Luke 11:1-13; Psalms 138; Genesis 18:20-32
Theme: ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
What Does Jesus mean by telling us to Ask, Seek and Knock?
Proposition: What does Jesus mean by ASK, SEEK, KNOCK?
1. ASK - Acknowledge our need and be ready to receive transformation
2. SEEK - Become an active partner with the LORD in your life
3. KNOCK - Be Ready to Welcome and Go through God's Open Doors
INTRO:
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and from His Son Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of the world!
Our passage this morning focuses on the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer. It begins with Jesus' disciples wanting Jesus to teach them about the spiritual discipline of prayer. In response Jesus:
+ shares with them a template for prayer ( "The Lord's Prayer" - verses 2-4),
+shares a parable that underlined their need for bold persistence in prayer (verses 5-8) and
+ shares the assurance that all true prayers will be received by our Heavenly Father (verses 9 - 13).
In this passage we come to a clear and concise understanding that prayer is ... "a learned experience and not simply the release of the heart's natural longings." (Fred Craddock).
We all know that a person doesn't automatically become a prayer warrior. Instead, like Jesus' disciples, we come to an understanding that prayer is something that we is a learned spiritual discipline. We must do more than simply desire to pray. We must come to the LORD as the disciples did and say - "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
Jesus' disciples had prayed all of their lives. The Jewish faith is both birthed and bathed in prayer. The Jewish day was regulated by its three distinctive times of prayer.1 And yet, these disciples saw something about the quality and quantity of Jesus' praying that caused them to see how little they knew about prayer and how much Jesus knew about prayer. They knew that in order for them to experience the depth, the richness and the effectiveness of praying like Jesus there were some things they needed to learn and implement in their own lives. And they knew that there was no better teacher on prayer than Jesus.
One of the greatest revelations and liberating experiences any of us can have is this reality. The reality that prayer will always be a continuous learning process. It's a learning process because true prayer is more about relationship that receiving. True prayer is never to be merely about the receiving of things. The point of our prayer lives is not to get what we think we want or need.
The point of true prayer as you examine all of Jesus' prayers and the other prayers of the Bible is that true prayer brings us into an ever deeper intimate relationship with the Lord. The fundamental foundation of true prayer is to transform our minds to think like the LORD thinks, our heart's to desire the things that the LORD desires and our soul's to love the things that the LORD loves.
The goal of true prayer is therefore what it does in our lives, in the lives of others and in the heart of God.
+The better we understand how to pray, the more we are able to think and act like the LORD.
+The better we understand how to pray, the more we line up our lives and our activities with the will of the LORD.
+The better we understand how to pray, the more time we devote to being the Lord's presence listening, responding , obeying and being restored into His image.
However, if all we want to do is to receive from the LORD, then our prayer time will be both self- absorbed, self- serving and expedient in nature. We will give the LORD a laundry list of our wants and perceived needs. And we will spend a minimum amount of time and energy on prayer. We will find ourselves adding prayer on as a second thought instead of it being a first passion.
How many of us have ever started talking to someone on the phone and we can hear them doing things in the background? We know that we do not have their full attention. For a few minutes it may not bother us. but then we realize we can't have enjoy a deep and meaningful conversation with all the background noise and activity. Usually, when that happens we either say something or we do whatever is necessary to quickly get off the phone. We decide that we will wait until there are no distractions so that we can truly talk.
The same is true in our prayer lives. We can fool ourselves into thinking that our deepest times of prayer can be had when we are doing something else. For example, I love to talk to the LORD while I mow the yard. I have since I was a young boy. But in doing so, those conversations with the LORD are never really deep or constant because there is always something that will get your attention. You have to make sure that you are mowing around the trees and plants the right way. You have to make sure that you don't slip and fall. You can pray, but it will always be filled with little distractions. The same is true when we try to make our deepest times of pray while we drive or do something else.
