7) How much is too much to ask for?

Suppose you and I are sitting in my living room over a Starbucks Italian Roost when a knock comes at the door. I open it, and there stands the President of the United States. He is playing a surprise visit to new churches and we were picked. He only has a short time to spend with us, but it is engaging and encouraging. We share our desire to be a church which actually helps people get better spiritually, financially, socially, emotionally and in their families. He nods approvingly. As the conversation goes on, your cell phone rings. It is your son. He needs 20 dollars for gas money. You shake your head. Your wallet was picked clean by your daughter this morning. You look at me. I give you that “not here, this year” glance as three teens gobbled by last twenty last night. You look at the president embarrassingly. But how could you ever ask him? Sure, you are a loyal American. Yes, you pay your taxes on time. But he is the president. You could never get up the nerve to ask nor ever believe he would give you a George Washington let alone an Andrew Jackson. In the middle of this dilemma, in runs the president’s daughter. She has been listening to music in the limo, when a friend calls and wants her to go to a movie.  She asks the president for a twenty. He readily gives it. There is no pained look or long negotiation required. The twenty goes from his hand to hers with a smile on both their faces.

Here is my question: Why did she get what she needed from the man with the only twenty in that room without hesitation?

Here is the answer: Relationship made all the difference.

In making a request to God, the first thing to be sure of is this: is my relationship with Him right? A person in right relationship with their Father, transformed by the cleansing of His Son’s blood via repentance, filled with His spirit has EVERY right to boldly go before the Lord and ask for the desires of his heart. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Come boldly before the throne of grace that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in your time of need.”

In Mark 11: 22-24, Jesus says, “have faith in God, if anyone says…and does not doubt in his heart but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

Why can we do this? It is because of relationship. I can have what I am seeking God for because of who I am in Christ. It goes from God’s hand to mine with a smile because the father loves giving good gifts to his kids.

There is no excuse for a believer to live in spiritual poverty. There is no reason a Christ-follower has live in constant failure. A transformed believer should never be sad for very long.

Transformation brings us back to a reminder of who we belong to; that our life is not lived alone; that we are a daughter of the King, a son of God, entitled to all the benefits such a relationship has in store for its benefactors.

How do we then pray as a transformed disciple? Stop praying, “Lord I know you are able to do___.” That is not faith-based praying. The president’s daughter did not merely believe that her dad “could” give her a Jackson; she had absolute faith that he “would.” So she gladly asked. And her father gladly gave. And so does ours.

Why then do we not believe? Why are we so afraid to ask? Could it be the quality of our relationship is preventing it?

When one of my children was hiding something they knew they had done wrong, they would avoid me. When there had been too many days between conversations, talk can occasionally be a bit cold and awkward at first. Anytime I am hesitant to be bold in my request before the Father, it is a sign there is a problem in my relationship with my Father.

Transformed believers are bold because their relationship is not cold. They exercise their faith muscle to make spiritual purchases in God’s kingdom without fear.

Maybe our community doesn’t yet believe in a big God because they have yet to see his followers expect and receive God-size results.

Today, what will you believe God for that is bigger than your ability to produce?

Pastor Ron