The Gift of the Father
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Blank Check?
Blank Check?
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Some people see this as a blank check that God is required to fulfill. Sometimes referred to as the name it and claim it verse. However when we look at the context of the passage and the rest of scripture we will see that this is not a name it and claim it verse. It is a wonderful promise that Jesus gives, but it comes with qualifications. The four qualifications for this promise are: You must be a child of God, you must ask with right motives, you must be living in obedience to the Lord, and it must be in accordance to His will.
You must be a child of God.
You must be a child of God.
Jesus gives the example of how a good father provides for his child. In the same way the child and father have a relationship, we must have a relationship with our heavenly Father. It is in this relationship with the Father that we are granted the provisions of heaven.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds us that our Father will supply our needs according to His riches. God’s riches cannot be exhausted. The Lord is able to provide in ways that we may not see or expect. Tell story about how the Lord has provided for Rachel and I as I stepped into vocational ministry. Two through college, two weddings, same home, and NO DEBT! The Lord has been faithful to Rachel and I. This is important because my lack of faith in the Lord to provide by stepping into vocational ministry was one of the main barriers. It was not a matter of lack of faith in God’s ability, it was more a lack of faith in His willingness. What is a barrier that you may have regarding to stepping out in faith to do what God is calling you to do? Or how has God shown Himself faithful to you when you put your faith in Him as your Father?
Future Inheritance
Future Inheritance
Not only does our Father provide for our needs here on earth, but he promises a wonderful inheritance in heaven.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
God promises us as His children that there is a wonderful inheritance waiting for us when we get to heaven. It is unlike an earthly inheritance. Our heavenly inheritance is imperishable and will not fade away.
Ask with right motives!
Ask with right motives!
Not only do we have to be a child of God, but when we ask it must be with a right motive. James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
When we ask God for things to satisfy our selfish desires, the answer will typically be no. For example, if you go home today and ask the Lord to give you a million dollars tomorrow so you can buy all the toys you want, the Lord will not answer a prayer like that affirmatively. However if you ask the Lord for a large some of money for someone else so that they can fulfill there calling to advance the Lord’s calling, He will answer. For example, as the Lord was preparing Tatum to surrender her life to foreign missions, she went on a few short term mission trips. She went to China for three weeks, California for three months, Guatemala for 10 days, and eventually to the middle east for an undetermined time. The Lord has been faithful to supply all her funding needs.
The Lord does not discount our wants when they are rooted in the right motive. For example, if you would like to save up for a home and you ask the Lord to provide you the resources to do so, He will most likely answer affirmatively. However, we must realize that the home is not ours but the Lord’s and must be used for His purposes. Asking with the right motive generally gets a “yes” from God when we ask. In addition to being a child of God and asking with the right motives, we must be following Christ.
Be Obedient to the Lord!
Be Obedient to the Lord!
and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
The Lord loves to give to people that are following Him. His provision is abundant when we follow Christ. Matt 6:33
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We looked at this a couple of weeks ago. When we are putting the kingdom of God first in our lives the Lord provides all we need. You may have heard it said, “ where the Lord calls, He provides.” This is true because when we do what the Lord calls, He will bring it to completion.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;
You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
These three passages of scripture show that those that are disobedient to the Lord will not have their prayers answered. For example, if God is calling in a particular direction and you want to go in a different direction, God will not bless your direction if you ask. Remember Jonah and the whale. God wanted him to preach to the Ninevites. Jonah wanted God to judge the Ninevites.
Conversely, remember Daniel who was obedient to the Lord and the Lord spared him from the destruction of the lions. Perhaps you recall Shadrack, Meashack and Abendindigo. God rescued them from the fiery furnace. Or Solomon who asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. God gave him wisdom, riches, and longevity. When we are obedient to God, He demonstrates His faithfulness to us.
Ask according to His will!
Ask according to His will!
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
God answers prayers according to His will because His will is much better than what we may ask for. Paul points out in Eph. 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,]
that the Lord knows what is best for us and has a desire for us to have the best. Sometimes we don’t ask for what is best because we don’t know what is best. We do not see what God sees!
Imagine a family, the Millers, planning their summer vacation. Their teenage son, Ethan, was absolutely set on going to a specific beach resort hundreds of miles away. He'd researched it meticulously: the perfect waves for surfing, the lively boardwalk, the cool arcade. He prayed fervently every night, picturing himself catching the perfect wave and making memories with his friends who were also planning to go. He was convinced this was the only way for him to have a truly great summer.
His parents, while understanding his excitement, had some reservations. The resort was expensive, and they were a bit concerned about the unsupervised freedom Ethan would have. They prayed too, but their prayers were more along the lines of "Lord, guide our vacation plans and ensure Ethan has a safe and enjoyable summer."
As the weeks drew closer, Ethan's anticipation grew. He talked incessantly about the beach, the activities, and how amazing it would be. He was so focused on this one destination that he couldn't imagine anything else being as good.
Then, a few weeks before their planned departure, Mr. Miller lost his job unexpectedly. Panic set in. The expensive beach trip was suddenly completely out of the question. Ethan was devastated. He felt like his prayers had gone unanswered, that God didn't care about his happiness. He was angry and resentful, questioning why God would let this happen.
His parents, though worried about their finances, tried to reassure Ethan. They explained that sometimes things don't go according to our plans, but that doesn't mean God has forgotten us. They decided to take a much shorter and less expensive road trip to visit some historical sites and national parks in a nearby state.
Ethan was initially miserable. He sulked in the car, complained about the lack of Wi-Fi, and couldn't see the point of looking at "old buildings" and "trees." He felt like his summer was ruined.
However, as the trip progressed, something unexpected happened. At one of the national parks, Ethan discovered a hidden talent for photography, capturing stunning landscapes with his phone. He bonded with his younger sister over campfire stories and learned about history in a way that textbooks had never made interesting. He even met a group of other teenagers who shared his newfound interest in nature photography.
By the end of the road trip, Ethan was a different person. He hadn't caught the perfect wave, but he had discovered a passion he never knew he had. He hadn't hung out with his usual friends at the beach, but he had forged deeper connections with his family and made new friends who shared a genuine interest.
Looking back, Ethan realized that while he had prayed for a specific beach trip, God had something far better in mind for him. The job loss, though initially a setback, had redirected their path to an experience that broadened his horizons, fostered new relationships, and ignited a lifelong passion.
The Good Father
The Good Father
“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “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 what is good to those who ask Him!
Jesus points out here that a good earthly father will provide good things for their children. When their child asks for something that they need the father is not going to give something that harms them. A good father will do everything he can to give the child everything they need.
Jesus emphasizes that if earthly fathers who are sinful and far from perfect know how to give good gifts to their children, then how much more will a perfect heavenly Father give to His children. A earthly fathers ability to provide for his children is based on his ability, which is limited, and our Heavenly Father based on His ability, which is unlimited.
Our earthly fathers do not know the future of their children but God does. AN earthly father will provide for the here and now, where our heavenly Father will provide for our future.
God gives the best gifts! We will recognize this at the end of this message!
Follow the Father’s Lead
Follow the Father’s Lead
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Since the Lord is so good to us, we should be good to one another. Jesus says in EVERYTHING treat people the way you want to be treated.
The litmus test for this is to ask before we act towards someone is to ask ourself, “ would I want them to treat me the way I am contemplating treating them.” If the answer is no than change the way you are going to treat them. If the answer is yes than do everything that you would want them to do for you!
