).

God gives each of us a certain amount of time and time is a resource to be invested.  There is a need to invest time to provide for our family, but there also is a point where we have provide all of the basic family needs and we continue to plunge forward and invest in our desires.  We get back from that which we invest. If we invest in our job, we get back things.  If we invest in our God and family, we get back loving relationships, joy, peace, and abundance. It all depends on how we allocate and invest the time God has given us.

Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

If you ask those in the middle group who they are, most, especially men, will often name their occupation as who they are. They see who they are as what they do.  They are a plumber, an electrician, a manager and that their primary role in life is to earn or make as much money for their family as they possible can. But our occupation is not who we are but what we do.  Who are we?  We are children of our heavenly Father.  We need to put God first in our life. Anything can become a god to us - anything we worship or invest an excessive amount of time into. We need to ask ourselves, am I putting God first in my life or am I making excuses why I do not have time for God?  There is always time for that which is most important in our lives.

What is most important in your life?  If it is not God, then spouse, then kids, you are not prioritizing your life and time in a manor that is pleasing to God and that will provide you the greatest joy and peace in your life.

To renew your marriage, start investing your time into your spouse by picturing them as when you where first dating. As you see them young, vibrant, and loving, you will start to again treat them as you originally did, and in time they will start to respond as they did in the beginning.

God wants us to have an abundant life, but to receive; we need to prioritize our life.  

It is never to late to improve the rest of your life with God and your family. As you trust God to provide, you can live in His abundance.

In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success (Proverbs 3:6).

For more information:  https://www.getbibleanswers.org/priority-for-life.html

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Is God’sLlove Unconditional?

Question: “Is God’s love unconditional?  Does God love everyone or only some people?”

Bible Answers

…for God is Love (1 John 4:8).  Not only does God love, but God is Love.  God’s love is unconditional for everyone, those going to heaven and those going to hell.

God’s Agape Love

Agape love is an unconditional giving of oneself for another with no strings attached.  Agape love is one-sided because it does not have to be returned to be kept alive. In other words, it's not, "I will love you, if you love me." Its, "I will love you, no matter what."

What is God’s Agape love like?  Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.  It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for you so you might have everlasting life with Him. His love is not based on performance.  Christ loves you so much that while you were yet a sinner, He died for you.

God's love for you is unconditional and undeserved.  He loves you in spite of your disobedience, your weakness, your sin and your selfishness.  He loves you enough to provide a way to abundant, eternal life through Jesus Christ.

God's Love Reaches Beyond Circumstances

…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). Neither death nor life can separate you from God's love. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Such love is beyond our ability to grasp with our minds, but it is not beyond our ability to experience with our heart.  God continues to love both those going to heaven and those who reject Jesus and are go to hell.

Summary  

God’s unconditional love for us is without bounds and continues even if we refuse to return God’s love. Receiving God’s love and sharing it with others helps complete God’s intent for us.  Our loving creator created us to love and we are only complete when we fully share God’s love with others and fully love God.

For more on sharing God’s love, https://www.getbibleanswers.org/gods-love.html

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Who is God the Son?

 Question:  Who is God the Son and why is it important that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

Bible Answers

Jesus asked, “Whom say you that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16).

Who did Jesus claim to be? “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58).

Thomas declared to Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).  Jesus did not correct him.  Paul describes Him as, …our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).  God said, But about the Son he says, Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom (2 Peter 1:1).  And Isaiah said 700 years before Christ, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

The Old Testament contains approximately 312 specific prophecies about Jesus Christ.  To date, over 300 of these prophecies have been fulfilled. Only a God that knows the future could make over 300 prophecies, hundreds and even thousands of years before they occurred, and never once have any ever been wrong.

We have the testimony of the 312 prophecies, the apostles, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the numerous wonders and miracles Jesus performed all declaring that He is the Son of God.

Does it matter if Jesus is God?  If Jesus was not God, He would not have been sinless and His sacrifice on the cross would have been of no value (1 John 2:2).  Only a sinless God could pay such a penalty (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21).  Only Jesus provided the way for salvation.  Jesus said, No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). 

As the Son of God, Jesus put aside His Godly powers, lived a perfect life free of sin, and redeeming those who receive, by paying for our sins on the cross as the Son of Man.

For more information, see https://www.getbibleanswers.org/god-the-son.html

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Who is God the Holy Spirit?

Question: “Who is God the Holy Spirit and what function does He fulfill as a member of the Trinity?”

Bible Answers

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He seems distant to many people, but lives inside all Christians and will guide us in our walk of life if we will listen.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God (1 Corinthians 6:19)?

The Holy Spirit promotes God the Father's plan of salvation. He participated in creation, gave the prophets the Word of God, and assisted Jesus and the apostles. He caused the Virgin Mary to conceive (Matthew 1:20), descended on Jesus like a dove at Jesus’ baptism, and on the Day of Pentecost rested like tongues of fire on the apostles. He guides the church and instructs believers in their walk with Christ today if they will but listen. He is teacher, comforter, and inspiration. He reveals the meaning of Scripture, convicts us of sin and is our intercessor in prayer.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

Receiving the Holy Spirit

When a person repents and is saved, he receives the Holy Spirit. Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). In this verse, the “gift” is singular and refers to the giving of the Holy Spirit, versus the “gifts” that the Holy Spirit gives.

Many want to do great works for the Lord, but it often comes from pride rather than obedience.  The greatest service we can provide the Lord is obedience.  Obedience is more crucial than service.

What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? (1 Samuel 15:22).

Jesus performed no miracles for 30 years, until after He was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit.  Everything Jesus did in life and ministry, he did as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit and not as God.  Just as Christ needed the Holy Spirit in His life, we need the Holy Spirit in our life.  The Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the power from on high, that Jesus operated in, is available for all Christians who ask.  I am going to send you what my Father has promised (Luke 24:49).

More information is available at: https://www.getbibleanswers.org/god-the-holy-spirit.html

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