The Genie in a Bottle!

I am always amazed at the ingenious ways people go about coaxing GOD to action. He has become a genie in the bottle to so many. Masses have bought into the false teaching that GOD’s desire for His people is to have anything and everything their heart desires.

“Re-post this picture of a pile of money and tomorrow it will all be yours.” “Speak your wishes out and GOD will grant them to you. Because GOD desires for you to be blessed with everything the world has to give.” What lies! What deceit!

Who is the Master Deceiver? Satan himself! Why has the church bought into such false teaching? Simply put, because too many ministers discovered that by teaching such untruths, their pockets would be filled with money while emptying those of the flock GOD has placed them in charge of.

John gave us a clear teaching of the principle of asking and receiving when he wrote: “Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for” (1 John 5:14-15 HCSB).

The key phrase in this verse is not “whenever we ask anything” but “according to His will.” Too many are quick to jump on the first phrase without understanding the entire intent of GOD’s heart. The key to receiving from GOD is encompassed in your personal relationship with Him.

Consider for a moment the importance of relationship-building here in your earthly existence. You will never grow into a tight relationship with your spouse if you never spend time with them—talking to them, enjoying their presence, learning what pleases them. In the same way, you will never understand GOD’s will when you have failed to spend quality time with Him.

You cannot understand GOD’s will if you never open His Word and enrich your life, heart and mind with its truths. You cannot truly begin to understand the concept of GOD’s heart and love without spending quality time with other believers building one another up and enriching one another’s lives with the love and truth of GOD.

Understanding GOD’s will begins with understanding your purpose for being. Revelation 4 represents a huge change in scenery and activity from the first three chapters. The rapture has occurred and from this scene and what is occurring in heaven, we can easily ascertain our true reason for being.

Beginning in verse 10, John is describing what is being revealed to him on that day. He writes: “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’” (Revelation 4:10-11 KJV).

The 24 elders he speaks of are representative of the raptured saints, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice they throw down their crowns of blessing and achievements before the only One worthy to receive such glory and honor and power. The true church recognizes it isn’t about me and what I can gain but about Him and what He has done. And, finally, notice what they say because your purpose and mine is encompassed within their words: “Lord, you have created all things and for Your pleasure they have all been created.”

Your purpose is to bring pleasure to GOD. Your purpose is to fulfill GOD’s desires not yours. Your purpose is to bless Him not to be blessed. You will be find GOD will grant you contentment and blessing when you have simply focused upon blessing Him by living according to His Word and sharing Jesus Christ with the lost, dying world.

Quit rubbing the genie bottle and chanting words of blessing upon yourself. Turn your attention to pleasing GOD in all you are and all you do. Quit seeking the blessing and become a blessing and you will soon discover what GOD’s will is and learn to seek and ask according to that rather than your own fleshly desires.

Give glory to GOD today as you consider these words of the Psalmist:

Scripture Reading: “My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He revealed His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and full of faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass- he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known. But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, all His angels of great strength, who do His word, obedient to His command. Praise the Lord, all His armies, His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works in all the places where He rules. My soul, praise the Lord! (Psalm 103 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I give glory to You alone today! I praise You because You have given me another day to glorify and lift Your name high. May my eyes, heart and mind focus only on You. May my desire be to please only You! May the words that come out of my mouth and the meditations that proceed from my heart bring glory and honor to You alone. May others see only Jesus in me today as I seek to live my life in complete service and dedication to Your will for me. Father, I love You and praise You for saving me, delivering me and for calling me Your child because of what You have done for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!