ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

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 seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to the Apostle Matthew.  As Jesus continued to preach His Sermon on The Mount, He told them if you ask you will receive, if you seek you will find, and if you knock the door will be opened for you.  He went on to say that an earthly father would do this much for his child, think of how much more your heavenly Father would do. (Matthew 7:7-12)  He said wide and well-travelled is the road which leads to destruction, but narrow is the road which leads to life and only a few go that way. (Matthew 7:13-14)  Then Jesus went on to compare and contrast the true and false prophets and disciples. (Matthew 7:15-23)  He ended His Sermon on the Mount with a discussion on the wise versus foolish builders.  When He finished speaking, the people were amazed at the things He said and the authority with which He spoke. (Matthew 7:28-29)

APPLICATION

The only way that we can ask our heavenly Father for anything is through prayer.  Believers will receive that which they pray and ask our heavenly Father for, as long as they ask for it in the name of Jesus, and as long as it is according to the will of God. (John 15:16)  We know that all things that we ask for in prayer, believing, we will receive. (Matthew 21:22)  If we keep His commandments and do those things which are pleasing in His sight, then whatever we ask of Him we will receive. (1 John 3:22)  In order to be granted whatever we ask for, in the name of Jesus, must glorify God, The Father. (John 14:13)  The Lord God wants us to seek after Him, He wants us to seek His face. (1 Chronicles 16:11)  He knows us, and He has great things in store for us which we cannot imagine. (1 Corinthians 2:9)  There are some doors which only The Lord God can open, and which no man can shut. (Revelation 3:8)

THERE IS POWER IN CORPORATE PRAYER

Proclamation:

“Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that The Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.’  When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”  Acts 12:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that Herod had arrested some members of the church and was planning to execute them. (Acts 12:1)  He had James, the brother of John, put to death with a sword.  When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested and planned to execute him after the Passover. (Acts 12:2-4)  While Peter was in jail awaiting execution, chained between two soldiers, an angel of The Lord appeared, released him, and led him out of the prison into the city. (Acts 12:6-10)  Peter initially thought that he was seeing a vision (Acts 12:9) but when he came to himself he realized that The Lord God had saved him.  Once he was outside of the prison, he went to Mary’s house where the believers had gathered and were praying for him.  They were praying for him but did not believe that their prayers had been answered. (Acts 12:13-17)

Application:

There is power in prayer.  Jesus, The Christ, said that men ought to always pray. (Luke 18:1) Prayer changes things.  There is also power in corporate prayer.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)  Great and wonderful things happen when the people of God are gathered together in one place and are on one accord.  Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)  So, pray until something happens. 

WE SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP

Proclamation:

“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge … And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’  For some time he refused.  ‘… yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice …’ And The Lord said, ‘… will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? ... I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. …’”  Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter Luke records the words which Jesus spoke to His disciples.  He told them two parables regarding prayer, the parable of the persistent widow and the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.  His first point was that they should always pray and not give up praying for what they want. (Luke 18:1-8)  His second point was that they should be humble even when they pray. (Luke 18:9-14)  A certain rich ruler interrupted Him and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus answered him and he went away sad. (Matthew 19:22 and Mark 10:22)  Then Jesus said to His disciples that it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Luke 18:23-24)  After this Jesus predicts His death a third time (Luke 18:31-34) and then He gives sight to a blind beggar. (Luke 18:35-42)

Application:

The parable of the persistent widow reminds me of an old saying, “Pray until something happens.”  The point here is that we should pray for what we want and that we should pray often.  The Bible encourages us to pray continuously. (Luke 18:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17)  If we believe in Him and keep His word in our heart, we will get what we ask for. (John 15:7)  Whatever we ask for, in the name of Jesus, will be done if it glorifies God. (John 14:13)