Blog 74 / Our High Calling
February 2, 2023
We Do Not Have Because We Do Not Ask
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” (John 14:13 NIV)
God is fully committed to answer prayers that have His will and His glory as their chief objectives. This is especially true regarding prayers that are focused on the extension of His kingdom.
The more people who turn from their worthless idols to the Living God and give praise and worship to their Creator, the greater is the glory He receives. Therefore, we can ask with confidence for workers and resources for the harvest, for fruitful missionary endeavor, and for spiritual awakening among the lost, knowing that these things will increase God’s glory among the nations.
The authority that our Lord has given His Church to overcome the enemy and to further God’s kingdom is amazing. So too are His promises. From His throne in heaven Jesus has promised that He will do everything we ask in His Name: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14) He also said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt 16:19).
These promises though do come with a sobering truth: “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). Has the Church neglected this truth? How much different would the spiritual landscape of the nations be if God’s people had leveraged their huge potential of united prayer to act on His authority and promises? How much more would the gospel of Jesus Christ have lighted the spiritual darkness that pervades so much of the globe?
Veteran missionary intercessor, John Robb, asks: “Why has it been almost two thousand years since the great commission was given and still over two billion haven’t heard the good news? Why do thousands of unreached people groups still have no missionary among them? The answer is almost scandalous: ‘We are not asking!’”
Colin Stott
GRN Global Prayer Coordinator
