Post by Char on Oct 26, 2008 14:01:00 GMT -6
ASK AND HAVE
JAMES 4:1-3
.YE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK NOT. V. 2.
Man is a creature abounding in wants, and ever restless and hence his heart is full of desires.
In bad men desires corrupt into lusts; they long after that which is selfish, sensual, and consequently evil. In gracious men there are desires also. Their desires are after the best things --–things pure and peaceable laudable and elevating. They desire God’s glory, and hence their desires spring from higher motives than those which inflame the unrenewed mind.
I.. THE POVERTY OF LUSTING. YE LUST AND HAVE NOT. V 2.
Carnal lusting, however strong they may be, do not in many cases obtain that which they seek after. The man longs to be happy, but he is not; he pines to be great, but he grows meaner every day; he aspires after this and after that which he thinks will content him, but he is still unsatisfied; he is like the troubled sea which cannot rest.
One way, his life is disappointment; he labors as in the very fire, but the result is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Multitudes of men are living for themselves, competing here and warring there, fighting for their own hand with the utmost perseverance. Conscience is not allowed to interfere in their transactions, but the old advice rings in their ears, GET MONEY, get money honestly if you can, but by any means get money. If you win, you must fight; and everything is fair in war, (not so)
James says, YE KILL, AND DESIRE TO HAVE, AND CANNOT OBTAIN; YE FIGHT AND WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT.
The reason is because it is unnatural to the natural man to pray; an as well expect him to fly. Self is his god, and to his god he looks for success. What is the reason why the man who is the slave of his lusts obtains not his desire, even when he takes to asking. The reason is because his asking is a mere matter of form, his heart is not in his worship.
II. HOW CHRISTIAN CHURCHES MAY SUFFER SPIRITUAL POVERTY.
Of course the Christian seeks higher things than the worldly, else were he not worthy of that name at all.
At least professedly his object it to obtain the true riches, and to glorify God in spirit and in truth. Among professed Christians, there may be the pursuit of desirable things in a wrong method, YE FIGHT AND WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT.
Have not churches thought to prosper by competing with other churches. Is it not the design of many to succeed by finer building, better music, and a cleverer ministry than others.
I bring no railing accusation, and, therefore, say no more than this; God will never bless such means and such a spirit; those who give way to them will desire to have, but never obtain.
I am afraid there are churches which do not ask–BECAUSE YE ASK NOT. Prayer in all forms is too much neglected. We cannot commune with God, who is a consuming fire, if there is no fire in our prayers.
III. THE WEALTH WHICH AWAITS THE USE OF THE RIGHT MEANS, NAMELY, OF ASKING RIGHTLY OF GOD.
How very small, after all, is this demand which God makes of us. We expect a poor man to ask; and if he does not, we lay the blame of his lack upon himself.
However, whither we like it or not, remember, asking is the rule of the kingdom, ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. It is a rule that never will be altered in anybody’s case.
Moreover, it is clear to even the most shadow thinker that there are some things necessary for the church of God which cannot get otherwise than by prayer. You cannot get the Holy Ghost without prayer. Neither can you get communion with God without prayer. He that will not pray cannot have communion with God. Prayer must be in action, or else those blessing which are vitally essentially to the success of the church can never come to it. Prayer is the great door of spiritual blessing.
Do you not think that this asking which God requires is a very great privilege? We were in our spiritual nature full of strong desires, and yet dumb as to the tongue of prayer. Blessed be His name, the Lord ordains a way of utterance and bids our hearts speak out to Him.
We must pray; it seems to be that it ought to be the first thing we ever think of doing when in need. Alas, according to scripture and observation, and, I grieve to add, according to experience, prayer is often the last thing. Do you know what great things are to be had for the asking.
I will mention another proof that ought to make us pray, and that is, that if we ask, God will give to us much more than we ask.
Abraham asked of God that Ishmael might live before him. He thought, SURELY, THIS IS THE PROMISED NEED. God has promised me a seed, and surely it must be this child of Hagar, oh that Ishmael might live before thee. God granted him that, but He gave him Isaac as well, and all the blessings of the covenant. There is Jacob; he kneels down to pray, and asks the Lord to give him bread to eat and raiment to put on. But what did his God give him? When he came back to Bethel he had two bands, thousands of sheep and camels, and much wealth.
God had heard him and done exceeding abundantly above what he asked. They brought a man to Christ sick of the palsy, and asked Him to heal Him; and said, SON, THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE. He had not asked that, had he? No; but God give greater things than we ask for. Hear that poor, dying thief’s humble prayer; LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST IN THY KINGDOM. Jesus replies, TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.
