The Heavenly Father Knows (Matthew 7:7-12)

Matthew 7:7–12 NIV

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

STORIES

Uncle Terry and the desk?...

Great Grandpa Luke and Terry and Freddy getting bees

IF ONLY THEY HAD ASKED… I had everything they need!

How many times do we fail to ask God our heavenly father for our needs?

How many times do we forget that our Heavenly Father ALREADY KNOWS OUR NEEDS!!

YET, he invites us into a relationship where we discuss those needs with HIM.

How many parents YEARN to hear from your children about what they need, want, fear, dream etc...

“Daddy… I want...”

“Daddy… I need...”

I didn’t think I needed a pool, but apparently, I did...

The action is CONTINUAL - CONTINUE Asking etc… and continue to see the Father provide.

Keep the rest of the sermon on the mount in mind... God will provide our BASIC needs as a good Father!

Remember, God is not a Magic Genie. The rest of the Sermon on the Mount discusses God’s concern for us, God’s care for us, and how God invites us into a relationship where God is know intimately close - like a Father...

Matthew 6:7–9 NIV

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Discuss the idea of formula’s and repetition in prayers...

Matthew 6:25–34 NIV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God knows our need and will provide like God provides for less valuable things in creation.

Matthew 6:11 NIV

11 Give us today our daily bread.

What God does provide is for our good and NEVER for our harm - even if we don't like it or even want it...

We might not always get what we WANT. However, like a good father, God gives us what is for our benefit and God withholds from us what will ultimately HARM us.

God Knows Your Need!

He invites us into a relationship where we express our need, fears, desires to a Father who is ALREADY aware of them - but yet is STILL INTERESTED in hearing from us!

But, maybe our needs aren’t only the tangible Daily Bread issues (food, shelter, clothing, etc…)

Maybe we have other, deeper needs

Attitudes

More fruit of the Spirit and less fruit of the self

Habits

Praying that we avoid the temptation to stumble into our evil ways

Relationships

Maybe some are praying the right husband/wife

Sometimes we discuss prayer and often what we think about are our daily sustenance issues. But maybe, just maybe, there is a deeper concern/need/prayer

The Heavenly Father is aware and He has invited you into a relationship where you CONTINUALLY make that known and a relationship where you allow HIM to fulfill that need!

Jesus Invites us to Approach God as a Father, BUT NOT AS A GENIE!

We don’t get everything we want, but we have supplied what the Father desires for us when our motives are focused upon the will of the Father.

James 4:2–3 NIV

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 1:17 NIV

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Romans 8:28 NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Let’s look back at v. 12 again...

Matthew 7:12 NIV

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 5:17 NIV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

And maybe WE are God's way of answering each other's prayers.

That as we see needs and fill them - as we do unto others- that God has heard someone's prayer, petition and request and God has placed upon our hearts to be the answer to that prayer.

As we do unto others we become answers to prayer!!

BENEDICTION

Jude 24–25 NIV

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17 NIV

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.