Last week, I was reading an article on prayer in which the author said, “The answer is not always what we expect or desire, but it will be what is best for us, and what is God’s will in accordance to his own purposes.” Some would read this and say, “Amen.” However, as we are learning, that is not what Jesus said in the Word of God. Yes, God answers according to His will for us, however, contrary to the author of the article, I can know that the answer will be what I expect or desire. Jesus said:
- John 14:13, 14, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
- John 16:23, 24, “…whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”
- Matt 7:7-11, “Ask, and it will be given to you…”
- Matt 21:21-22, “ whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
The deeper my level of intimacy with God goes and the deeper my love for the Word of God grows, the more committed I am to honoring, living and ensuring the accurate teaching of the Word of God. I desire to stand with the Word of God.
I know that when I stand with the Word of God, I stand against the world and the devil’s demonic domain. I stand against those who are the sustainers of the status quo. I stand against those who are profiting from things remaining the way that they are. Accordingly, I will face fierce accusations, rumors and innuendoes; even from the ones to whom I was sent to preach, teach and/or live the Word of God.
Even more, I know that when I stand with the Word of God, I stand with God and His Kingdom. I stand with the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament who heard God speak, and did what He said – many times not knowing the outcome yet always knowing that God was with them.
I stand with the Christians in the church in the 1st Century – many who gave their lives for teaching, preaching and living the Word of God in a hostile, anti-Christian environment. As the cold steel of the blade of a sword was placed at their throats, they took their last breaths vowing their allegiance to God, the Word of God, and God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ.
I stand with my ancestors – many who could not read the Word of God yet lived the Word of God. Although some could not articulate the Word of God in paper and ink, they lived the Word of God in flesh and blood. Armed with little more than the Word of God in their hearts, they led a movement, stained with blood, that pricked this nation’s conscience and transformed the outcomes of tens of thousands of black, brown and poor people in this country.
When I stand with the Word of God, I stand with those who John saw in Revelation 6:9, “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” When I stand on the Word of God, I stand in good company…