People who have become skilled in the spiritual discipline of prayer tell us that like Jesus we must get alone in a quiet place to truly and deeply talk to the LORD. Mark tells us, "And in the morning, a great while before day, Jesus rose and went to a lonely place, and there he prayed." (Mark 1:35). Jesus Himself as the very Son of God had to have his quiet time with His Heavenly Father. We can exist on having a busy prayer life but we will never reach the depth of true intimate prayer that way. It's the reason that great prayer warriors like Martin Luther, George Fox and John Wesley would spend hours in prayer.
We may not have hours to spend each day but we do have 10 - 30 minutes that we can devote to deep prayer each and every day. Coupled with that we have the Sabbath which gives us a whole day to spend in prayer. And, if we want to be transformed into the image of our LORD then that begins with making prayer our deepest and highest work. William Cary, the founder of the modern missionary movement reminds us that "Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness." (Richard Foster - Celebration of Discipline). We become what and how we pray.
In light of all of that this morning, I would like for us to focus for a few minutes on verses 9 - 10:
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be open for you. For everyone who ask receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and for everyone who knocks the door will be opened."
In particular I would like for us to spend a few moments looking at what Jesus meant when he said that we are to
ASK
SEEK
KNOCK
I. What does Jesus mean when He tells us to ASK?
+First and foremost, I believe that Jesus is telling us that we are to acknowledge our need. We have to acknowledge that we lack the knowledge, the strength, the wisdom and the ability to meet our own needs nor the needs of others.
One of the great way throughout time that this has been expressed is visibly through the different positions that we normally use to pray.
*In Jesus time, it was common for people to pray by laying flat on the floor with their head down and their arms outstretched. They would "prostrate" themselves before the LORD. They believed that this position was a way for them to physically show the LORD that they were totally surrendered. Abraham was known to use this position when he would pray to the LORD.
*Another common way was to pray by kneeling with one's head and face towards the ground. Again, this position was to physically display that they were completely surrendering themselves to the LORD. By taking this position they were bearing their neck to one greater in honor and worth. Job and King Solomon were known to use this position.
*Another way was to stand before the LORD with one's hands raised up similar to the way that a child would raise its hands to a parent. By doing so, one would confess their need for the strength and love for the LORD. One would also use this position to pray great prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Moses, Elijah and Jesus were known to use those positions.
*In our culture, it is more common to see people praying by standing with their heads bowed or sitting quietly in their seats with their heads bowed. Other may even choose to walk while they pray. Our more modern positions lean more towards conversational prayer.
It is interesting, however, to see that in ancient times the positions of prayer focused more on physically displaying the body language of surrender, commitment and consecration. There is certain measure of vulnerability that comes with praying in a prostrate position or by bowing one's head to the ground. Our more modern positions of bowing our heads and sitting quietly focuses more on reverence and being comfortable. Perhaps it would do us good to return to some of the old ways of praying.
+Secondly, by teaching us to ASK, I believe that Jesus is sharing with us that the LORD will work in our lives and in our world.
Dr. Richard Foster reminds us over and over again that "Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us." He reminds us that if we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. It doesn't mean that we will never pray, it just means that we will see prayer as a spiritual add on instead of a spiritual necessity.
Abraham, Moses and Paul remind us over and over again that we ASK because we believe that prayer is able to make a difference in our lives and in our world. Genesis chapter 18 shares with us the story of how Abraham in prayer interceded for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because he believed that they could be spared. Moses also believed that through prayer he could changed the LORD's mind and according to Exodus 32 and Numbers 14 God's mind was changed. Moses' prayers more than once saved the Children of Israel from divine judgment. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that we are "co-laborers with God" through our lives and through our prayers.
The stories of Elijah and the rain (1 Kings 17-18), Hezekiah and his terminal illness (2 Kings 20) and Jonah with the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3) are all great examples of how prayer can impact the future. When we begin to ASK we need to understand that we are supernaturally co-partnering with the LORD in creating the future. When we prayer we are working with the LORD to bring about new anointings, new miracles and new revelations. Certain things will only happen in history if we pray in accordance with the Lord's Will. We can transform our lives and our world through the power of prayer.
