ASK and Kingdom Citizens

Introduction:As we come to the second section of Matthew 7, I want to have a word with you about ASKING, SEEKING, and KNOCKING. We are going to look at the importance of PRAYER once again. Throughout the Gospels Jesus says a lot about PRAYER.

Some think that it is strange that this section on prayer is inserted right after the section where Jesus taught His disciples about JUDGING. Others believe that this is right on target because prayer is the alternative to JUDGING. One author penned, “If we would pray for those, we would criticize we would ultimately do them much more good.”

What we are looking at here in Matthew 7:7-12 is one aspect of PRAYER. PRAYER is talking to God, but in PRAYER, one aspect is ASKING. It is making requests unto God.

Jesus is going to teach his disciples about ASKING.First, Jesus tells His disciples that they are to ASK. Second, Jesus tells His disciples that when they ASK that they receive. Third, Jesus provides His disciples with an earthly illustration of what it means to ASK. Fourth, Jesus teaches His disciples that they will receive far more from God than they ASK for. Fifth, Jesus teaches His disciples that what we want people to do to us (PRAY for us and NOT JUDGE us), that we should do to them (PRAY for them and NOT JUDGE them).

With that as an outline of where we will be going, let’s jump into our text and read what Jesus Christ has to say to us Kingdom Citizens about ASKING.

I. Jesus teaches we are to Ask, Seek, and Knock – 7:7

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

This verse has been called, The Ask of Prayer. Here we discover that Jesus teaches about PRAYER by using three action verbs:

1. Ask

2. Seek

3. Knock

I want you to do something for me in your own Bible. I want you to circle the first letter in each of those three words – A - in ask, S - in seek, and K - in knock. What does it spell? We have the word ASK.

Tony Evans writes, “Prayer is an earthly request for heavenly intervention.”

Pastor Jon Courson writes, “In the Greek language, it’s written this way: Keep asking and it shall be given. Keep seeking and you shall find. Keep knocking and it will be opened. The tense used speaks of continual action. When you don’t know what to do, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.”[1]

So then, this verse is in the present tense. We are to pray with perseverance. Many believe that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, and that he penned these words,

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

II. Jesus teaches that those who Ask, Seek, and Knock receive – 7:8

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

James tells us,

Yet you do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2c)

Are you an asker? I’m an asker! I don’t have a problem being an asker.

Jesus holds out the broadest, fullest promise to those who ASK,

“everyone who asks receives.”

The Will of God and Asking

Keep in mind that we are only going to receive those things within the will of God for our lives. Not everything is within God’s will. Sometimes people ask for a lot of things that are outside of God’s will for their lives. Don’t go there. It’s not going to happen.

Discovering God’s Will

Discover God’s will by reading the Bible. As you find God’s will start praying for His will to be done here on earth as it is in heaven (Didn’t we read something like this back in Matthew 6:10? Of course, we did).

ASK – Seek - Knock

· To ASK means that we are talking about our general needs. When we ASK we receive!

· To SEEK means that we desire to discover, to find new knowledge. When we SEEK we find!

· To KNOCK suggests entering into a larger experience. When we KNOCK we will be admitted. WELCOME my child.

How long do we ask, seek, and knock? Until we get an answer. We pray it through! What are the three ways God answers prayers?

1. Yes– we receive what we ASK for.

2. No – we do not receive what we ASKED for.

3. Wait– we are to patient for God’s perfect timing.

If you haven’t gotten an answer to your ASKING, keep on ASKING. One problem we have is that many people give up ASKING too quickly. They are under the impression that if God doesn’t answer immediately that God must not hear them, or that God is not real, or that God doesn’t care about them. So, they stop ASKING.

Every prayer is answered, but not always to our satisfaction.

III. Jesus provides an earthly illustration to Ask, Seek, and Knock – 7:9-10

9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Here we have an illustration from earthly families. How often do children ASK their parents for something? They are ASKING all the time.

· Can I have?

· Will you buy me?

· I really want that.

· Please let me have it.

· Give it to me.

Children know how to wear a parent down through continual ASKING! Small children will ASK over and over and over again. They don’t have a problem with ASKING.

Jesus shares several stories about the need to persevere in PRAYER. They are found in Luke’s Gospel.

· Luke 11:5-8 – The Friend who needs bread.

· Luke 18:1-8 – The Persistent Widow

Those two passages teach us about pushing through in prayer. We don’t stop praying. We are to keep on ASKING.

