Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Last week’s message ended with the question, “What and when do we ask, and what and when do we decree?” This is a very significant question. Understanding this question unlocks the operation of the Kingdom of God to us. As always, these email messages are not exhaustive. It is simply a summary jumpstart from which we need to further study. God told YOU to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth.” Notice the Holy Spirit says “…that needeth not to be ashamed.” Why would we be ashamed? The last part of the verse tells us: “Rightly dividing The Word of Truth.” Wrongly dividing The Word of Truth will lead us into spiritual error, and we will not experience The Truth. What is The Truth? The Promises of God, His Word. We will see little of God’s promises fulfilled in our lives. Those that we do see fulfilled will come about by us stumbling blindly into them but not understanding how they happened. We will consider them miracles. Did you know God has NO intention for a Believer to live by miracles? His intention is for us to operate by faith and consistently receive His promises just as Jesus did. A major part of Jesus’ ministry was SHOWING us how to operate in The Kingdom of God and receive God’s promises consistently – every time. This will be a multi-part message meaning it will take two or three emails to adequately explain the answers to the questions.
Now, let’s address the question of “what and when do we ask and what and when do we decree?” What do we ask? For wisdom. When do we ask? When we have a need. What do we decree? God’s promises for the need. When do we decree? Always! I’ll explain God’s answer for each question.
What do we ask? For wisdom.
Let’s look at Matthew 25:29
Matthew 25:29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Jesus spoke this verse right after telling and explaining the parable of the talents. What is Jesus referring to one having and not having in this verse? Wisdom. If a Believer has God’s wisdom, they will understand how to operate in the Kingdom of God (is also called the Kingdom of Heaven at times), and it will bring them God’s intended abundance. Without wisdom of how to operate in God’s Kingdom, no matter how much a Believer loves God and prays, the little bit they have will be taken away by Satan. Why can Satan take it away? Because the Believer has no wisdom of how to prevent Satan from stealing it from him. Notice what Jesus has to say to Peter and the disciples in Matthew 16:17-20.
Matthew 16:15-19
15 He saith unto them, But Whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon This rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus tells Peter the revelation that Jesus is the Son of the Living God is wisdom given him by Jesus’ Father. What is wisdom? Rhema, The revealed Word. In verse 18, Jesus tells Peter He is giving Simon Barjona a new name, Peter, and upon The Word, The Rock Jesus Christ, the church is to be built. Now, very quickly, let me clear up, or at least introduce that verse 18 has been WIDELY and wrongly taught. The church WAS NOT built upon Peter. How stupid is this? Why would the church be built upon a fallible man? The gates of hell prevailed against Peter when he denied Christ at the trial. So, this would have made what Jesus said in verse 18 a lie if Peter was the rock upon which the church would be built. See I Corinthians 10:4 below. It is one of many verses throughout the Old and New Testaments telling us Jesus is The Rock.
I Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Notice in Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells Peter and the disciples He is giving them “the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” What are the keys? The Word of God. What does The Word of God do when properly used according to the Kingdom of God? It binds and looses on earth according to our decree which then authorizes God to enforce it from Heaven. God cannot do anything without our permission. I know, it blows your mind, right? This is why the church has largely failed in its earthly role. Begging God for what we have already been given by Him. This is changing as God is pouring out Grace and wisdom and many Believers are turning to God saying there has to be more to being a Believer than what I’m experiencing. And there is, praise God!! For those diligently seeking, God rewards them with His wisdom (Hebrews 11:6).
Notice what God has to say about wisdom in His Word.
James 1:5
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.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 4:7-8
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Proverbs 24:3
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Psalm 127:1
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
I could list hundreds more verses, but what we have above suffices. James 1:5 tells us to “ask” for wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 tells us God gives wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 tells us wisdom is the “principal” thing. Ecclesiastes 7:12 tells us wisdom gives life. Proverbs 24:3 tells us anything we build is built through wisdom, and Psalm 127:1 tells us that if we try to build something without the wisdom of God, it will fail.
Now, as the clincher to what we are to “ask” for from God, notice what young King Solomon asked for from God when God told Solomon to ask Him for anything.
I Kings 3:5
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
Solomon’s response:
I Kings 3:7-9
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people?
Solomon could have asked for anything in this world. Instead, he asked for wisdom. Let’s see God’s response.
I Kings 3:10-14
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing [wisdom].
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Wonderful! The Holy Spirit teaches us wisdom is the principal thing and with it we can have all things. Jesus said the exact same thing in Matthew 6:33.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus taught His disciples and the people around Him to make seeking God and His Word first in your life. From it will come ALL other things you need and desire. This is the same thing John said in III John 1:2.
III John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
So, in closing this message, what are we to ask for from God? Wisdom. When we ask for wisdom, this pleases God. And when are we to ask God for wisdom? This will be the next message.
Much love in Christ,
Larry