“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. – James 1:5-8
LIGHT FOR NOW: Your view of God must be situated in Christ for it to be a right view of God.
When Jesus in Acts 1 said “ye shall receive power…” he was referring to the believers taking from or taking advantage of the power of God resident in them. Hence, Paul in his epistles teaches the church at Ephesus; Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”. Peter used the word “receive” again in Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Earlier, he explained Joel’s prophecy and was emphatic on the fact that “…sons and daughters shall prophecy” (Acts 2:16-18).
The emphasis was on the fact that “they shall prophecy”. So consistently, he was referring to the action of the believer. Thus, the term “gift of the Holy Ghost” as used by Luke in the book of Acts was referring to utterances (speaking in tongues and prophesying). Back to Apostle James; observe verse 14 and 15 of chapter 5. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15). James explains what the prayer of faith is and that word faith in the term “the prayer of faith” requires our attention and this will be done in subsequent studies. Again, receiving in prayer is to take advantage or to take of what has already been made available. God made it available in Christ, so when we pray, we take from what has been made available in Christ in us. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Know God in Christ.
CONFESSION: I take advantage of all that is rightfully mine in Christ in the place of prayer, in Jesus name, Amen!
QUOTE: You can’t have a bipolar view of God and expect not to waver in prayers.
DAILY READING: MORNING: EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1; EVENING: ACTS CHAPTER 1
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 