Dr. Gough:
"What shall I give you?" God said, "Ask Me." Ask Him.
--God gave that invitation to young king Solomon.
--He gives it to us also. His invitation to prayer.
--Prayer is powerful. Changes things. Changes us.
Good parents care for their children's needs.
--So does our Heavenly Father, for His dear ones.
--Nothing is beyond ability of prayer, except what is outside the will of God. So let's all pray.
--We all have needs. God says, "Ask Me."
I. SOLOMON ASKED GOD FOR WISDOM (I Kings 3).
--First, let's love the Lord. "Solomon loved the Lord."
--Offered to the Lord "a thousand burnt offerings."
--Solomon had weaknesses (v I,2). We all have a few.....,
--But in Gibeon "The Lord appeared to Solomon ... Ask!
What shall I give you?" (v 5). God is saying that.
What did Solomon ask for? He asked God for wisdom.
--"Give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.
For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
--He had asked only for wisdom. Not riches, or things.
--Friend, let's seek the best will of God - not ours.
--To pray intelligently, humbly; and leave it to Him.
This pleases the Lord, when we ask aright or for others.
--God said, "I have also given what you have not asked."
--He adds, "If you walk in My ways .. keep My statutes and My commandments .. I will lengthen your days."
--To give Solomon "long life," and many other things.
--Did God keep His word? God will always, for us all!
Let's not say this was back then, or for a few.
--Jesus says to us, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). Do we seek Him? Is God first?
--Dear one, do what God says. It works! For me.
--It will work for you. God says, "Ask Me!"
--If we do our part, God does His. Trust Him, fully.
I couldn't go to another but I could to my own father.
--My father supplied my need. Are you God's child?
The wisest of men always need the wisdom of God.
--Not exclusive in education, although we need that.
--We get it from the Lord. As Solomon did, by prayer.
--By humility. By holiness. And God's will.
A teacher asked her Sunday Class in the Bible story, if Jesus passed by, and they were blind, what would they ask Him for. It got them to thinking.
--One child said, "I'd ask Him for a walking stick."
--Another said, "I'd ask Him for a Leader Dog to guide me and lead me around safely."
--Then a lad said, "I'd ask Jesus for new eyes to see."
--He added, "That is, if it was His will."
--All asked for good things. He asked for the best.
--And, notice he said, ".. if it was His will."
--He had been taught to leave it in the will of God.
Jesus acknowledged that. Solomon had great wisdom.
--The "wisdom of Solomon" is well-known; proverbial.
--Solomon had it, but he didn't always use it.
God is no longer speaking to many by dreams or vision.
--We don't need them. We all have God's Holy Word.
--We have Jesus. The Holy Spirit. We have prayer.
--Sometimes we can have bad dreams. Use discerning.
We admire Solomon's humility. Obedience. Wisdom.
--His Book of Proverbs, and some Psalms. His worship.
--His offerings to the Lord. How God blessed Him.
--What Solomon got from God, you and I can get also!
--James (1:5) says, "If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God Who gives to all liberally .."
--He tells how - "let him ask of God." Live for God.
II. ELISHA ASKED FOR GOD'S SPIRIT (II Kings 2).
--Wisdom is good. But "God's Spirit" is better.
--In his last days on earth, Elijah said to his helper, Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you" (v 9).
--Elisha said, "Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." That was God's Spirit, in Elijah!
--The prophet who did so many wonderful works for God.
--Young Elisha knew his need of God's Spirit on him.
Can you use more of God's Holy Spirit? I sure can.
--Let's ask Him, as I often do.
My friend, we are living in "the last days" before Jesus comes again; and a spirit of anti-God is upon us!
--The Bible foretells of the times. Over the world.
--America is not what it was, morally, when founded.
--Groups are opposed to things holy - God, Bible, Ten Commandments, prayer - and seek to remove them - the very things that have made America great!
--Lobbied two states to redefine marriage away from one man and one woman, into law! What will be next?
--Is this what we want for our beloved country?
--Prayer and Commandments go out of schools, and police must go in. Violence increasing everywhere!
We are either on God's side, or the world's side.
--It will show in our speech. Dress. Work. Worship.
--Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me."
--Jesus "is the Door," and we are inside, or outside.
--With the Lord. Or against Him. No middle ground.
--Either saved, or unsaved. Bound for heaven or hell.
Terrorism, enmity, evil, envy - are surely not of God!
--They are of the devil! God is a God of love, right.
--We need the "whole armor of God." "Spirit of God!"
So Elisha said, "I pray .. let a double portion of your spirit - God's Spirit - be upon me."
--Is that what you want? What America or world, want?
--It is my prayer. And my prayer for all the world.
III. A GODLY WOMAN ASKED FOR GOD'S HELP (II Kings 4).
--What a lovely story, in this Chapter 4, of a man and woman - a godly middle-age couple, but childless.
--Elisha, preaching, often walked by their home.
--"Let's show this man of God hospitality .. provide a room for him to rest" (v 9f).
--What a gracious thought, and act of kindness.
--Elisha accepted their kind offer.
So Elisha asked, verse 13, "What can I do for you?"
--When told they had no child - "no son" - Elisha offered prayer, promising, "..this time next year, you shall embrace a son" (v 16). They got a son!
Kindness begets kindness. They enjoyed their son.
--Children are a blessing. Lovingly care for them.
In due time this couple had the promised son. He grew.
--One day the boy took very ill, and died.
--His mother put him on the prophet's bed. Prayed.
--"Went to the man of God" (v 25). Read the story.
--Elisha came home with her. Prayed for the child.
--Restored him to life! Said, "Pick up your son" (36).
It may not always work as we would like. People die.
--Those who love God, obey God, will trust God.
--We do all we know to do, seek humbly, God's help.
--Trust Him to do what we cannot. Fervently pray.
--Then, leave the results with the Lord, if one dies.
--God is still working amazing miracles, my friend!
--In living, or in dying, "we are the Lord's".
So what are your needs today? God says,- "Ask Me."
IV. A QUEEN ASKED THAT HER PEOPLE BE SAVED (Esther 5).
--An essential, unselfish, need all should pray for!
--To be saved! Eternally. And seek it for others.
You know the story of Esther, a lovely Persian queen.
--A Jewish festival is named in her honor.
--This is a story of conflict of good and evil.
--Devilish Haman tried to kill all Jews, everywhere.
--Queen Esther, a Jew, was doomed as well as others.
--Her uncle, Mordecai, raised her. Knew God. Prayed.
--Told Esther to go to the king, to save her people.
--Uninvited, at the risk of her life, Esther went in.
--The king said, "What do you want? I'll give it to you."
Esther "fell down at his feet; besought him with tears."
--She told him the story. Wanted her people saved.
--Not just herself, or family! But all Jews!
--A queen dared to ask. God gave the answer.
Children tell me, "I want Daddy saved. In church."
--Others, "I want my Mom and Dad to stop fussing, and love each other - and us - more!"
--Some, "I want my life to count for the Lord."
Answers begin, when we begin with Jesus, to save us.
--Commit all to Him. Commune with Him in prayer.
--God says, "Come to Me. Follow Me. Ask Me."
--Has a "plan for good" for us.
Dr. Wilbert D. Gough