Ask, Seek, Knock. Asking

God is there.

Love this.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." {Matthew 7:7}

Or this one.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." {Mark 11:24 }

Think about this. This is God's Word. God's Promise to His Children. He makes it pretty clear.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." {Matthew 7:7}

It is a Promise. God cannot lie. So what He Promises He ALWAYS delivers. So? What is the problem? Why does this not seem to be true? Have you ever felt like you keep Asking, Seeking and Knocking, and you are getting nothing in return? Do you need more of an answer than just this? "Ye ask, and receive not because ye ask amiss."

This is what we will be talking about the next three times we get together. Oh, He DOES keep His Word and He does answer those who Ask, Seek, and Knock. but do you really know what that means? We will start Today with, Asking.

First, do you even know who God is? In Hebrews 11:6   We read this.

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

You must spend time deepening your relationship with God so that you can hear His Instruction. As you hear His voice, the answer will be given to you. It is True, that so many people receive a "No" answer because they DO ask amiss. What does that mean? They do not really know God, His Will or His Ways, and they are asking simply for themselves. In the ESV, we read it this way. James 4:3

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."

If you are Praying to God to hit the Lottery, there is a good chance you do not have Him or the Kindom in mind. Oh I know, you are going do so much good with that money. After you buy a new House, Sports Car, Take a Cruise, or whatever. You know. No, I do not. Nor do you, to be honest. What is that phrase? "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions?"

God knows your Heart. He knows what you are going to or not going to do in the future. He is already there. If it is not in His plan for you and your life, you will never hit the Lotto. Save your money.

Let's look at John 14:13-14

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."

Wait. Jesus just said, "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." That sounds just like Mark 11:24. However, you must completely understand the Context. "that the Father may be glorified." By you winning the Lotto and buying that Big House, Sports Car, Boat, or whatever, does that Glorify God? I do not care if you paint Jesus loves you on the side or get a Bumper Sticker, the answer is most likely "No."

John 15:7 declares this.

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

Read that again. There is an "If" there.

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

If, Then. If, you walk in the Rain, Then, you will get wet. If, you stay inside, Then, you will stay dry. If, you touch the hot stove, Then, you will get burned. If, you do not touch the Hot stove, Then, you will not get burned. If, you call on the name of our Lord, Then, you will be Saved. If, you do not, Then, you are not Saved. If, Then.

If - on (the) condition that, provided (that), providing (that), presuming (that), supposing (that), assuming (that), as long as, given that, in the event that.

Then - after that; next; afterward.

You see, If, is you. Then, is consequences of your actions. The second part of a Covenant, between you and someone else. If, you do this, Then, I agree to do that. If, you work for me, Then, I will pay you. ETC.

God says "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you," THEN "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." See, this IS a Promise of God, but it is required that what you are asking is for the furtherment of God's Plan, The Kingdom Sake, and or, for someone else's benefit. God never tells you to Pray for, "Ask for" things for yourself. Actually, Jesus told us this.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." {Matthew 6:26-33}

Do you have a Child? If you do, you know they need all the things necessary for Life? Right? Do they have to ask you to feed, cloth, house, or anything else, for themselves? Or do you know they need these things, and you supply for them, these things? How much more will God provide for His Children?

Now, will you give your Child everything they ask you? No of course not. Especially if it is harmful or dangerous for them. No matter how many times they ask, you are going to say "No." So is God. Believe it or not, He is Wiser than us. He really DOES know better than us. Yes, He loves us. Yes, He answers us. Yes, sometimes that answer is "No." Jesus said this in Matthew 7:11

"If you then, who are 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!"

We may think we know what we need and what would be good for us, but He knows better. Then again, serving God is not about us or our needs. This is not what it means to be a Child of God. 

In 1 John 3:22 we read this.

"And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."

Also in 1 John 5:14-15

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

If, Then. Again, if you are asking something from God and you are not receiving it, are you sure that what you are asking falls into this category? Is it something to build the Kingdom, help you serve God, and or, build up someone else? Or are you asking for something "to spend it on your passions." If you are asking for something and God is saying "No." you may want to reexamine the question and or the reason you are asking. Remember, God said "No." to Jesus Himself. Think about that. Jesus actually asked the Father to spare Him from the Torture and Crucifixion {Matthew 26:39}. The Father said "No." Why? Because that is what Jesus HAD to do for God, the Kingdom and all of us. That was the whole reason He was here. Think about that. God's first Son heard "No." Why do you think you may not?

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord.