In Luke 11:13, the scripture tells us that if our earthly fathers being evil can still give us good gifts, how much more the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to him who asks. So, to receive of the Father in the spirit realm, we ask.
In James 4:2, it says that many of us don’t receive because we don’t ask. How do you ask? You ask with the words of your mouth.
I have a grandson who is a preschooler. If he goes, “Ah, ah, ah, ah,” and he’s pointing toward the catsup or something, we don’t give it to him. We treat him the same way God treats His children. We say, “Tell us what you want.” He must say it. Eventually we will train him to say, “Would you pass the catsup, please?”
When we first started training our children and they were little, they did not say, “Would you pass the catsup please?” At first they said, “Catsup, catsup, catsup.” Later we taught them to speak more correctly and they would say, “Catsup, please.” Then one day they learned to say, “Would you pass the catsup, please?” It was a gradual, progressive improvement of their speech to get them to clearly say what they wanted so we could give it to them because they asked properly.
“You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3).
James 4:2 clearly says that if you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Sometimes, we may ask, but we still don’t receive because we didn’t ask with the right motives. We need to understand how to access the blood of Jesus and apply it by faith in the way God says to ask.
Right thinking leads to right believing. Right believing leads to right speaking and right speaking leads to right acting.
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:17-18).
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.