Good Things
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The biggest test of any desire is: can I pray about it? Regularly and repeatedly, even. [always; go on; keep at it]
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Context. The command to pray in verse 7 has everything to do with fulfilling kingdom demands… which means we’re considering primarily changed hearts; spiritual truths; and fruits of the life we have in Christ, when we place ourselves under his authority, as our savior and our King.
These verses aren’t about getting what we want. But it is a powerful invitation to intimacy with God, and to be a part of expanding God’s will in our lives and the lives of those around us and those influenced by us.
John says:
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15
According to his will = kingdom living.
Recently Speaking about: judgement; hypocrisy; anxiety or trust; treasure and our hearts; focus on self.
Since 5:20 he’s been defining Kingdom life.
Recently Speaking about: judgement; hypocrisy; anxiety and worry vs trust in him; treasure and our hearts; emptying us of our focus on self.
I can
Asking seeking Knocking is all within that context of kingdom righteousness:
which Is The King’s Will.
Q: Lord, HOW? [do we do this?]
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Asking suggests dependence; seeking suggests yearning; knocking suggests persistence. Jesus shows here the response of faith (to that question).
Jesus shows here the response of faith.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He rewards dependence, yearning, and persistence in drawing near to him through Kingdom living; through discipleship; and especially the discipline of prayer.
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Later James addresses his readers with words of correction, pointing them back to the truth of these words of Jesus.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Physical contentment; Spiritual Passion [Zeal].
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
[maybe: v 5 God yearns for us!]
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Here are the promises:
God will never refuse our prayers:
8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
This I will Do!
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
James 4
in my name? = according to God’s will. Things of Righteousness. of Peace. and of Joy in the Spirit.
John 14:
God does not mock our prayers:
(okay! you asked for it! haha.)
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Charter of Prayer (Matthew 7:7–11)
The Greeks had their stories about the gods who answered people’s prayers, but the answer was an answer with a barb in it, a double-edged gift. Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, fell in love with Tithonus, a mortal youth, so the Greek story ran. Zeus, the king of the gods, offered her any gift that she might choose for her mortal lover. Aurora very naturally chose that Tithonus might live forever, but she had forgotten to ask that Tithonus might remain forever young; and so Tithonus grew older and older and older, and could never die, and the gift became a curse.
The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 The Charter of Prayer (Matthew 7:7–11)
There is a lesson here: God will always answer our prayers; but he will answer them in his way, and his way will be the way of perfect wisdom and of perfect love. Often, if he answered our prayers as we at the moment desired, it would be the worst thing possible for us, for in our ignorance we often ask for gifts which would be our ruin. This saying of Jesus tells us not only that God will answer, but also that God will answer in wisdom and in love.
God will give us Good things:
11 If you then, who are 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!
Matt
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11
James
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
Light
depend on God for light.
Yearn for God’s light.
Persist in invoking God’s light.
So what to ask seek knock for?
God [reveals, teaches, disciplines, loves]
What does God Give [righteousness, peace, Joy, Hope...]