Ask, Seek, Knock: Part 2
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 can’t do it alone and that we need His HELP.
Seeking goes beyond asking; it’s about wanting God’s presence.
Knocking is about persistent prayer.
What does it really mean to seek God?
1. Seeking is not asking for things
2. Seeking is not doing things for God
Luke 10:41-42 (ESV) But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
“No amount of activity in the King’s service will make up for the neglect of the King Himself.” —Robert Murray McCheyne
3. Seeking is more than believing
What does it really mean to seek God?
Seek — “an earnest, relentless pursuit.” It doesn’t describe a casual, laid-back seeker but rather someone who wholeheartedly and diligently presses forward, giving their full effort until the desired object of their search is found.
Find — “to discover, or come upon a blessing, answer, insight, or relationship that was previously unknown or hidden.”
Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP) Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV) But there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Psalm 27:4 (NKJV) One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:8 (NKJV) When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 63:1 (NIV) You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Proverbs 8:17 (AMP) I love those who love me; and those who seek me early and diligently will find me.
Exodus 33:9-17 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. …12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you…” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” …17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Exodus 33:18-23 (NKJV) “Please, show me Your glory.” 19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
1. Value God’s presence
2. God loves to play hide and seek
Isaiah 45:15 (AMP) Truly, You are a God, who hides Himself…
Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NIV) “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord…
“Shut the world out, withdraw from all worldly thoughts and occupations, and shut yourself in alone with God, to pray to Him in secret. Let this be your chief object of prayer, to realize the presence of your heavenly Father.” —Andrew Murray
3. God rewards those who seek Him
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Exodus 33:19 (NKJV) Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you…”
Genesis 15:1 (NKJV) After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am…your exceedingly great reward.”
-security [Ps. 9:10] -contentment [Phil. 4:10-13]
-wisdom [Prov. 2:6] -purpose [Jer. 29:11-14]
-guidance [Ps. 25:4-5] -provision [Mt. 6:33]
-protection [Ps. 14:2] -rest [Mt. 11:28-29]
-hope [Lam. 3:25] -truth [Jn. 14:6]
-peace [Jn. 14:27] -freedom [Gal. 5:1]
-joy [Ps. 16:11] -transformation [2 Cor. 3:18]
-righteousness [Hos. 10:12] -life [Jn. 17:3]