UNDERSTANDING HIS WILL FOR ASKING - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

UNDERSTANDING HIS WILL FOR ASKING *PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME* TUESDAY, MARCH 11TH, 2014
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1 John 5:I4–15).
Praying according to the will of God is a key ingredient for success in prayer, especially the prayer of petition. However, many have a misconception of what exactly it means to "ask according to God’s will." Some have assumed, mostly, because they haven’t been adequately taught the Word, that the reason they didn’t receive answers to their prayers was because such prayers weren’t in line with God’s will for them. They assume God didn’t want them to have what they were asking for.
But this is an erroneous interpretation of God’s Word in the context of prayer. Those who hold this mistaken notion that their prayers weren’t answered because they didn’t pray according to God’s will fail to understand that the Holy Spirit’s emphasis in our opening verse isn’t primarily the consistency of their request with God’s will, but their exclusive privilege of having a hearing with God. When He tells us to "ask according to God’s will," He isn’t talking about "WHAT" we ask for, but "HOW" we ask for it.
In other words, the way and manner you present your petitions ought to be consistent with God’s stipulated pattern. It’s important to know, therefore, how to ask the Father according to His will for asking. John 16:23-24 gives us a clear idea: "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
Jesus, at this instance, introduced the exclusive deal—the new, acceptable way of asking from God. The Father’s will for asking is asking in the Name of Jesus. When you make requests to the Father in Jesus’ Name, you’re actually functioning in Jesus’ stead. It’s as though Jesus were the one making that request. The Father loves you unconditionally; all He wants is for you to ask according to His will—in the Name of Jesus—and receive answers.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I rejoice at the awesome privilege and blessing of praying in the Name of Jesus. Thank you for ordaining me to receive answers to prayers, and teaching me the acceptable way of asking in accordance to your will! I’m thus confident of answers to my petitions as I offer them in the Name of Jesus today. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 16:26-27
Living Bible (TLB)
26 Then you will present your petitions over my signature! And I won’t need to ask the Father to grant you these requests, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from the Father.
John 15:16
Living Bible (TLB)
16 “You didn’t choose me! I chose you! I appointed you to go and produce lovely fruit always, so that no matter what you ask for from the Father, using my name, he will give it to you.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Reading Plan : Mark 14:53-72 Numbers 29-31
2 Year Reading Plan : Acts 26:24-32 Psalm 71-72