Characteristics Of Kingdom People

Title: “The Character of Kingdom People” Type: Expository

Script: Mt. 7:7-23 Where: GNBC 3-15-09/ rw 2-13-22

Intro: I have recently been reading Jon Meacham’s American Lion, a biography of Andrew Jackson, our nation’s 7th president. Many have remarked upon the president, however, his character was a conundrum. Losing his father before birth, his two brothers in battles with the British, his own mother in ministering to wounded colonialists, Jackson’s childhood was tumultuous. A product of cold and austere 18th century Southern Presbyterianism, Jackson was deeply religious, yet given to profanity and drink, violent and spiteful towards his enemies, he was completely concerned about his friends and especially endearing towards his soldiers, uncommonly loving and gentle towards children while being unimpressed in the company of great men, while presenting the image of a ruffian and frontiersman was also elegant in his clothing and manners, while be chivalrous towards women to a fault (at least a couple of duels) he married and lived with his first wife for a couple of years before making sure she was divorced (she wasn’t!). Jackson was a character, and in part it was due to the extremes of his character! In Mt. 7, as we conclude the SOM, we continue to see the character of Kingdom People, Christ’s Disciples.

Prop: In Mt. 7:7-23 we see 3 characteristics of Kingdom people.

BG: 1. Nearly at the conclusion of the SOM. Some of the most important words, ideas, concepts, for Christian to live by. 2. Possibly you are new Christian – study on own see what Xst expects.

3. Xst came to est. Kingdom, comprised of those who put faith and trust in Him for salvation.

Prop: In Mt. 7:7-23 we see 3 more characteristics of Kingdom people.

I. 1st: Kingdom People Pray in Faith – vv. 7-11

A. Kingdom People are to Take Initiative in Seeking After God. vv. 7-8

1. We take initiative in seeking after God when we pray.

a. v. 7 – three specific action words (verbs) Jesus uses here in relation to prayer and the believer – ask, seek, knock. Again, in each instance, the believer is taking the initiative. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul in Phil. 3:12 – “…I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ.”

b. Illust – A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. He happened to kneel next to a man who was praying for one hundred dollars to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed one hundred dollars into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and joyfully left the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, "And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention . . ." (The Power of Persistent Prayer, by David DeWitt) Now, don’t worry, God can hear your prayer even if others are asking, however, we are to take initiative and not be passive when it comes to praying.

2. We are rewarded with answers when we seek God in prayer.

a. Jesus gives three specific promises for those three specific actions Christians are to take in prayer. He says that if you ask you will receive. He says that if you seek you will find. He says that if you knock it shall be opened. In other words, our seeking after God’s will will not go unnoticed nor unanswered. All three verbs in verse seven, Ask, Seek, Knock are imperatives (commands).There are two basic kinds of imperatives in the New Testament. There is the aorist imperative which is a command to do a particular thing at one specific time, and there is the present imperative which is a command not only to do something but to keep on doing it indefinitely. All three verbs in verse seven, Ask, Seek, Knock are not only imperatives (commands) but they are present tense imperatives. We are told to ask and keep on asking, we are to seek and keep on seeking and we are to knock and keep on knocking.

b. Possibly the question comes to mind: What if there don’t appear to be any answers to my prayers? What sometimes causes our prayers to become disabled in their effectiveness? 1. Don’t believe God can or will answer. – Mt.21:22/Ja. 1:6-8; 2. Wrong motives –Ja 4:3; Unconfessed sin – Is. 59:1-2; Idols in our hearts – Ez 14:3; Not helping those in need – Prov. 21:13; God’s Word not in us – Jn. 15:7; Not treating your wife in an understanding manner – I Pet. 3:7.

B. Jesus Encourages His Followers to Ask in Faith Knowing God’s Nature. vv. 9-11

1. Jesus compares God’s relationship to us as a father to his own son, so as to give us confidence in His willingness and desire to provide for a please His child.