Jesus can see straight through to a man's heart. John 5 is an account of Jesus talking to the Pharisees about having the Word of God abide in their heart.
He plainly told them that they did not have God's Word in them, because they didn't believe that Jesus was sent from God. Had God's Word been abiding in their heart, it would have been clear to them who Jesus was. Does His Word abide in your heart?
If the Word of God abides in your heart you would believe, because when you hear God's Word, faith is produced. What does that mean? No Word, no faith. You have the Word, you have the power right in your hand, but do you have it in your heart?
Sometimes we don't realize it, but we can have the Word in our hand, it can tell us about victory over our circumstances, healing for our body, and increase in our finances. But we must have that Word in our heart so that we can realize that kind of prosperity in our life.
Do you have the Word abiding in your heart so that you can believe God and receive victory, healing, and financial increase? You can receive all you desire when you are filled with the Scriptures, because when there is lots of Word in you, then you have lots of faith. But if you don't have any Word in your heart you are not going to have any faith in your heart. No Word, no faith.
The Word tells us in 1 John 5:14 that this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will it will come to pass. We will have what we prayed for. So we know that if we come to God we must ask according to His will. We must be in line with God's Word.
Of course we can't ask God for another man's wife, car, or possessions. That is not according to the Word of God. The Word of God is the will of God. Additionally, we don't go to God saying, "Lord if it be Thy will," when we've already seen His will in His Word.
He gave us a big Book to clarify to us His wonderful will and purpose for every detail of our life!
You may ask the question how is it that you are suppose to ask according to His will. After all, John 15:7 says, "If ye abide in me, and my Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." It didn't say anything about His will.
Notice that it does not say, abide in me, my Words abide in you, you shall ask what He wills and it shall be done. It says that you ask what you will. When His Word abides in you, that is His will. The Word is working on your spirit to be conformed to His will.
And when the Word of God is in your heart, working on your spirit, then you are in a position whereby the Word is abiding in you. And in that condition you wouldn't ask for anything that is not according to His will.
Scripture references: Luke 6:45; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 11:6
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
