ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE

Proclamation

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seek finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke to His disciples and to the surrounding crowd during His Sermon on the Mount as recorded by the apostle Matthew.  Jesus told them that whatever they asked Him for would be given to them.  This is clarified in another Bible verse, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that The Father may be glorified in The Son.  You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.  If you love Me, keep My commands.” (John 14:13-15)

Application:

Jesus said that we can have what we ask Him for.  He also said that we will find what we seek and opportunities will be opened up to us.  We do not have what we want because we have not asked The Lord God for it. (James 4:2)  If we pray for it and if we believe that He will give it to us, then we will receive it. (Matthew 21:22)  There are, however, some underlying conditions to this.  First, this only applies to believers.  If He is not your Father, do not expect that He will give you what you ask for.  If you do not believe in Him, don't waste your time asking Him for things.  Secondly, this only applies to things that will help us to give God Glory, not things to glorify or pacify or pleasure ourselves.  If we ask for something that is inappropriate it will not be granted. (James 4:3)  Thirdly, in order to get the "... any thing ..." we want from Him we must keep His commandments.  By keeping His commandments we show Him that we love Him. (John 14:21)  If we love Him and truly want to please and glorify Him then we will get what we ask Him for.