Ask, Seek, Knock: Part 1
Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJV) 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, will 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!
Asking is about admitting we need His HELP.
Seeking is about wanting God’s presence.
Knocking is about persistent prayer.
Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 15:7 (NIV) If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
How we are supposed to “ask.”
1. Ask in His name
John 16:24 (NIV) Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 14:13-14 (NIV) And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.
2. Ask according to His will
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know we have the requests that have asked of Him.
3. Ask boldly
“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.” —Mark Batterson
1 Chronicles 4:10 (ESV) Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
4. Ask and keep on asking
Matthew 7:7-8 (AMP) Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.
5. Ask what we have need of
Matthew 6:8 (NKJV) For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Biblical reasons why God DOESN’T answer our prayers:
1. Unconfessed sin
Psalm 66:18 (AMP) If I regard [cherish] sin in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], the Lord will not hear [me].
2. Lack of faith and expectation
James 1:6-8 (NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
“If you believe in prayer at all, expect God to hear you. If you do not expect, you will not have. God will not hear you unless you believe He will hear you; but if you believe He will, He will be as good as your faith.” —Charles Spurgeon
3. Wrong motives
James 4:3 (AMP) You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your desires.
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
4. Failure to forgive
5. Unresolved conflict with our spouse
1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
6. Failure to ask
James 4:2 (NIV) You do not have because you do not ask God.
7. Not His timing
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
8. Not His will