All Things You Ask

5/11/2015 – by

“All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22 (NASB)

It has to be one of the boldest statements Jesus ever made: “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” At the same time, it is not one of the most surprising statements Jesus ever made. Jesus is the King of Kings, the King of Glory, the King over All the Earth, but he is also the King of Unlimited Possibilities. Over and over again, throughout the gospels, Jesus emphasizes the unlimited possibilities for the one who has faith. Using a variety of examples, he helps the disciples understand that nothing is impossible for the one who has faith: fig trees will wither before you, mountains will be cast into the sea, demons will be cast out, and you will see the glory of God…if you believe. And it doesn’t take much faith to make possible the seemingly impossible—only faith the size of a mustard seed.

Over and over again, throughout the gospels, Jesus emphasizes the unlimited possibilities for the one who has faith.

Jesus places “prayer” at the intersection between what is impossible with human beings and the unlimited possibilities with God: “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Through prayer, we make a right-hand turn at that intersection—from traveling on the road of what is impossible for us to traveling on the road of what is possible for God. The secret here, of course, is that we must ask. Christian pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “Satan can’t keep God from answering our prayers, but he will keep us from asking.” James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

Therefore, if we are going to join God in what He is up to and be used by Him to accomplish His purposes, we are each called to trust that, “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” If we are faced with what seems like an insurmountable challenge in our own lives; if God touches us with a heart of compassion for the lives of others who are also facing what seem like overwhelming odds; if we find ourselves standing at the intersection between what is impossible for us and what is possible for God, Jesus has called us to “ask in prayer, believing” and he has promised us that “you will receive.”

Even in the darkest hour of his life, in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus clung to the God of Unlimited Possibilities. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). What Jesus received in answer to his prayer was not a rescue from the crucifixion, but it was, in the resurrection, the greatest miracle the world has ever witnessed of the impossible being made into the possible!

What is it that you are facing right now that is scary, uncertain, hopeless, pressuring, confusing? Does any of it seem impossible to you? Jesus would encourage you to take a bold stand upon one of the boldest statements he ever made: “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” By God’ grace, make your bold stand at the intersection of the impossible with you and the possible with God, at the intersection of your need and God’s supply, and then turn right…toward this great promise: “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

You’re Invited!

Someone once said, “Labors of love attract community” (John Mogabgab). The ministry of FCS is a labor of love on mission to preach good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (see Isaiah 61:1). It’s a labor of love that is built upon a strong foundation of decades of trusting that all things we ask in prayer for the mission of FCS, believing, we will receive. We have been moved to ask that God would make our ministry of Christ-centered counseling available through multiple church-based locations across state lines and accessible to all through affordable fees for our services. We have been moved to ask that God would bring healing, growth and renewal to the lives of those whom we serve from various faith backgrounds. We have been moved to ask that God would use our ministry to form Christ more deeply in the lives of those who are Christ-followers. And in each case…He has! All things we have asked in prayer, believing, we have received!

We are engaged in a labor of love that is exciting and deeply fulfilling. God has accomplished amazing things in individual lives, families, churches, and communities through the ministry of FCS and He has been gloried in all of it! We invite you to be part of the community that this labor of love has attracted by investing the resources God has given you—your compassion, your prayers, your financial resources—into the mission we are pursuing.

May you find great joy and experience deep fulfillment by the contribution you make to healing, growing, and renewing the lives of many people, including those who ordinarily would have no way of affording counseling services and/or would have no way of securing Christ-centered services. May you find deep meaning in being part of a vibrant community that is passionate about joining God in what He is up to. As Paul says, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity…” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

About the author:

Marty Goehring, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian Minister. He is the Director of Formation Counseling Services, an Associate Pastor of Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and an Adjunct Professor at Richmont Graduate University. The three life-long missions that Dr. Goehring pursues with passion are to assist the Spirit-driven process that forms Christ in people’s lives, to support the church in fulfilling its calling to be the primary provider of soul care in the community, and to inspire the church to mobilize its resources for the sake of spreading the gospel wide and taking it deep.