Asking With Expectation Series

Asking with Expectation

Matthew 7: 7-11

We have come to a very familiar and favorite portion of the Sermon on the Mount. We have considered the importance of prayer in previous studies, and yet once again, Jesus emphasizes its importance in these verses. Our Lord understood the importance of prayer and the power associated with it. One cannot study the life of Christ without noticing His engagement in prayer and the many times He spoke of it.

Prayer is the greatest tool the Christian has. It is through prayer that we make our petitions known unto God. We will never be any stronger spiritually than our prayer life allows. We have heard the expression, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” I hope our study will remind us of the great benefit we have in prayer and challenge us to engage in prayer on a consistent basis. Take a moment to consider this small poem written in regard to this passage.

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish I didn't have time to pray.

Troubles just tumbled about me and heavier came each task.

Why doesn't God help me, I wondered; He answered, "You didn't ask."

I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided, "Why child, you didn't knock."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on grey and bleak,

I called on the Lord for the reason—He said "You didn't seek."

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

—Author Unknown

I want to take a few moments this evening to consider the gracious principles regarding prayer as we think on: Asking with Expectation.

I. The Commitment to Prayer (7-8) – Here our Lord conveys the need for committed prayer.

A. The Participation Involved – Ask, and it shall be given you, for everyone that asketh receiveth. That is very simple, but also extremely profound. We cannot expect God to answer prayers that are never prayed. We need to learn to ask the Lord for our needs. He desires us to come before Him with our needs in an attitude of faith, believing He will hear and answer our prayers. Jam.4:2… ye have not, because ye ask not. 1 John 5:14-15 – And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

B. The Passion Involved – seek, and ye shall find; he that seeketh findeth. This reveals seeking with the purpose of finding. It reveals commitment and a sense of urgency. It presents the idea of seeking diligently for something of great value.

We know that God has exactly what we need and the ability to provide for us. We have committed the keeping of our eternal souls to Him, and yet many times we lack confidence in His ability to provide for our everyday needs. We must seek the Lord in prayer as if we sought something of great value, fully expecting to find what we need!

C. The Patience Involved – knock, and it shall be opened unto you; to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Prayer requires participation and passion, but it also requires patience. We must intercede at the door of faith, until it is opened. God will reward faithful and fervent prayers with fulfillment. He may not answer as we desired or expected, but it will always be what we need!

He may not always answer the first time we pray. In fact, He may even deny our request; but remember, when God says no, He has a better yes! If we will continue to knock, God will eventually open the door of His abundant grace.

II. The Covenant in Prayer (8) – For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Here we find a gracious promise from our Lord concerning our covenant in prayer. Consider:

A. The Audience – Jesus instructed the disciples to pray unto the Lord. They were not making their petitions known unto an idol made of stone or someone who didn’t care for their needs. They were not praying to a god of limited power. They were instructed to pray to the God of heaven, the Almighty, the I Am. He cared for them and had the power and resources to meet their needs. They could be confident when they prayed.

That glorious principle relates to us as well. We have the privilege of entering the very throne room of God, making our requests known before Christ our Lord and the heavenly Father. Through Christ we have access to God. We have an audience with the Almighty when we pray! Heb.4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 1 Tim.2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Rom.8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.