SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Matthew 7:7-8) (7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (8) “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
(Luke 11:9-10) (9) “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
(Luke 18:5-8) (5) “Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” (6) “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.” (7) “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (8) “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Prologue
In a world often overshadowed by uncertainty and various challenges, the practice of persistent prayer emerges as a vital source of hope, connecting us with God. This introductory message explores the biblical mandate given by Jesus to "ask, seek, and knock," emphasizing the importance of steadfast faith in our spiritual journey.
By exploring these teachings, we reveal the transformative life-changing power of persistence in our communication with God, illustrating how consistent prayer can foster a deeper understanding, comfort, and guidance.
The essence of persistence in prayer and the experience of receiving answers lies in nurturing a deep, faith-filled relationship with God, which is founded on trust, understanding, and open communication. This relationship requires us to engage in consistent prayer, being patient and steadfast even when answers are not immediately apparent.
Aligning our prayers with God's will is crucial; it involves seeking His guidance and understanding His purpose for our lives. We must recognize that His plans, although sometimes different from our own desires, are ultimately designed for our good and spiritual growth. Therefore, by approaching our heavenly Father in prayer with an open heart and a receptive mindset, we allow ourselves to experience the profound transformation that comes from a true connection with God.
In conclusion, it is essential to approach our heavenly Father with unwavering confidence, believing that He truly delights in blessing His children with good gifts. By remaining steadfast in our prayer life and practicing patience, we open ourselves to the graciousness of God’s responses, which may come in unexpected ways but are always best suited for our needs.
"ASKING PRAYER THAT WORKS."
Ask, and it shall be given to you.
The way we approach God including what we are willing to ask him for, will reflect how we view him, therefore beloved, do we view him as one that works on a merit system that requires us to satisfy some demand to gain his favor like other religions, or do we approach him as a loving Father who loves his children wanting nothing but the best for them?
God has extended his grace unto us that we can come boldly unto him with praise and thanksgiving in our heart, for we are his children, the work of his hands. All too often, we tend to make our requests based on what we understand about his character. And to better understand this, we need to ask some very important questions.
1. How does a child who has an abusive father approach their father?
2. What will they ask for, and how will they approach them?
3. Will they be fearful that he may burst into an emotional uproar?
4. Are we, as God's children, approaching Him with fear, entertaining the thought that He is waiting for us to fail,
or can we approach Him as the model Father, full of compassion and love, who is determined to bring us to a
good end?
5. If God gave you a blank check, how would you fill it out? Would you use it to better yourself, or would you use it
to help others and advance the Kingdom of God?
One very important revelation that we must recognize in the kingdom of God is that timing is everything therefore let us not be praying a one-sided selfish prayer but stay in His presence and allow him to place His burden in our heart, realizing that He is an all-knowing God that sits high and looks low beholding everything and everyone around us that will be affected by our prayers.
We need daily strength to continue this journey, and what we had yesterday is not sufficient to face what we may encounter today, therefore when we come before him expressing our needs, we need to recognize that He instructed us to ask for them because He is concerned and he desires that we stand with confidence knowing that he can answer our prayer and meet our needs.
The Lord linked the word (and) in the phrase between asking for daily bread and asking for daily forgiveness?
We need fresh bread from heaven, daily feasting on His eternal Word, and we do not know what dangers we may encounter that would require His divine protection to cover and protect us; therefore, we are told to pray for the Lord to "deliver us from evil."
His word teaches that all temptations must have his approval before they can be sent against us therefore beloved, may we come boldly unto our God making our requests with confidence and humility remembering his word in (Hebrews 11:6) states, "without faith, it is impossible to please him, and they that come to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to them that diligently seek him."
"SEEKING THE FATHER'S WILL."
Seek, and ye shall find
God desires for us to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. We achieve this by cultivating a conditioned prayer life; therefore, when we seek the Lord in prayer, may we realize that we are entering a higher level of intimacy, such as seeking His presence and glory as we ask for direction or ask for His will to be done in our lives.
Instead of asking him to bless our will with our carefully thought-out plans, we need to get beyond our selfish will and begin seeking his divine guidance, especially in trying situations that are already beyond our control, and allow him to have complete control over all our lives. (Jeremiah 29:13) "If we seek him with our whole heart, we shall find him." (Hebrews 11:6) "God will reward those that diligently seek him."