One of the greatest examples of this we can find in the Bible is in 1 Samuel chapter one. It involves a woman by the name of Hannah. Hannah was a barren woman who desperately sought the LORD for a child. As we read 1 Samuel chapter one it is amazing to notice how Hannah prayed and the words that she used. We immediately notice her humility, her surrender and her passion.
We also see that God heard and answer Hannah's prayers. Hannah's prayers changed the future for herself and for the people of God. The LORD used her prayers to bring to life the greatest judge and one of the greatest prophet's to ever live. Hannah's son, Samuel proved to be a pivotal player in the salvation history of the Jews. It all started because Hannah was humble and yet bold enough to ASK. She acknowledged her need, she believed that God could and would change the future.
This morning - What do you need to ASK GOD?
II. What does Jesus mean when He says for us to SEEK?
+"Seeking" initially means that we are to have an active part in our prayer lives.
If asking is a way for you and me to tell the LORD that we need His help, then seeking is a way we tell the LORD we want to co-partner with Him through prayer. I believe that Jesus is teaching his disciples that His Heavenly Father desires our participation in the adventure of finding the answers to our prayers. When Jesus tells us to "seek", it is an invitation for us to have a vital role in the Spiritual discipline of prayer.
Think of a young child. When they want something or feel like they need something they simply ask for it. Initially, their asking is usually in the form of crying and/or making a fuss. Later on as they mature they discover other ways of getting what they need and of course is by seeking. They want to do more than just ask and receive they want to seek out some of their own answers and ways to meet their needs. Seeking is a part of growing up.
I believe that is part of what Jesus means when he teaches his disciples to SEEK and you shall find. Now, of course there are some things that you and I can't obtain through seeking. For example, Salvation and the New Birth. We don't have the ability to do any more than cry out to the LORD and ASK for His mercy, grace and forgiveness. We know that we can't earn our salvation. We can't take it by force. All we can do is acknowledge our need, humble ourselves and ASK the Lord for his mercy, grace and forgiveness.
However, when it comes to growing in Christ we can do something. Paul tells us that we are "work out our salvation." (Philippians 2:2) That means when it comes to the discipline of spiritual formation we can do something. When it comes to discovering deep truths of God, not only can we do something the LORD tells us we must do something. When it comes to knowing God's Will we can do something.
We are to SEEK out all the ways we can to mature and grow in Christ. We can seek by opening our hearts, our minds and our souls to the anointing and leading of the Holy Spirit. We can seek by putting our minds, our bodies and our hearts into fulfilling the Great Commandments along with the Great Commission. We can seek by getting into His Word, meditating and worshipping with others.
A great Biblical example can be found in the Old Testament story of Gideon. In Judges chapter six we read how Gideon was seeking for God's will in his life. He wanted to make sure that he had heard God say what he thought God had said. His seeking involved using a piece of wool fleece. Twice Gideon sought for the LORD's will and twice he had to put out the fleece. Twice his asking and seeking were answered! We see in his story that Gideon did more than mere asking, he worked with the LORD to receive his answer.
+Secondly, we see that SEEKING requires accepting what God is ready to show us.
King David shows us how to accept what God will show us as we pray. As you study David's life and read his psalms you are captivated with how many passages are dedicated to him seeking the LORD and being ready and open for what God will show him.
Listen to just a few of the words we find in David's Psalms:
Psalms 63: 1 - "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you" (v. 1)
Psalms 105:4 - "Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
Psalms 27:8 - "You have said, "Seek my face." My hearts says to you, "Your face, Lord do I seek." Hide not your face from me."
In all of these passages and many more David shares with us that we are to seek and we are to be open to what the LORD shows us. We are to be ready to receive what the LORD wants to show us.
When Jesus tells us to SEEK and we will find, he is telling us that we must be willing to discover and receive what God the LORD wants to show us. That may mean a whole new radical way in which to live.
