“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5).
TEXT — 1 Kings 3:1-15
Message
On page 10 of Moody’s Anecdotes, there is an illustration titled, “Ask for Great Things”. It is said that when Caesar gave a precious present, the receiver replied that it was too costly a gift. The emperor answered that it was not too great for Caesar to give. Our God is a great King, and He delights in giving gifts to us, so let us delight in asking Him for great things. Let us ask God for valuables and durables, not junk.
In today’s text, God appeared to Solomon in a dream, giving him a blank cheque to request anything he wanted. He could have asked for physical things like riches, longevity, or the death of his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule the nation and know God’s will. God was pleased with his request and gave him surpassing wisdom, plus those physical things he did not even request.
Prayer is one sure way of receiving from our gracious and benevolent God. Never limit His capacity and ability to grant your petition when you pray. The sincere prayers of repentance of sinners will receive God’s attention. Believers get sanctified and Spirit-filled for exploits through consecration, absolute surrender and prayer of faith. The sick and infirm receive God’s gracious healing and cure for their ailments. All who seek in faith never get turned back.
God’s provisions are available when we ask according to His will in the precious name of Jesus. The prayers that please the Lord most prioritise spiritual virtues and place other people’s needs before ours. The content of our prayers reflects the level of our spiritual maturity. Children ask for toys, while adults go for the necessities of life. Solomon’s request for what he lacked challenges us to ask God for the essential virtues we need to know and do His will in all circumstances. When Jesus tells us to ask whatever we will from the Father in His name, He does not expect us to ask for junk.
Today, God invites everyone to ask what they desire. He offers Jesus as the Gift anyone could ever have or ask. When you receive Jesus, you have wisdom and everything with Him. He is greater than Solomon and in Him are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Luke 11:31; Colossians 2:3).
Thought for the day
Solomon asked for political wisdom, but you must always ask for greater wisdom to do God’s will.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
