Ask For Whatever You Want

“A person is not necessarily smart just because he says things that are smart.” There are some individuals that believe they know everything no matter what the topic may be. Actually, there are some who before you can finish asking the question they already have an answer. These people often based their decisions on the worldly knowledge of information. Too often many confuse information and knowledge as possessing wisdom. That is further from the truth. There are two types of wisdom: earthly (natural) wisdom and then godly wisdom. "Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally," while "Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do." In fact Godly wisdom can appear downright foolish by earthly standards. 1 Corinthians 3:19 puts it this way, “God considers the wisdom of this world to be foolish.” Worldly wisdom tells us to “look out for number 1” or “make as much money as possible”, etc. "Godly wisdom is the capacity to seek things from God's perspective and to respond to them according to scriptural principles."

There are times in our lives that we need assistance in making sound decisions. We turn to our loved ones: spouse, friend, mentor, and even our pastors only to find out that the help we need they cannot supply. Often we rely on our own values to make decisions. And that is not always a bad thing nor is it always a good thing to do. Many decisions made are good but are they godly? True wisdom starts with a heart full of faith, not a head full of facts. So today I come here to say, if you are like so many others that need an answer to a pressing situation in prayer, “Ask God for Whatever You Want.” That’s our topic for today, “Ask God for Whatever You Want.” He will hear your prayer and in His timing, He will answer your request.

This brings me to our text, look at verse 5: “The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” But before we go any further allow me a few moments to set the picture. Solomon was appointed the 3rd King over Israel by his father David. King David was a man after God’s own heart. He chose to honor God in his life and to always seek His counsel and follow His leading. Even though he made some mistakes, David was a prosperous and blessed man because he gave God place in his life. David and his wife, Bathsheba gave godly instruction and wise direction to their son, Solomon, and encouraged him to seek godly wisdom and counsel, so that he could also make wise choices for his life. We find the godly writings of Solomon recorded in the book of Proverbs. At the tender age of 19, Solomon had a big responsibility placed in his hands. Solomon’s responsibility wasn’t just the government of the nation but more so people’s lives were placed in his hands as it is with a pastor.

Church, Solomon had things on his mind. The same thing is happening today. Many nights I go to bed with Transformation on my mind inquiring of the Lord what is it that He desires from me regarding the upkeep of His people. Many nights and days, I meditate on the continuous survival of Transformation. So, while Solomon slept, he had a dream where God told him to “Ask for Whatever You Want” which Solomon did. Look at verse 9, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” Solomon didn’t ask anybody; rather in prayer, Solomon went to the wisest one that He knew. He went to the maker of the heavens and the earth. He went directly to the ‘One’ who could give him sound advice, sound counsel. Solomon sought godly wisdom.

Church, God will often speak to us in our dreams (but that’s another topic). What we are to remember is that we must pursue God to discern our dreams. So here’s the question, How may we attain Godly wisdom and seek the counsel of God? We find the answer to this request in our text for today. Church it wasn’t until Solomon sought the counsel of God that a transformation came forth. God took the finiteness (limitedness) of man to pursue the infiniteness (unlimitedness) of God’s kingdom. We see this in Solomon’s prayer. Church, Solomon’s prayer for wisdom is a good model to follow. Let’s look at this model.

1. Give God praise. Solomon thanked God for His faithfulness to his father David and himself (1 Kings 3:6 – READ). Solomon reflected on God promise made to his father, David in 2 Samuel 7:8-16. The promise was that God would “provide a place for His people, the Israelites and plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. The Lord Himself would establish a house for David and David’s offspring.”