The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-four of his book John shared how Jesus instructed His disciples to, “ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full” where we read:
Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The verse reads, “Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name:” John began with the word, “Hitherto have you asked” which means “until the current time you, disciples of Jesus have inquired, requested and desired” “nothing in my name” or “not one thing in my, Jesus', name and everything which the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples at this point they had “requested” not one thing in His “name”.
The verse goes on to say, “ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John continued with the word, “ask” or “call for, beg, crave, desire and require”, “and you shall receive” which means “and you, disciples of Jesus, will claim, procure, seize and lay hold of”, “that your joy may be full” or “so you, disciples of Jesus', gladness, calm delight and cheerfulness will appear and exist as complete, finished and liberally supplied”. John shared how Jesus instructed His disciples to “ask”, and they were promised to “procure and seize” their request so their “gladness and cheer” would be “furnished and liberally supplied”.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus' disciples did not “ask” for anything “in His name” at that time, but now they were to “ask” His Heavenly Father and whatever they requested would be “supplied”. This would cause their “joy and gladness” to be “liberally supplied” as they lived in the world. God desires to offer the gift of salvation to every person who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who surrender their lives to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words “ask, receive and be filled with joy”.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “these things have I spoke unto you in proverbs”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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