The men God has chosen to showcase in the Bible were all men who had undergone amazing transformation. This is the stuff of the true Christian life. All who know God and walk in communion with Him will, like Samson, Moses and Elijah become larger than life figures through spiritual regeneration. In the Old Testament, it was all about the Law of Moses. Now, in the New Testament, it’s all about the promises by which through faith we are transformed into ‘partakers of the divine nature.’ ~ “His divine power has given to us…exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature” (2Peter 1.3,4). God has provided over 2,000 promises in the Bible, so that His children will always have all that is necessary to overcome every tactic of the enemy. There are those who continue praying the same prayers over and over again asking God for the same thing, not knowing that God has already heard their prayer and granted to them the things they have requested.
God Always Gives
Let’s have a look at what the Bible has to say about prayer in the book of James. ~ “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1.5-7). Notice that the Apostle begins by using ‘wisdom’ as an example, and he then proceeds to apply what he is saying to all things, when he says ~ “…For let not that man suppose that he will receive ANYTHING from the Lord.” So, it is not talking here about wisdom alone, but rather ‘all things’ that are asked in prayer. Now, notice that it says that God always gives to all men ‘liberally.’ ~ “…God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1.5).
Already Given
God always gives to all who ask in faith. This is why the Apostle continues on to resolutely declare that God always gives to all men when they ask in faith. Notice, he then says unconditionally and resolutely ~ “…and it will be given to him” (James 1.5). The reason why all of the things that God gives to man are already given, is because they must be received ‘BY FAITH’ to seal the transaction. Faith is the only condition that is necessary. Once a person receives by faith, he is qualified and blessed by God because he has met the spiritual condition, which is to receive by faith. This is the only spiritual condition necessary to receive all of the promises of God. Notice, the Bible says the same thing again in the book of 2Peter ~ “As His divine power (faith) has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness, through the… exceedingly great and precious promises” (2Peter 1.3,4). He said, all things have already been given through the promises. All that God requires from man is to receive the promises by faith. ~ “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6.12).
Receive What God has Given
Now, the only thing necessary is to receive what God has given. The problem is not that God does not hear our prayers or doesn’t care about us. He cares so much about us that He has granted our petitions even before we have asked them. That’s right! the Bible says, ~ “Before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear“ (Isaiah 65.24) and Saint Peter writes: ~ “His divine power has given to us all things that [pertain] to life and godliness” (2Peter 1.3). The solution is to know first what things God has already given and then to learn how to receive them from God by faith. The next step is to stop asking God for the things He has already given, identify them and then learn how to receive them by faith. The Apostle Paul writes, ~ “All the promises of God in Him [are] Yes, and in Him Amen” (2Corinthians 1.20).
Divine Transformation
Everything that is in the promises of God has already been given. Once the child of God knows the promises of God, he can stop asking God for things that have already been given and begin the task of ‘receiving’ by faith. Samson was so transformed by the power of God’s Covenant, he was no longer subject to the natural laws of physics. Scripture clearly depicts two Samsons: one completely transformed into a larger-than-life super hero, and apart from faith in the promise just a weak, floundering, religious nobody. It’s up to you. God has placed the power of divine transformation in your hands.
Hebrews 6.12
That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
© L. Jonathan Blais 2021 All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