JAMES 4:1-3
.YE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK NOT. V. 2.
Man is a creature abounding in wants, and ever restless and hence his heart is full of desires.
In bad men desires corrupt into lusts; they long after that which is selfish, sensual, and consequently evil. In gracious men there are desires also. Their desires are after the best things --–things pure and peaceable laudable and elevating. They desire God’s glory, and hence their desires spring from higher motives than those which inflame the unrenewed mind.
I.. THE POVERTY OF LUSTING. YE LUST AND HAVE NOT. V 2.
Carnal lusting, however strong they may be, do not in many cases obtain that which they seek after. The man longs to be happy, but he is not; he pines to be great, but he grows meaner every day; he aspires after this and after that which he thinks will content him, but he is still unsatisfied; he is like the troubled sea which cannot rest.
One way, his life is disappointment; he labors as in the very fire, but the result is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Multitudes of men are living for themselves, competing here and warring there, fighting for their own hand with the utmost perseverance. Conscience is not allowed to interfere in their transactions, but the old advice rings in their ears, GET MONEY, get money honestly if you can, but by any means get money. If you win, you must fight; and everything is fair in war, (not so)
James says, YE KILL, AND DESIRE TO HAVE, AND CANNOT OBTAIN; YE FIGHT AND WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT.
The reason is because it is unnatural to the natural man to pray; an as well expect him to fly. Self is his god, and to his god he looks for success. What is the reason why the man who is the slave of his lusts obtains not his desire, even when he takes to asking. The reason is because his asking is a mere matter of form, his heart is not in his worship.
II. HOW CHRISTIAN CHURCHES MAY SUFFER SPIRITUAL POVERTY.
Of course the Christian seeks higher things than the worldly, else were he not worthy of that name at all.
At least professedly his object it to obtain the true riches, and to glorify God in spirit and in truth. Among professed Christians, there may be the pursuit of desirable things in a wrong method, YE FIGHT AND WAR, YET YE HAVE NOT.
Have not churches thought to prosper by competing with other churches. Is it not the design of many to succeed by finer building, better music, and a cleverer ministry than others.
I bring no railing accusation, and, therefore, say no more than this; God will never bless such means and such a spirit; those who give way to them will desire to have, but never obtain.
I am afraid there are churches which do not ask–BECAUSE YE ASK NOT. Prayer in all forms is too much neglected. We cannot commune with God, who is a consuming fire, if there is no fire in our prayers.
III. THE WEALTH WHICH AWAITS THE USE OF THE RIGHT MEANS, NAMELY, OF ASKING RIGHTLY OF GOD.
How very small, after all, is this demand which God makes of us. We expect a poor man to ask; and if he does not, we lay the blame of his lack upon himself.
However, whither we like it or not, remember, asking is the rule of the kingdom, ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. It is a rule that never will be altered in anybody’s case.
Moreover, it is clear to even the most shadow thinker that there are some things necessary for the church of God which cannot get otherwise than by prayer. You cannot get the Holy Ghost without prayer. Neither can you get communion with God without prayer. He that will not pray cannot have communion with God. Prayer must be in action, or else those blessing which are vitally essentially to the success of the church can never come to it. Prayer is the great door of spiritual blessing.
Do you not think that this asking which God requires is a very great privilege? We were in our spiritual nature full of strong desires, and yet dumb as to the tongue of prayer. Blessed be His name, the Lord ordains a way of utterance and bids our hearts speak out to Him.
We must pray; it seems to be that it ought to be the first thing we ever think of doing when in need. Alas, according to scripture and observation, and, I grieve to add, according to experience, prayer is often the last thing. Do you know what great things are to be had for the asking.
I will mention another proof that ought to make us pray, and that is, that if we ask, God will give to us much more than we ask.
Abraham asked of God that Ishmael might live before him. He thought, SURELY, THIS IS THE PROMISED NEED. God has promised me a seed, and surely it must be this child of Hagar, oh that Ishmael might live before thee. God granted him that, but He gave him Isaac as well, and all the blessings of the covenant. There is Jacob; he kneels down to pray, and asks the Lord to give him bread to eat and raiment to put on. But what did his God give him? When he came back to Bethel he had two bands, thousands of sheep and camels, and much wealth.
God had heard him and done exceeding abundantly above what he asked. They brought a man to Christ sick of the palsy, and asked Him to heal Him; and said, SON, THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE. He had not asked that, had he? No; but God give greater things than we ask for. Hear that poor, dying thief’s humble prayer; LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST IN THY KINGDOM. Jesus replies, TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.
