“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
Part One
This verse points out the benefits of abiding in the Lord and of His words abiding in us. This word abide suggests taking up residence in a place for the purpose of making it a permanent home.
As believers, our true homeland is the kingdom of God, which is spiritual, not material. The kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21).
We abide in the Lord by believing, serving, obeying, submitting to, and following after Him – the Person, the sovereign King. The idea is that as children of the Living Lord, we have a new family, location, sphere of influence, and Source: “If you will settle down in Me, and all that I represent, and if you will allow My words to settle down in you, then you will be able to ask what you will in confident assurance that it will be granted.”
The Lord’s words which are to abide in us, in addition to written Scriptures, are His rhema (rhay’-ma), His utterance, His spoken words to us personally and individually.
Hearing these words spoken directly to us into our own ears by the Spirit of God is the basis for guidance and confident assurance in our praying. The key to answered prayer is knowing what to ask for! That knowledge comes from hearing the rhema (the Voice) of God personally, speaking the Word to us by His Spirit (Rom. 10:17).
This verse challenges us:
1) to settle down in the kingdom, and
2) to allow God’s Word to us to settle down and take root in us. Then, and only then, are we ready to start making requests of the reigning Monarch.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.