Ask And Receive
Download MP3I want to focus today on receiving. We have often missed that receiving is something that we do. It’s in our mind that all we do is ask and we will have but the Scripture tells us to receive.
Let’s start with Mark Chapter 11
22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.
Let’s look now at James Chapter 1
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
It’s important to understand that receiving is something that we do.
2 Corinthians 1:20 WEB
“ For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.”
We see what God has revealed in his Word and his will. We ask in faith, believing it’s his will and that he hears us. We also believe he has already said yes and Christ himself is that yes.
Then we by faith receive what we have asked for.
Let’s take a closer look at the word receive and the meaning it has in Scripture.
Receive is the English translation of the Greek Word (lambanō)
If you look it up in the Strong’s Concordance you will find these meanings for that word.
to take, take up, take in the hand, to take on one’s self, seize, seize upon, to assume, put on, to make a rightful or successful assumption of, to take by way of provision, to give mental reception to,to be simply recipient of, to receive.
When we read we are to receive God’s promise we need to think of taking it for ourselves. What we see as God’s will in his Word, his promises, have already been provided through the redemptive work of Christ.
Now we ask for it and take it for ourselves.
So it’s like we are asking to honor God in acknowledgement that all things are from him. Then we acknowledge that what we are asking is his will and therefore a promise. We recognize that all promises of God come with a Yes, which is Jesus himself, then we receive by believing or receiving by faith in claiming that it’s now ours.
Before we close this episode, I do want to share with you another Scripture that includes this word (lambanō).
Acts 20:24
World English Bible
“But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.”
Knowing what this word received means, let’s apply it to this verse.
It reads, “the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus”
You could say, the ministry that I knew was God’s will from me, that Jesus appointed me to, I acknowledge it and take it upon myself.
The ministry God has for you, no matter what it is, you need to take ownership of. I’m not saying you need to go around and tell everybody what your ministry is. I’m saying take it, put it on, and start doing it.
If you are called to teach, teach. Called to preach, preach. Call to serve, serve. Called to be a godly man or woman, then be it. Called to be a godly father or mother, then do it. Own it and do it believing God for his empowerment and grace.
Blessings,
Tim Dumas
www.hopeforhealingfaithforliving.com
