How Shall We Ask? by M. M. Osgood

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1863

How Shall We Ask?

By M. M. Osgood

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke xi, 9.

We have here the word of him who is emphatically "The Truth." Those to whom these words apply may know they have the things for which they ask, for they will willingly comply with the conditions. To whom, then, are they addressed? By reading the first verse we find he is talking with his disciples, who asked him to teach them to pray. They were addressed to those who believed in, and followed, Jesus. It may now apply to all those who believe in, and fully follow, him. In Jesus' last prayer with his disciples he anticipates the wants of all those who should believe through their word, and asks for them, and the disciples present, like blessings. See John xvii, 11, 20, 21. We who believe them, through their written word, may claim the promise if we fulfill the conditions. What are the conditions?

1. We must not, like the hypocrite, pray to be seen of men. "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret." Matt. vi, 5, 6. All who have realized the blessedness of communion with God, know that the secret place, where no eye but his can see, no ear but his hear, is the dearest, sweetest spot on earth.

2. "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against any one. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark xi, 25, 26. New version.

3. "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Matt. v, 23, 24. Our altar is the altar of prayer. The gift or offering we are to bring as a sacrifice, is a broken and contrite heart. See Ps. li, 17. If we come then to the altar of prayer, and remember that we have in any way, either by word or deed, injured a brother (or neighbor) we are to seek reconciliation first, by asking forgiveness of them. If we have spoken unkindly or falsely to them alone, to them alone is confession due. If we have spoken these words to, or in the presence of, others, to them we must also acknowledge our fault, and counteract as far as may be, the wrong influence and impressions our words have caused. If we have been guilty of oppression, or fraud in the least degree, this also must be confessed, and as far as possible reparation be made to the injured. Zaccheus was ready to restore fourfold all that he had obtained unjustly; and when the Lord takes full possession of our hearts, we shall be anxious to make full restoration.

Thus much in regard to the duties required toward our fellow-creatures before we present our petitions. What does the Lord require in regard to himself?

1. Have faith in God. "For truly I say to you that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he saith. Therefore I say to you, Whatever things ye ask when ye pray, believe that ye will receive, and ye shall have them." Mark xi, 22-24. "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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James i, 5-7.

2. In order to have a ground for the exercise of faith, we must do those things that please God. "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John iii, 20-22.

3. We must ask according to his will; that is, ask only for those things which he in his word declares himself willing to give. Whatever would make us holier, more like our Pattern, or whatever would tend to God's glory, we may ask, either for ourselves or others. See 1 John v, 16. But whatever tends to foster pride, or increase our covetousness, or selfishness, would not be in accordance with his will, hence improper to pray for. "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked from him." 1 John v, 14, 15. New version. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (margin, pleasures)." James iv, 3.

4. We must ask in Jesus' name. "Whatever things ye ask the Father in my name he will give you." John xv, 23. If we rely on our own merits, or promises of future obedience, they will all fail us. "There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." To illustrate. A. and B. are partners in the mercantile business, each owning a share in the firm, consequently considered by each other as responsible persons. A stranger comes to A., seeking and obtaining employment. At the end of the week he asks his wages, wishing to purchase necessaries for his family. A. writes a line to B., requesting him to give this man goods to the amount of $6, and signs his name to the line. Handing it to the stranger, he says, "Go to the store of A. and B., and take up $6 worth, and I will be responsible." He goes, gets the goods, tells B. that he has been working for A., who sent him there to get that amount. But B. says, "I cannot let you take the goods unless A. sends an order to that effect. You are a stranger; I cannot take your word." The stranger then thinks of the line, and presents it to B., who upon seeing the writing and name of A., hesitates no longer, but delivers up the goods. Although we are not unknown to God, yet we are no more responsible than was this stranger, hence we need the name of one who is worthy, to present. And it must be genuine. If the stranger had forged the writing and presented it to B., he would have been detected at once by B.

We may profess to believe alone in the merits of Jesus, and when we offer our formal prayers, may say, "All we ask is in Jesus' name." But God cannot be deceived; he will not regard it. If we abide in Christ and bring forth fruit like him, the parent vine, we

shall be his epistles, known and acknowledged by God whether by men or not. If Christ abides in us by his Spirit, he will move us to ask just those things that are proper for us. "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Rom. viii, 26, 27.

Oh that we might realize our poverty, and unworthiness, and thus be enabled more fully to appreciate the matchless love of Jesus in giving us an order on the bank of heaven, signed with his own dear, all-prevailing name. When we remember the wondrous price he paid to secure the blessings now offered to us without money and without price, may it melt our hearts with gratitude, and bind us living sacrifices, as with cords, to the altar.

Dear brethren and sisters, I want to say to you, How good the Lord is! I know it, I feel it. I do love and praise him for the victories he gives me over the world, the flesh, and Satan. I do wish that every thought, and word, and act, was just as he would have them. For this I am striving, for this I pray. I know the Lord is ready and willing to hear prayer if we ask as directed. I tried to do so, and he heard, and filled me with abounding joy. Praise his name! O, let us so live hour by hour, that we may come boldly to a throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. iv, 16.