Think for a moment of the story of the Woman at the Well. One of the great things about Jesus' encounter with her was her ability to ask Jesus all these questions and then watch her as she sought out the truth in her own heart and mind. In the end, she had to receive all kinds of new revelations. In the end she had to accept a new way to live. Her asking Jesus lead her a time of true humility. Her asking Jesus led her to seeking and finding the Truth. And her seeking led her to experience a whole new life.
This morning, I believe Jesus teaches us to SEEK because he wants us be active in our prayer lives. He wants us to learn how to co-partner with the Holy Trinity. He wants us to experience effective and victorious prayer lives. He wants us to understand that as we seek He will show us new insights, revelations, anointings and blessings.
This morning, what are some to the things that we are to SEEK in our lives?
III. Finally, what does Jesus mean when he tells us to "KNOCK"
We are to ASK - ASK in Humility and in Faith
We are to SEEK - we are be co-partners with the LORD
+And we are to KNOCK - that is we make a commitment - a commitment first to welcome whatever or whomever is behind that door and then ultimately walk through that door.
When you go up to a door and knock on it, sometimes you know what you are going to expect but most of the time you do not know what is going to happen. You don't know always know who or what will be on the other side of that door. If it's a person, you don't know their mood, their attitude or how they will receive you. You have to have faith that when you knock the results will be positive.
When you knock on a spiritual door you have to be willing to face whatever or whomever it is on the other side of the door. You have to be ready to welcome whatever or whomever God has for you on the other side. You have to have faith that when you knock God will provide great things.
In the case of prayer when the LORD tells us to knock, He wants us to be ready to receive whatever blessing or challenge that is behind that door. And that is what we may find - we may be ready to receive a blessing or face a challenge or some combination of the two.
+Secondly, it means that we are willing and ready to go through a new door into a new area in our lives.
We must not only be ready to welcome what is behind that door but we must be ready to go through that door. And by going through that door we must be ready to say good bye to all that is behind us.
In the book of Revelation, John shares with us a story about a new door ready to be opened in the Church of Philadelphia. The Lord is telling this congregation that He is getting ready to open up for them a whole new door of relationship, of ministry and of grace. It's a door of great opportunity. All they have to do is KNOCK and be willing to go through that door.
In verses 11 - 13 Jesus reminds us that when we - ASK, SEEK and KNOCK we can be well assured that God will provide for us, protect us and lead us to a deeper walk with Him. That is part of the meaning behind all the fish/serpent and egg/scorpion. Jesus wants us to understand something very clearly - God will never lead us into a path of utter destruction. God will never lead us into a path that will ultimately bring us everlasting harm. The LORD loves us and wants more than anything to give us good gifts that will lead us to having a deeper relationship with Him, with ourselves and with others.
Of course that doesn't mean that with each asking, each seeking and each knocking that we don't have to face some difficult times and trials. The Bible tells us that we will have our times of struggles and our times of trials. However, the Bible also tells us that in each of them God will either provide a way of escape or he will walk with us through the valleys of shadow of death and bring comfort and peace.
This morning as we close - let us boldly come before the LORD and ASK, SEEK and KNOCK. Let us:
+Acknowledge our weakness and humbly bow before our King. Let us come in faith knowing that the LORD will answer all of our prayers.
+Let us commit to seeking His face and His will - let us co-partner with the LORD in discovering new revelations, new anointings and new blessings.
+Let us be ready to receive all that the LORD has for us behind the new doors in our lives. Let us be ready to knock and go through to new adventures with the LORD!
1 Jewish Law makes it our duty to pray three times daily: in the morning, in the afternoon and at nightfall. These prayers are called morning prayer (shacharit), afternoon prayer (minchah) and evening prayer (arvith or maariv ).
Our Sages tell us that the custom of praying three times a day was originally introduced by our Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac andJacob. Abraham introduced prayer in the morning, Isaac—in the afternoon, and Jacob added one at night. (see http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/682091/jewish/The-Three-Daily-Prayers.htm)
