I have not written this. It is the work of my husband, who has a greater gift than I….
A few thoughts on the promises of Jesus
Read each of the verses several times over to get a feel for them and use the brief notes as a guide.
When you have finished, pray about what you think God is saying to you, using your own way of expressing yourself. There is no formula for praying, just say what you want to say and spend time considering what God might be saying to you.
Matthew 21 v.18-22
…. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
I believe Jesus acted out this dramatic incident to teach the disciples how important faith is in the christian life.He is saying, don’t limit God to what you think He is capable of or willing to do. View your request to God in the light of who He is, the eternal Creator of the world. Believe in Him and trust in Him completely (Proverbs 3 v5-6)
John 14 v12-14
…. he will do even greater things than these…
… and I will do whatever you ask in My Name….
… you may ask Me for anything in My Name and I will do it…
These are very powerful words Jesus is saying and again He is demonstrating that faith is the key to the kingdom of God. He obviously wants us to ask and receive so that we might be fulfilled and so that God’s will and purposes might be done.
This is the extent of the relationship God offers to us in Jesus Christ His Son. It shows us the extent of His love for us in that He adopts us as His children and gives us the rights of heirs.
AS in all relationships, it is two-way. God is not offering us a formula for prosperity. He is offering us a partnership with His eternal life that also needs our commitment and obedience.
John 15 v7-8
… ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.
This takes us deeper into our relationship with Jesus. He says it is as we abide in Him and as we are joined together with Him that nothing shall be impossible for us. This is a subtle distinction. We are no longer asking selfishly for what we want to make out lives comfortable or easy, but together with Jesus we are seeing the eternal picture and boldly asking for that which will bring it into being.
John 15 v16
… then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name …
This faces the fact that when all is said and done, it is God’s love and mercy to us that brings us into this relationship with Him. Jesus says, I have chosen you. It was Jesus who died for us on the cross so that our sins might be forgiven. Everything we have and hope for is from the love of God.
Here Jesus is saying that as we move into this relationship with Him, then God will more and more give to us what we ask for.
John 16 v23-24
… My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name..
… ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete…
Jesus is looking ahead to the times after He has been crucified and had risen from the dead, when the power of sin had been broken and the power of the Holy Spirit had been given to those who believe – that is, to us..
He shows us a new, dynamic relationship that is possible with God. In this relationship nothing shall be impossible to us as God longs to give to us with open arms.
Ask, Jesus says, so that your joy will be complete. Here we see a situation, not of formalised prayer, but of a loving partnership where we are working with God and being totally fulfilled as we do so.
John 16 v26-27
… in that day you will ask in My Name …
…the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me…
Jesus is showing us the extent of our relationship with Him and with God. He says He will not need to ask God on our behalf since we have free access to God at all times, and God loves us.
Understanding the Bible lies in understanding what God has done for us. Look at what Jesus says in
John 16 v13-15
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you in all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will only speak what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you.
As we come to Jesus in simple faith and accept Him as our Saviour, He gives us the Holy Spirit. This is the miracle of the christian faith – God in us, through us, with us. What we cannot do on our own, God can do through us through the power of His Spirit living in us.
Read these scriptures over and over and ask God in faith to do what He has promised, that is , show you His truth and the way forward for your life. Follow this pattern.