We read earlier in the Lord's prayer that the disciples were learning the proper way to pray and were told not to pray out loud in public but to enter their closet and shut the door.
God cannot place things in our hand until he first prepares our heart to receive them and know that He can trust us with the answer, therefore beloved, instead of him becoming a part of our lives, honoring the plans that we have carefully put together which mean nothing to him because he had a plan for us before the foundation of the world.
God desires for us to become a part of him and the plan He has; therefore, beloved, let us prayerfully seek him for wise counsel and become an influence to the world around us, and not allow the world to influence us with their enticement and lose the living which only lasts for a season.
The Lord instructed his disciples to seek first the Kingdom of heaven, and all other things will be added unto them. Our blessings, including our needs, should never take precedence over seeking the King. In closing, let me be quick to say that this walk of faith requires a strong prayer life, and prayer sometimes needs fasting for its perfect development.
"The Knock that Opens Doors."
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
To catch a glimpse of what the Lord is presenting to His disciples in this message, especially in the context of knocking, we need to study the parable of the widow who went before the unjust judge. The parable of the unjust judge can be found in Luke 18:1-8.
Note that in biblical times, widows had no rights, and the Lord emphasizes in this parable that the woman must approach an unjust judge, one who fears neither God nor man; however, he meets his match in a woman who knows she is under the blessing of Abraham.
I believe the parable of the unjust judge gives life to what this message is all about. The Lord did not tell us much about the widow, but I believe it highlights her persistence, and I can imagine how the stern judge's actions did not deter her from presenting her petition before him.
In my mind, I picture her as one of the praying mothers today, and no matter how many times the judge denies her request, she leaves the court and retreats into prayer and solitude with her King. Perhaps others, out of concern, have asked if anyone had seen her, but she is in deep prayer and consecration.
This woman is now full of faith and is returning to court. By this time, the judge is impressed by her perseverance and looks forward to her appearance before him. Perhaps he even mentioned to some of the staff working in the court that at a particular time, the widow would come before him, and he would decline her request.
To this stern judge, this is out of the norm and starting to become a game. It may be exciting at first, but it soon begins to take its toll, especially when he sees the woman coming before him in his sleep. Her God is working behind the scenes; finally, she has peace. She has prayed through and entered the throne of the Judge of the Universe, who sends the Angel of Peace to comfort her.
This widow is now full of faith as she enters the courtroom, and the presence of her God is changing the atmosphere throughout the courtroom. This woman realizes that she is not alone and feels a surge of energy knowing that the great counselor who represents her in heaven, the one the prophet Isaiah spoke about, is now by her side. Jesus stated in his parable that the unjust judge gives in to the woman’s petition and grants her request.
The parables presented throughout this message offer a deep insight into the heart of God. Each story reveals His character and the values He holds dear. The parable of the unjust judge serves as a powerful conclusion to this lesson. In it, the Lord emphasizes that, unlike the judge who acts out of self-interest, God is a loving Father who will respond to the cries of His people who call out to Him day and night. This message reassures us of God’s faithfulness and the importance of persistent prayer in our relationship with Him.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, when we mean business with God, we will find that honest praying is work, and Satan will fight every effort we make to touch the throne of God. To walk in a ground-shaking anointing, there is a high price to pay. God has to know he can trust you.
Prayer means denying ourselves and perhaps putting aside what we like and want to do to give God time to implant His burden in our hearts. Here, victory comes as we begin to fully obey the Spirit’s promptings so that we are ready to allow the Holy Spirit to take control.
The old masters of the pulpit got their texts on their knees, soaked them with their tears, groaned over them with a travailing spirit, and warmed them with sincere prayer. The masters then delivered the message as a living thing, warm from God’s heart, burning in the preacher’s heart to warm the hearts of the listeners. If we preach from the head, we will reach their head, but if we preach from the heart, we will get their heart.
In conclusion, I declare that if we want to see results and transform this nation, we must live out and demonstrate the Gospel through a dedicated and powerful prayer life, reaching out to a lost and hurting world in search of answers. God is a God who is more than enough. Jesus has equipped us with talents and abilities that He expects us to use to expand His Kingdom.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
