Ask, Seek, Knock: Biblical Prayer

Ask - Intercession

First, he calls us to ask. The word means to request or entreat. It could mean a request from a king - to ask as to demanding something. To ask expecting a positive response.

We are to ask for God’s blessings for other and for ourselves

Seek - Supplication

We are to seek for God’s blessings and God’s promises. We are called to seek first his kingdom and righteousness. Thus it concerns the seeking of man and the orientation of his will in the widest sense. If the heathen are primarily concerned about food and clothes, Christians are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

Greeven, H. (1964–). ζητέω, ζήτησις, ἐκζητέω, ἐπιζητέω. G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 893). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Knock - Fellowship

The word knock is interesting. In a cultural sense, knocking calls into mind the knocking on a friend or neighbor’s door.

God is calling us into fellowship with him.

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

In an often misquoted verse, some see this verse refering to the lost. But Jesus is speaking to the church at Laodicea. He is speaking to Christians, albeit Christians who are neither hot nor cold.

In context, Jesus is speaking about discipline and restoration.

So really this is about repentance and restoration of fellowship with God. God is calling us to seek him so that we can have restored relationship with him.

Prayer:

Darryl Gilmore’s mother passed

Anna Bigby’s baby, Lane was exposed to RSV

Tobe Ivy - Doing better but in much pain. Treatments are painful

Carroll - Son died.