Ask Seek Knock (ASK)
Matthew 7:7-11(NLT ) “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Introduction: Welcome to another refreshing time at the feet of the Master. we are looking at one of the sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ.
I pray that the teachings we receive will become our attitude as we journey towards eternity with God in Jesus name.
This week, we are looking at an important attitude in Christian life, which is Ask Seek Knock (ASK).
To Ask can be that you want to know or a form of requesting for what you want to be done.
In relation to Christians, to Ask God can actually be seen as prayer, that is, an activity of speaking to God which we are used to.
🛑 In His teaching, the Lord used the word “Ask” instead of “pray” to come down to our level, and relating it to usual requests from children to earthly fathers.
Using the word “pray” while asking for something from our earthly father can be religious bigotry or unreasonable because it is generally believed that we pray to God. Therefore, Jesus used the word “Ask” in His illustration for disciples to know that they can “Ask” God just the same way we “Ask” our earthly father.
🛑 Let it be known that you cannot “Ask” without Seeking (finding) and Knocking (drawing attention)
❓Do you wonder why Christians look for pastors to pray or ask God on their behalf for what they need?
1️⃣ Some Christians are ignorant and lack knowledge of God – That’s why Christians perish
2️⃣ Some Christians still live sinful life – Prayers of sinners are abominations to God
3️⃣ Some men of God take away confidence of vulnerable and ignoramus Christians. They put themselves in place of God.
Scriptures speak in 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
🛑 The Master taught His disciples on the Mount by saying; “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
I used to say that once anyone begins to send his/her siblings to his/her father to ask for his/her needs, it is an indication of bad relationship with the father which in most cases due to the child’s bad behaviour.
❓How is your relationship with God? There is need for sincere assessment of our Christian life.
🛑 A Disciple indeed will confidently Ask God with faith without wavering and wait patiently knowing that if earthly father cannot deny his child good things within his capacity, how much more God the creator of all things.
Jesus said; So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
❓Where is your loyalty when asking or requesting your needs from God? It is either relying on God entirely or the world system.
🛑 A disciple with divided loyalty between God and the World cannot receive anything from God.
James 1:5-8(NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
🛑 God knows that in this world where the Devil, the Prince of this world is still currently in charge, many of His covenant children will join in idol worship of various forms and disguise. He then promised to find anyone who seeks the Lord with all his/her heart and soul.
❓ Do you seek God in all your undertakings?
Deuteronomy 4:28-29 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
🛑 Disciples must seek God where He will be found. We cannot expect to find God among the ungodly don’t be deceived.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
🛑 God can only be found where there is righteousness and very near the righteous.
Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
I have learnt that if we ask God for legitimate or necessary things and we do not hear from God, there is need to sincerely check our lives. I have observed in my life that whenever I did not receive my expectations from God after I requested in prayer, there had always been perfect reasons, it can be for my good or due to my errors which I always realised later. God is always faithful.
❓Can God deny His children good things? Can God give stone instead of bread or snake instead of fish?
🛑 Never!!! God is faithful and true to His words while every man accusing God of unfairness is a liar!!!.
Romans 3:3-4 (AMP) What if some did not believe and were without faith? Does their lack of faith and their faithlessness nullify and make ineffective and void the faithfulness of God and His fidelity [to His Word]? By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified and shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].
❓Why do we need to Ask Seek Knock (ASK)
1️⃣. To receive strength continually as Christians
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
2️⃣. To avoid falling into temptations as we are surrounded by the world, the flesh and Satan.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
3️⃣ To escape coming destructions coming upon the world just like the days of Noah and be in the Ark of salvation.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
4️⃣. For purposes of intercessions
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
5️⃣. To be in top shape whether during afflictions or merriment
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
6️⃣. To avoid anxiety and worries concerning issues of life
Philippians 4:6(NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
✍ Finally brethren, Ask Seek Knock (ASK) is not one off exercise or only when in distress or needs, Jesus said with parable to support regularity in prayer;
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Scriptures speak to Thessalonians church;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Now we are to Ask Seek Knock (ASK) anything in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour for fulness of joy.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
✋ Maranatha
