In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:23-24)

Jesus is always teaching you to move up in faith. He tells you to reach higher, to expect more, to ask for more, to receive more, to achieve more, to be better, to be greater. His teaching in this area is clear and direct. There is little room for misunderstanding. But when men are weak in their faith, and when their hearts harden with unbelief, they often make excuses and demand others to join them. So preachers and theologians admonish you reduce in faith, to sympathize with doubt and unbelief, to stay safe, to expect less, and to suffer more.

They try to convince you that Jesus did not mean what he obviously said. The more you know about the Bible, the more you will know what he does not mean. The more you become proficient in theology, the more you will know how not to have faith, how not to pray, and what you cannot ask for. And lest you call them hypocrites, their lives exemplify the unbelief and impotence that they wish you to embrace. Instead of faithfully delivering the words of Christ and commanding you to believe and follow them, they reduce his teachings to match their own limitations.

But Jesus Christ calls you to rise higher, even if no man encourages you or permits you. His words remove you from the realm of unbelief, defeat, and religious humdrum and false humility to the place of power and victory. Because of Jesus Christ, this is possible for you. Because of him, you have direct access to the Father. You can go to God and talk to him, and ask from him. He will hear you, and he will give you what you ask. Jesus Christ has opened to you this door to supplies, blessings, and feats of power.

If you want a breakthrough, you will have to listen to Jesus. Stop listening to spiritual losers. Stop listening to theological quacks. Stop listening to people who try to explain away what he said. Believe what Jesus said. Do it. This is the way to move forward in faith, in life, and in ministry. Ask, and advance. Some make a sharp distinction between joy and happiness, as if you can be full of joy and not at all happy. No, listen to Jesus, and move higher. This is what he tells you: Ask, receive, and be very happy.