Matthew 7:7–11
7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11“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!
Focused Thinking:
What is the full context and understanding of this teaching on prayer?
“Ask, and it will be given to you;”
What does “asking” look like?
Ask for whatever you want?
- Parents don’t give children whatever they want.
- Parents don’t always give children what they need when they need it.
Parents say “yes” when that is best for us.
Parents say “no” when that is best for us.
Parents say “wait” when that is best for us.
Parents are committed to giving us what is best for us.
The love of parents is the best comparison to the love of God.
In the same way children ask their parents, we should ask our Heavenly Father.
“…seek, and you will find;”
What does “seeking” look like?
Seeking isn’t seeking what we want, but what He wants.
Seeking isn’t seeking what the world wants, but what God wants.
Seek the face of God, not just the hand of God.
Seek the will of God, not just the will of man.
Seek God’s Word, God’s will and God’s ways.
“…knock, and it will be opened to you.”
What does knocking look like?
Knocking is making your presence known.
Knocking is making your requests known.
8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Asking isn’t an easy process.
- Asking is a process of moving from my desires to God’s desires.
- Asking is a process of moving from my needs to God’s needs.
- Asking is a process of desiring God, denying self, dying daily and following God.
- Asking is a process of believing in God.
- Asking requires faith in who God is.
- Asking requires faith in what God does.
Everyone who “asks” receives.
Everyone who asks God for His will receives.
You don’t receive everything you ask for when you ask for it.
You receive everything He wants you to have when He wants you to have it.
Do you believe this? If not, you won’t ask.
Your actions reveal what you believe.
Everyone who “seeks” finds.
- Everyone who seeks God for His will finds.
- Seeking is a way of life, not just a specific request.
- Seeking isn’t about our preferences, but God’s purposes.
Do you believe this? If not, you won’t ask.
Your actions reveal what you believe.
Everyone who “knocks” it will be opened.
- What causes you to quit knocking? Doubt or Belief?
- What causes you to keep knocking? Belief or Doubt?
Asking, seeking and knocking is hard work.
Asking, seeking and knocking requires sustained faith.
9“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11“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!
How does Jesus illustrate this truth?
Fathers don’t give their sons stones instead of loaves of bread.
Fathers don’t give their sons snakes instead of fish.
Fathers give their children what is best for them.
Fathers give their children what they need when they need it.
If this is true of parents, how much more true is it of God?
“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!
Personal Application:
I need to identify specific prayers and ask, seek and knock.
Asking, seeking and knocking is hard work.
Asking, seeking and knocking requires sustained effort.
- I need to evaluate how much I’ve asked, sought and knocked each month in regard to specific prayers.
- I need to evaluate if I grow weary in doing good.
- I need to evaluate if I grow weaker or stronger in my faith.
Interactive Prayer: Ran out of time.
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