Now, getting back to our Matthew text. What father doesn’t give to his child who ASKS of him, or at best would like to give to a child that ASKS of him? And there is no earthly father who gives a child a stone when he ASKS for bread, or a serpent when he has ASKED for a fish. Unless of course he is an evil person.

The majority of earthly father’s delight in GIVINGand providing for their children. So, then, I believe what Jesus is teaching us is that God the Father also delights in giving to those who ASK of Him. So, ASK!

IV. Jesus teaches that our heavenly Father will give us far more than we Ask, Seek, or Knock for – 7:11

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

I want you to know that this is a verse that I personally claimed when I was walking through my bout with cancer. I have a note in the margin of my Bible that reads: “Prayer – I asked” It is dated, March 2012. God answered! I have been cancer free since 2013. 10 years! Why? God is Good, and God’s people prayed for me!

As I prepared this chapter, I came across the following story of Monica, the mother of Augustine. She prayed fervently for the conversion of her son and was heartbroken when he decided to take a trip to Rome. “Now,” she thought, “he will never be saved.” But through his trip to Rome, he became a Christian and her prayer was answered. ASK, and PRAY it through.

As parents, we love to give good gifts to our children. Even sinful parents give good things to their children. I know as a father there were many things I couldn’t afford to provide for my children, but when I could, I would give. Well, what about our heavenly Father? He loves to give to His children, especially to those who ASK from Him.

My Short List of What God Gives

· God gave us His Son – John 3:16

· God gave us Salvation – Romans 10:9-13

· God gave us His Spirit – Galatians 3:2

· God gave us His Word – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

· God has given us Spiritual Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:7

· God gives perfect gifts that come down from above – James 1:17

· God has given us His indescribable gift – 2 Corinthians 9:15

By now you should know that my favorite verse on prayer is Jeremiah 33:3 – it has been called, God Telephone Number. It says,

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Yes, God will do more than we ASK for!

My Pastor, Royal Blue who is now in glory had a favorite Bible verse on prayer as well. His was Ephesians 3:20,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

God is our FATHER – don’t forget that. God wants to do more than we could ever ASK for. So, again I tell you, ASK.

V. Jesus teaches a key life principle – 7:12

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This principle has been called and even printed on the heading above verse 12, The Golden Rule. This rule has been explained like this: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

One guy penned, “Do for the people around you what you want God to do for you and watch how He delivers.”

Do you see the word “Therefore” in this verse? Whenever you see a “Therefore” in Scripture you are to pause and ask what it is “there for.” It literally means to look back at what you have just read. We have read about not judging, dealing with the plank in our own eye, and not casting our pearls before swine. So, then, what does The Golden Rule mean?

Instead of judging others we should pray for them, and for ourselves. If we want God to meet our needs, and our earthly parents meet our needs, then we are to do likewise – seek to meet the needs of those around us. The greatest thing we can do for others is to PRAY for them – not judge them. (Leon Davis, Bible Knowledge Graded Adult Lessons).

Socrates had said, “What stirs your anger when done to you by others, that do not to others.” (Leon Davis, Bible Knowledge Graded Adult Lessons).

Rabbi Hillel, when asked if he could repeat the whole law while standing on one foot, has said, “Do not do to thy neighbor what is hateful to thyself.” (Leon Davis, Bible Knowledge Graded Adult Lessons). Jesus Himself said about verse 12,

“For this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Yes, we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Don’t JUDGE them wrongly, and do assume things, and we are to do good to them, in the same way we would want them to treat us.

The Golden Rule summed up: Treat people with the respect, love, consideration, sympathy, and unselfishness that we ourselves enjoy receiving.” (Leon Davis, Bible Knowledge Graded Adult Lessons).

Hear this: The Golden Rule can’t save you but is does show your salvation. Kingdom Citizens practice good works. We are called to let our lights shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our God which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Conclusion: What do we need to take home from this section of Scripture? Six things to DO…

1. We are to ASK, SEEK and KNOCK.

2. We are to be persistent in our PRAYER – PRAY continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

3. God will answer our PRAYERS – yes, no, wait. So, PRAY.

4. Parents do good for their children. Fathers, give to your children. Demonstrate your heavenly Fathers generosity.

5. Our heavenly Father desires good for us, but we must ASK. Don’t stop ASKING. Persevere in PRAYER.

6. Practice the Golden Rule towards all people. How you want people to treat you, you treat others that way.

[1]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 42). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.