 The Bible says you have not because you asked not well does that mean that if I keep asking God then I'll get what I'm asking for No, hey smart Christian one thing that Hey smart Christian, I'm pretty sure you've heard this phrase before it's in the Bible You have not because you asked not and I bet you've heard it oftentimes when someone is looking to get something from God Maybe they're in need. Maybe they're in one. It's something that they want they're looking for and they ask God for it And you hear someone reply you have not because you asked not. Well, what does that really mean? Well to get the context of it, let's go to James chapter 4 and see what James is saying in chapter 4 verse 1 He says what is the source of and notice what he's talking about? What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you is not the source of your pleasures that you wage war in your members? Notice what he's saying. He says is it not the source your pleasure is not the source your pleasure that wage war in your members in other words You want some stuff. That's the issue. The issue is you're not having what you want Notice what he says in verse 2 you lust and do not have you commit murder You are envious and you cannot obtain. So what do you do you fight and you quarrel you fight and you quarrel Why because you lust after things you commit murder or you fight it could be actual murder or murder in your heart You are envious and cannot obtain. So therefore the reason why you fight you do not have because you do not ask There it is you have not because you ask not Asking or saying you have not because you asked not that goes in line with this Is that to mean or take that maybe the person who's wanting these things have never asked God? Well, it'd be kind of hard to make that stress to think that these because he's writing to believers who Are asking for something who want something but they've never taken the time to go to God? Well, it's not they haven't gone to God It's the motive the man in which they've gone to God He says in verse 3 you you ask and do not receive because you ask With wrong motives. So he says you do ask but it's how you ask and how you ask is virtually the same as not asking So that you may spend it on your pleasure. That's the whole issue. You are covering things. You want things You've got your hand out for things rather than have your hand out for God. He says you adulteresses Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility towards God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God the point is What you ask for the things that he's addressing here is you want things Because you're more concerned with how they'll help you in the world. You don't care about God You care about what God can give you whereas God wants to give you him You don't want him. You just want whatever he can give you and there in lies the problem You may find yourself out not to actually be believers. You may just be a shopper at a store You may just be frequenting what you think is an ATM machine You may just be going to someone to give them what you want and that makes that person a user a Spiritual user so to speak wanting to use God not for salvation not for The spiritual benefits but for the tangible benefits the cars the clothes the houses the money all different things Now does that mean that God doesn't want to give you things things that you need or sometimes you may even bless you With things you want does that mean that we should never ask for those things that there's something that I really need I'm in need of something or maybe even if I want something should I ask God for well I think whatever it is you need or want you should always go before the Lord But it's the heart that you have the motive behind it. What does Jesus say he says in 633 He says seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you The things that will be added to you will be the things that you need. He says don't worry about those things Now it's okay to keep going to God and asking but again the motive behind the heart behind it That's what's important How you ask him what you're asking for the point not as James says not that you would spend it on the pleasures of Your heart the things that you want to Lord give me this so I can buy this car and give me this So I can get this house give me this so I can get these clothes. I want to look a certain way I want to act a certain way. I want to behave. I want to have certain things I want people to now start noticing me But the things that we should look for are the things that God would give him and that typically the world won't see it But God will you're asking for things to be friendly with the world But in being friendly with work with the world You cannot be a friend of God as a matter of fact James says that's being hostile towards God And so what you don't get you don't get because you either don't need it or because of the Sufferingness of your heart in asking for it and so that might be an indication if you've been asking and asking and asking and asking And you don't get it It might be an indication of your heart or it may simply be the guy doesn't want you to have it But still might be an indication of your heart because you're asking for things that you don't simply need But you covered these things so much so you're getting fights getting arguments if it's becoming a strain a mental drain on you It might be that you have not had a relationship with Christ seek him first Do that first and then whatever he gives after that that will be because he thinks that you need it He wants you to have it. Amen