God wants His people to receive what they desire in life. He wants them to achieve their goals and experience success and true happiness, but somehow we have come to think that God would rather see his children begging time after time for the things they desire to improve their lives.
Your Desire is Your Spiritual Hand
Luke chapter 8, verses 43-48 tell the story of the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years:
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Luke 8:43-48 (kjv)
Notice she did not ask to be healed. She had the faith and the desire to be healed and she reached out and took it without asking. Like many of us, she thought Jesus would ‘bust her out’ for getting too greedy or getting too familiar, but Jesus was ok with it. He wanted her to have her healing. The hem of his garment became her point of contact for her deepest desire to be received without asking.
Notice that Jesus did not heal the woman as in other cases. The hem of his garment did not heal her either, but the healing virtue went out of his own spirit and through his body and clothing as though a hand reached in and took it. Jesus discerned that the power had ‘gone out’, which can be translated: left of its own accord or escaped like a flash of lightening.
You Can Have What You Say
It all started when the woman began to say it within herself (see Matthew 9:20-22). She said it until her faith made the image of healing a reality on the inside. Once Jesus was near enough, she already possessed her healing before she touched him. By faith, she stretched out her desire like a spiritual hand and took what God was offering through Jesus.
God is still offering things to his people through His Word. In fact, Jesus is the Word (John 1:14). He offers salvation, healing, deliverance, friendship, prosperity, protection and so on. You need to release your desire for it through faith and lay hold of whatever it is you desire.
Sometimes you may wonder if a particular thing is God’s will. The basic standard is: If it is in the Word, it is God’s will. If it is God’s will, you do not need permission per say. All you need is faith and a point of contact. If it was enough to get a 12 year old physical ailment removed, it will be enough to take care of you too!
Misdirected Desires
The desire of Lazarus in Luke 16:19-21 could not be altered either. Jesus tells the true story of a certain, but anonymous rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus’ desires were misdirected.
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:19-21 (kjv)
Here is Lazarus, a child of God, desiring crumbs. Now certainly, this was not God’s will or God’s best, but it was as high as his faith could go at the time and the most he could believe for. It was his desire and God could not stop him. No one could. He may have felt it was his best recourse at the time. Sometimes, we too have desires that are not consistent with God’s covenant promises, but God will not circumvent our will. If we desire something less than his best, he is obligated to let us have it when we can see no other way. Also, it was not a sin for Lazarus to live this way, because he wound up in Abraham’s bosom.
The word ‘desire’ means ‘to turn upon a thing with lust or passion’. In this case, Lazarus turned his desperate need for food upon the rich man’s refuse instead of God’s promises. He may not have even been aware of the promises. We do not really know, but how do you think Lazarus might have lived if his desires had fallen into alignment with God’s perfect will and covenant promises? In addition, we do not know what circumstance led to his homelessness and state of hunger, but we do know that God promises us a much better end than that. No matter what state you are in right now, begin to believe God for his best for you based his covenant promises instead of your circumstances. He can and will lift you up beginning right now!
I believe Lazarus was supposed to live like the rich man, who was also a seed of Abraham (called “son” by Abraham further down in the passage). I also believe God allowed Lazarus to come to that gate to see what kind of life he could have through God’s blessing, but the devil took him out before he could come to the realization of the truth. That happens to far too many of God’s people, but it does not need to happen to you. You can realize God’s promises and live in God’s best starting today. Furthermore, I believe God allowed Lazarus to come to that gate, so the rich man could see what he needed to do with his money and influence. He should have taken care of his covenant brother, but for ignoring the truth, he wound up in hell.
According to Jesus, in the 25th verse, both men received.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Luke 16:25 (kjv)
The un-named rich man received his promised things and Lazarus received evil things at the hands of Satan. Maybe you think God was testing Lazarus or that he is testing you with evil problems and circumstances, but if you have read James, chapter 1, verse 4, you would know God does not test or tempt any man with evil things. Evil comes from the devil; good things come from God the Father!
Since You Had To Ask
Most people by nature just cannot help asking. They think they are violating God’s Word for walking by faith without asking God for everything. For instance, if you knew that you desire a car in order to get to the job you have, then why beg God for a car. Find a scripture that provides for transportation and use that scripture as a point of contact to believe God and lay hold of the car by faith. Say it within yourself until the image of driving that car is more real to you than your lack of financial ability. Then go searching for a car and accept it by faith. Not even God will stop you from believing that your desire is met. Once you get that car and pull it out of your driveway on your way to work, God might say, ‘Drive in peace, your faith has bought your ride.’
It is time for God’s people to stop being afraid to have desires. They are a part of life on planet earth.
Psalm 37:4 (kjv) Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
If having certain things is consistent with a godly lifestyle, then you should not let the devil make you feel guilty about having them. In reality, he should feel guilty for trying to keep you from having them. Satan does not want God’s people to get saved, healed, delivered or see them prosper. He knows that if you continue getting your desires met, he will no longer be able to control you and you will start getting everything you want as well.
Lay Hold By Faith
God’s Word is the best point of contact. Like Jesus’ garments, it is the garment or veil of his divine power. His grace is veiled by ink and paper, but it is just as potent as when Jesus healing power was veiled by his garments. The same spiritual ability that was in Jesus, is in the Word of God now. Learn to see beyond the paper veil. Practice seeing the power fall as you read his Word or pick up and touch your bible. Then you will begin to understand that your faith in God is what makes you whole when your desire and faith is released. Put your spiritual hands to work today to begin to receive everything God has provided through his Word!
Living Word Christian Center 