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Do you think we ask God for too much?

Do you think God ever gets tired of us asking for so much? Do you think He ever feels like I have occasionally felt when my kids just ask, ask, ask? Do you think God ever gets weary of our constantly asking for more, more, more? Do you think we ask God for too much?

I don't think so. Quite the contrary. I think He is sometimes amused and more often frustrated by our small prayers. I don't think we ask for too much. I think we ask for way too little.

I was meditating on this recently while listening to Darlene Zschech's song, "You Said." Consider some of the verses that this song references:

  • Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
  • If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. John 15:7
  • Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8
  • For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk 2:14
  • Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35

I got so inspired by this song I created a little video. Check it out at http://sundayschool.ning.com

I draw your attention to Habakkuk 2.14. I remember Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, doing a talk on this and posing this question: to what degree do the waters cover the sea? How much of the sea is covered with water? Pretty much all of it, right? Let's pray that the earth would be covered with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. No more puny  prayers. Let's pray for the whole earth. Let's claim the nations for God.

Look at Psalm 2.8. What are you asking God for? To feel better? For a new IPOD? A promotion? No. No more puny prayers. Ask for the nations. We are promised: God will give us the nations--the ends of the earth. Let's repent of small asking. Let's repent of small prayers. Let's ask a big God for big things. Let's ask Him for the nations.

"Ask of me," the Bible says. Ask what? "Whatever you will." (John 15.7) What do you wish for? What is your heart's greatest wish? I wish that the gospel would spread and spread rapidly. I have enough stuff for me. I ask for the nations.

"Rapidly." That too is what the Bible says: "Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you." 2 Thessalonians 3:1 I have heard a lot of people speak of the glory of "slow, steady growth." That is not what Paul longed for. I have heard pastors say, "I believe in slow, steady growth, because slow, steady growth is healthy growth." Makes sense. It is not not what the Bible says. The Bible speaks of the gospel spreading rapidly.

And the early church was it. Consider these verses.

  • So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Acts 16:5
  • The word of God continued to increase and spread. Acts 12:24
  • Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:14
  • And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
  • So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7
  • Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31
  • In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:20

If the gospel spread rapidly then, why can't it do so now? Has God gotten tired? Is He growing weak? Or are his people asking for too small of things? God give us a people who ask great things from God. Give us a people who dream great dreams for God.

I love this question: what are you asking God for that would be impossible without Him?

Here is my answer: I am asking for a great doubling group movement. I believe God's place for me in this world is all about helping micro-churches (small groups--either home groups or on campus groups) grow and divide, grow and divide, grow and divide. You only have to grow from 10 to 14 in a year to double every two years or less. If you can do it a little more quickly--every eighteen months--a group of ten can reach a thousand people for God in ten years by doubling every eighteen months. The next ten and twenty years gets really interesting.

I shared this in a recent article and a teacher--Marv, you can see his video online at http://sundayschool.ning.com -- told me he wanted to do that -- he wanted to reach a million people in his life time. God, give us more teachers like Marv. When you start with a goal like that, you can miss it by quite a bit and still do quite a bit.

Dream great dreams for God. Pray great prayers for God. Attempt great things for God. Ask great things of God. No more puny prayers. Repent of small things. Our great God is worthy of great requests.


Conclusion

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