THE PRAYER THAT UNLOCKS HAVEN !

THE PRAYER THAT UNLOCKS HEAVEN : OVERFLOWING JOY IN KNOWING ! (John 16:24). Says, . . . "Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." There is real joy in knowing that the Father will answer your prayers. The beloved preacher Smith Wigglesworth once worked for many years as a plumber before he began his full-time preaching ministry. One time while installing plumbing in a large house, he noticed the owner kept coming in, looking at him, and then leaving. Finally she entered the room where he was working, sat down, and asked, "What in the world is it that causes that wonderful expression on your face ? You look as if you are full of joy." He told her that morning at breakfast his wife had told him two of their children were very ill. Before they ate, they went upstairs, laid hands on the children, and prayed for them. They were instantly healed and joined their parents downstairs for breakfast. With the words said it was wonderful to have such a wonderful Jesus. He told the woman the Scripture says, " . . . Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." Certainly our joy could not be full if our children were sick, but the Lord told us to ask Him for what we need, "that your joy may be full." The woman asked Wigglesworth if Jesus would save her and give her this wonderful joy, too. Wigglesworth assured her He would. She accepted the Lord and started rejoicing. She asked Wigglesworth if she could keep this joy. He answered that the only way to keep it was to give it away. He told her she should tell all the women at her club meetings about her salvation. She did and all of them were saved. This is the way to keep it: Telling others about it if Wigglesworth had gone to work that day with two sick children at home, his joy would not have been full. He would have been worried. He could have looked distressed. Instead he had a light on his face --- a radiance that was obvious to all who saw him. Something seems to flow out of him. What was it ? It was the joy the Father has promised when we ask Him for our needs and receive in faith . On another occasion Wigglesworth was in dire financial need. At that time he was in London visiting in the home of a wealthy man. Wigglesworth simply committed his financial burden to the law and refuse to worry about it. He told no one. He knew the Lord will take care of him. As he and his friend were out walking in the park, Wigglesworth was happy and singing, rejoicing in his spirit. His rich friend commented that he would give all he owned to have the same spirit of joy that Wigglesworth had. Wigglesworth told him it would cost him anything; all he had to do was cast all his cares on Jesus. Wigglesworth explained that this is what he had done, and he was without a care in the world. He could be free and happy. He still did not mention his financial need to his friend, but instead talked of victory and joy in Christ Jesus. One man had material wealth but no joy. The other lacked material things but was fulled with joy. What was the secret ? Wigglesworth knew the truth of the Scripture, ". . . Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." Can your joy be full if you have great financial burdens pressing you ? Can your joy be full if you have unpaid bills that are due ? If you have asked Him to supply your needs and you believe "you shall receive," your joy can be full.