Ask, According to His Will, and Receive

‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.'

(1 John 5:14,15 KJV)

'This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.' (1 John 1:5-7 KJV) 

Ask for/to walk in the light, as he is in the light.

'And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.' (1 John 2:28,29 KJV) 

Ask how to do righteousness, as he is righteous.

'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.'

(1 John 3:1-3 KJV) 

Ask how to purify yourself, even as he is pure.

'Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.' (1 John 4:2,3 KJV) Ask how to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

These things certainly are according to (in conformity with) God's will.

No more can Ye, except Ye abide in Me

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no MORE can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done UNTO you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye shall bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.' 

(John 15:1-8 KJV)

without: outside, external

Is there enough in these verses to encourage you to ASK the Father, that he purge from your works that which is outside and external to the true vine? In the natural branch, purging refers to the cutting off of shoots which run to waste, and removal of every excrescence (abnormal outgrowth) which hinders the growth of the branch.

'As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no MORE can ye, except ye abide in me.'

Do you 'have committed sins', brethren? Decommit unto righteousness

‘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 KJV)

committed: pledge or bind to a certain course or policy

'Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' (James 5:10,11 KJV)

Are you holding on to considerations of the kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of this world that have separated you from the anointing of God in the name of the Lord? Paul, James, Peter, John and Jude are surely elders/apostles that, in their epistles discuss the way of righteousness. If we find ourselves sick, it is a manifestation that we are bound to 'certain' policies that have separated us from His righteous cause. Recognize the elder's writings and the fruitfulness of their discipleship in the name of the Lord Jesus. You will be happy as you endure: it is the joy of the Lord!

All Things: Every thing in order to walk, even as He walked

‘And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to THESE THINGS? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us ALL THINGS? Who shall lay any THING to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in ALL THESE THINGS we are more than conquerors THROUGH him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

(Romans 8:28-39 KJV)

Our consideration of this portion of Scripture shall prepare us for transformation to become 'meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.' (1 Timothy 2:21 KJV)

Jesus is the Cure

‘And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'
(Matthew 17:14-21 KJV)

cure: a complete or permanent solution or remedy

Bring your sore vexation (v.15) to the Cure, and be made complete (v.20) in Him.

The Prayer of Faith shall Save the Sick

‘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. Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' (James 5:14-16 KJV)

'But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, "Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." '

(Romans 10:6-10 KJV)

It is not grievous to consider 'the prayer of faith' that James recommends for the sick to be infused with 'the word of faith' that Paul preaches. James recommends this to his brethren: meaning his brethren find themselves sick as they follow apart from this confession. An elder may not be readily accessible, but we may begin by confessing with our mouth the Lord Jesus: he is the author and finisher of our faith. God is faithful in Christ!

It is a simple, blessed devotion.

According to His Greater Works

‘From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." But he turned, and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man ACCORDING to HIS works." '

(Matthew 16:21-27 KJV)

according- in a manner corresponding or conforming to (in accordance with; in line with; in keeping with; in obedience to; following; honoring)

'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.' (John 14:12 KJV)

Jesus' ministry activities are described through the gospel accounts of his disciples, and the greatest work was his cross for our sin.

'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.' (1 Peter 2:24 KJV)