ASK FOR IT BELIEVE IT AND RECEIVE IT

Proclamation:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  Mark 11:24-25 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark as he received it from the apostle Peter.  He began this chapter presenting the events which surrounded the entrance Jesus made into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11) including the cursing of the fig tree which did not bear any fruit, (Mark 11:12-14 and 19-21) and the overturning of the tables of the money changers in the temple. (Mark 11:15-18)  Jesus told His disciples to have faith in God.  He said that they could move mountains if they believed in their heart that they could. (Mark 11:22-23)  Then He told them that whatever they asked for in prayer would be theirs, if they believed that they would receive it.  He also told them to forgive others who had wronged them so that God in heaven would forgive them of their sins.

Application:

First of all, if we do not have faith in God, then praying is useless.  “Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)  Secondly, we must truly believe in our heart and not doubt that we will receive that which we ask for in prayer.  When we pray we must believe that it is already done.  However, we need to make sure that what we ask for is consistent with the will of God and that it will give Him glory.  Thirdly, we must forgive those who have done us wrong before we can be forgiven for the wrong that we have done. (Matthew 6:15, Mark 11:26, and Luke 6:37)  We need to pray for the inner strength to move the mountains of problems that we face daily, or pray for the strength to climb them. (Ephesians 3:16)  We must all do our part in kingdom building for The Lord.  Those of us who are nonproductive and not fruitful will soon wither away and be removed. (John 15:1-2 and 15:6)