Sermon on the Mount
Pt 12
Asking | Seeking | Knocking
Matthew 7:7-12
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, if his son asks for bread, and give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? [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 good things to those who ask Him! [12] Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. [NKJV]
OPENING REMARKS
1. One of the most important aspects of the believer’s life is prayer.
.. We are taught to have a continuous attitude of prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
.. We are taught not to worry about nothing but pray about everything.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2. How one approaches God and what they ask God reveals how they view God.
.. Some approach in a very flippant way – some reverently.
.. He is either viewed as a benevolent loving Father or as a fool-hearted give all you want benefactor.
Luke 18:9-10 | [Parable: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector]
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ’God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ’I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ’God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
NOTE: Thus the manner in which one approaches God is important. | James 5:16b declares: The prayer of a righteous man avails much. This seems to indicate if we approach God like the Pharisee (obnoxious and demanding) we will not prevail with Him. However, if we approach Him like the publican (in humble righteousness) we will be accepted and justified before His sight.
3. Is God obligated to answer your prayers if you say the right words.
Does God give you everything you ask for?
.. Often this is the case claimed with the “name it and claim it” crowd. They proclaim that God is obligated to provide whatever material thing our hearts desire. This passage is one of the scriptural text proofs they use to validate their teachings.
.. All one has to do is simply:
. Ask – for what you wish.
. Seek – for what you miss.
. Knock – for what we feel you have been shut out from.
and God will [No! – God Must!] give you the desires of your heart for He is obligated to honor His written word here.
.. They say that all we need to do is desire more, and of course give more in faith – usually to them or their organization – using James 5:16b | The prayers of a righteous [in their definition] man avails much – as their proof text.
.. However, when God doesn’t seem to answer it is never because of their teachings, but almost always because of our lack of faith.
. However, is this true?
. No? Why not?
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
When we ask in this manner.
We are asking, seeking, and knocking for the wrong motive.
Because we are attempting to obligate God to fulfill our fleshly desires instead of bringing glory to His name.
4. What does the text mean to us His disciples?
.. Primarily
. Within its context (7:1-12): it teaches us as believers how we are to truly discern in our judgment concerning other believers as well as determining when to share the gospel with the unbeliever | which is through earnest persevering prayer.
.. Secondarily
. Within the textual passage (7:7-11): it teaches us as believer how we are to approach God in a persistent and persevering manner.
. Within the textual verse (7:12): it teaches us as believer how we are to regard all individuals whether they are believers or non-believers concerning Jesus Christ.
TEXT
.. Our concern with the textual passage at this time will be the secondary aspect.
Matthew Henry
When you pray … here [Christ] speaks of it as the appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts he had given, so of which are so displeasing to flesh and blood.
----- [A Commentary on the Whole Bible: Matthew to John, vol. 5, Old Tappan, New Jersey, Fleming H. Revell Company, nd. (Reference Library ed.), p. 89 (adapted)] -----
I. PERSEVERING PRAYER – v. 7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Ask – Seek – Knock | (All verbs of an imperative second person present active tense)
Means: that there must be continuous action taking place. Thus with these three verbs we are commanded to ask, seek, and knock at heaven’s throne time after time after time.
Paul expressed it such: Pray without ceasing | 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Our continual attitude is that we are to be a praying people. We are obligated to pray. The verb here translated pray is an imperative present tense verb – means: you are commanded to do an action and it is an action that is to be done actively and continuously. Thus it is translated: Pray without ceasing.
Believer:
1. You are to ask – when there is a need or want of necessity.
. You ask the one who has the ability to supply your need or want.
. You ask as a beggar asks for alms – you need relief from your wants and burdens.
2. You are to seek – when there is a need or want of something of value.
. You seek the one who has the ability to provide from their wealth.
. You seek as if you have lost a great item of worth and refuse to quit looking until you find it.
3. You are to knock – when the way is closed (shut) and there is a need for entrance.
. You knock so that someone on the other side can open the door.
. You knock loudly so that you will be admitted to converse with the proprietor.
II. ALL PRAYER – HEARD | ANSWERED – vv. 8-11
8
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Who asks – receives, who seeks – finds, who knocks – opened | (all future passive indicative verbs)
. Means: this is an action that will take place in the future upon the subject (caller – you who are asking, seeking, and knocking) by the one who is being called upon (callee - God).
What Great Promises
A.
Ask and it shall be given – not lent to you nor sold to you – but given freely by God’s grace.
1 John 3:22
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
B.
Seek and you shall find – one’s labor is not in vain – for he who seeks God with his whole heart shall find Him.
Matthew 6:25-33
Do not worry about your life [food, drink, and clothing] … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
C.
Knock and it will be opened – not jarred slightly, not bolted tighter – but opened as to a friend who stands and waits patiently to come in.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
EXAMPLES: 9-11
9-10
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, and give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
No loving parent would try to trick his or her children into thinking their requests had been granted by such deceptive substitutions. No father would give a young child a sharp knife to run around with, a loaded gun to play with, or spoiled food to eat? No father who loves his children would do so.
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 good things to those who ask Him!
How much more logical than this – if sinful men and women [All have sinned and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23] give good gifts to their own children – is not God who is good and right going to give good things to those who ask Him.
NOTE: That we are to direct our prayers to Our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9) with reverence and confidence. – What benefit is it to bring your petitions, supplications, and thanksgiving to one in whom you have no faith to bring about your requests? | None!
NOTE: God is able to do whatever we ask, and we are to expect Him to grant our wishes.
. However, God knows what you genuinely need and what you do not need.
. Therefore, in His providence He will either supply or deny your requests all for the purpose of your good – Romans 8:28 | All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
III. REFLECTING BACK – v. 12
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the
Prophets.
Known as the Golden Rule.
This is a summary of the second great commandment – Matthew 22:39 / Lev. 19:18
Illustrated in Luke 10:25-37 | Parable of the Good Samaritan.
cf. Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:14
Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
John MacArthur
The golden rule instructs us as to how we are to love other people … How we treat others is not to be determined by how we expect them to treat us or by how we think they should treat us, but by how we want them to treat us. Herein is the heart of the principle, an aspect of the general truth that is not found in similar expressions in other religions and philosophies.
----- [The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7, Chicago: Moody Press, 1985, p. 446] -----
CONCLUSION
.. Treat all men equally!
. In judgment.
. In sharing the gospel.
. In prayer.
. This honors God.
INVITIATION
Lost –
. God tells us to ask, seek, and knock. This is what you must do today.
. Ask that the Holy Spirit guide you today to see yourself as a sinner before a holy and righteous God.
. Seek out the only name – Jesus Christ – given under heaven whereby men must be saved.
. Knock at heaven’s gate and cry out for mercy and forgiveness from God in Christ today.
.. I urge you to recognize that you are a sinner before God and that you must repent of your sinful nature and to look to the finished work of Jesus Christ for your only hope of facing God’s eternal judgment. W/O Jesus Christ as your substitute before God you MUST give an accounting of your sinful life B4 your Creator a holy and righteous God – a Just God who will judge you justly!
Believer/Church –
. You have already been judged for your sins in Jesus Christ. He took your place at Calvary and has borne God’s wrath on your behalf.
. Come and spend your time with Him in prayer.
. Call on Him: Ask and He will answer! | Seek and He will be found! | Knock and He will open!
COME WORSHIP THE LORD
. Our Invitation is open to all:
. Come to Christ
. Come if you need to pray
. Come be a part of us
. Come share with us what the Lord would have you to do
Bruce Allen
Underwood Baptist Church
January 13, 2008
bea0210@hotmail.com
http://ebenezer.reformedblogs.com
