Our Assurance

7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10“Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11“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!"
Matthew 7: 7 - 11 NKJV

Alot has been made of just how we should seek our Lords help in our time of need.  There's been books, videos and the occasional seminar all bent on asking that burning question of just how it is that we should come into our Lords presence to seek His assistance.  I have seen others resort to fasting, daily prayer and soul searching in order to somehow gain Gods favor in their request.  Of course, there are times when we don't receive what we are beseeching our Lord to provide.  But does that really mean that He has somehow forgotten us?  He who has promised to never leave us or forsake us, would He suddenly write us off and turn His back on us?  Sadly, I have seen many a proud pulpit pounder make this claim when the requests of their flock are not met by a loving God.  In fact, I have been in the presence of a few pastors who have told me that Gods lack of action on my behalf was indeed due to some unconfessed sin or bad behavior in my life.  Really?  So, that whole Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of all mankind thing was just a fairy tale?  However, these are the dark places our thoughts go to when we do not know the truth of Christ Jesus in us {Galations 2:20}.  If our requests we have made before God are not met as we think they should, the God is somehow punishing us or we have somehow lost favor with Him.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Not only that, each and every pulpit pounder who preaches this rot is only playing on the fears of those who look to them for guidance!  I have heard many testimonies in my time of those whose requests brought to God were not granted immediately.  However, when in His timing those requests were fulfilled, it was to the greater benefit of those who were seeking His assistance.  In other words, our heavenly Fathers timing is ALWAYS better than our own.

23“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16: 23 - 24 NKJV

There is a common phrase in christianity that you cannot outgive God.  I believe this to be true.  For our heavenly Father showers His riches on the Godly and the ungodly as well.  This is His nature.  It is not our job to sit as monday morning quarterbacks and judge just who should receive our Lords blessings.  But how is it that we will have that blessed assurance that what we ask for He will provide?  Well, for one He provides for our daily needs.  That we are assured of.  There is no need for us to be more like Jesus or to commune closer to God in order to go to the front of the line for our Lords provision.  This is common teaching within the institutional churches and I feel that it is in error.  For if Christ Jesus already is within us, we are already closer to our heavenly Father than we'll ever be.  Whatever it is that we are struggling with, we face these struggles AS CHRIST who is in us.  This is our assurance, that Jesus knows immediately whatever cries for help our hearts are whispering to Him.  We do well to remember that we are now children of the living God, and that God delights in providing for His children.  That our joy may be made full.

~Scott~