Title: Our Gracious God / Matthew 7:7-11
If a boy asks his father what he wants, his demands will depend on his father's character and temperament. If the father is bad-tempered or stingy, the boy will demand little. He will meet his needs in the most attractive and undisputed way. However, if the father is a good-natured and tolerant person, the child will openly demand his own needs and will handle the work with pleasure.
The same reason can be found spiritually. When a person prays, the content of prayer may vary depending on who the person is praying for. If the god is as capricious as the god believed by the Greeks, he should flatter the god, and if the god is vengeful, he should be afraid. But, as Jesus Christ said, if He is a gracious God, those who believe in Him will come to Him with boldness. Those who confess God as their Father will not be afraid to ask for a good gift from God.
In this passage Jesus declares that God is very gracious to His spiritual children. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:7-11). As the saying goes, God is not harsh, vengeful, or stingy. Rather, our God is abundant in love, grace, and mercy, and delights in giving the best gifts to his children.
I. Children of God
The first lesson of the saying ask, seek, and knock is that it applies only to the children of God. Who is 'to you' referring to in this verse?
It refers to those who believe in God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. This promise does not apply to Buddhists and Confucians. It does not apply even to nominal believers. This is a promise that applies only to those whom God has regenerated (Ephesians 2:19).
This promise is limited to obedient children. "Whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22) Why are his prayers always answered? Because he is God's family. And, according to John, because he kept the commandments of God and did what was pleasing in his sight. God hears and answers the prayers of such people.
But isn't he the Father of all mankind? Do you not hear every prayer? Not like that. God is not the father of all men. He does not hear the prayers of anyone other than his family.
Remember what the Lord taught in Luke 13:24-30. There is no answer to those who are not in God's family. The one who is saved is the one who entered through the narrow gate. This means believing in the Lord. But he said, 'There are many who seek to enter, but cannot' (24). "When the master of the house gets up and shuts the door once, you stand outside and knock on the door and say, Lord, open it, and he will answer, "I do not know where you are from." The Lord also taught us in the streets, but he will say to you, "I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you evildoers" (Luke 13:25-27). In both cases, it was saved. And knocked on the door. In the Gospel of Luke, an unbeliever asked and knocked on the door. But he could not enter and was thrown out. On the other hand, in Matthew 7:7-11, a regenerated child of God asked and knocked on the door. God has given and opened.
The Lord, who said not to give holy things to dogs and not to throw pearls in front of pigs (Matthew 7:6), said to have judgment (discerning), emphasizing spiritual differentiation here. In other words, God's response is so different between believers and unbelievers. therefore
Ask the regenerated person, and it will be given to the regenerated person.
Seek those who are born again, and those who are born again will find you.
The regenerated will knock, and the regenerated will be opened.
II. save
Even if we are Christians, we must seek what God has promised. The apostle James made a negative statement. “You lust, and you have not, you murder; you envy, but you cannot get, so you fight and fight. same thing God delights in giving good things to His children. If we have not received them, the responsibility is not with God. It is because we who seek are at fault.
The saying “Ask and it will be given to you” gives us many challenges. 'Why can't we find victory in the life of the saints?' 'Why is the Bible so difficult to understand?' 'Why don't the principles of Christian faith have a big impact on my family and work?' The answer to these questions is simple. Because you didn't pray to God. Because I did not ask for it, I have no choice but to say that I did not receive anything.
Reuben A. Torrey sums it up nicely in his book The Power of Prayer. “We do not live in a generation that prays. We live in a generation that roars for survival. Human effort and determination, the power for self-satisfaction and achievement, the age of organization, human mechanization, human struggle, intrigue, and achievement. We live in an age of... What we need is neither a new organization nor a direction. The spirit as a creature we already have."
What do we lack? Wisdom to deal with this world or the distinction between good and evil? If we need this, we must seek the wisdom of God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Are there not enough workers for church ministry and missionary work? Are there not enough teachers for Sunday School? Then ask for it. "Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the master of the harvest to send workers into the harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38).
We are neither pure in heart nor meek, and we lack humility and love. We must pray for these. God's way has not changed. Prayer can do anything God can do. Prayer is omnipotent because God can do anything. No one can stand against anyone who knows how to pray and who prays with the conditions of prayer. Because the Lord God Almighty works for him through him.
III. effective prayer
Jesus did not tell us to seek only the blessings of God. told me to save you. There are two kinds of imperatives in Greek. The Aorist imperative is to do something special at a specific time. And the present imperative is not just to do it once, but to do it over and over again. For example, when a person driving a car is told to 'stop in the light', it is an Aorist imperative. It is said to be an act. However, when it is said, 'Always stop in front of a red light', in this case, the stop is present imperative. And this command is a repeated command. The commands 'seek', 'find' and 'knock' are present imperative. That is why we pray continually. to repeat the prayer.
Let's hear the story of the one who asked with patience in Jesus' two parables. In Luke 11:5-10, there was a man who asked for three loaves for a friend who came by night. Even though he will not rise up to give because of his friendship, he will rise up because of his supplication and give him as he asks.
In Luke 18:1-8, a widow with a grudge often came to the judge and begged for forgiveness. The judge does not fear God and ignores people, but the widow came and always bothered him, so he avenged his grudge. How much more will God avenge the elect who cry out day and night? So Paul said, 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
All of this is to continue praying with patience. Long-suffering and seeking is important for achievement.
God knows our needs better than we do. “In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. He who searches the hearts knows the thoughts of the Spirit, because the Spirit He intercedes for the saints according to his will” (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit not only dwells in us, but also hears and answers what we say. He takes the initiative in prayer, searches our hearts, and intercedes with God the Father. God loves us. You want to help us. He wants to see what you will do for us. 'Ask, seek, knock,' and it will be given to you.
This refers to the urgency and continuity of prayer. And this is a warning given to those who become prisoners of emotions and knowledge and mistake them for autonomous existence.