Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
7 “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.
In the bible, we find a connection - the Word and
Prayer...God speaks His Word, and that provokes us to pray.
You have to have a Word from God in order to have a
relationship with Him. There must be a
Word first...
'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.'
If God doesn't speak to you, your life cannot be changed. It
makes no difference who you are - you must understand the necessity of getting
something from God.
Jesus defines prayer but just saying, 'Just ask.'
So, why are we so reluctant in the process of need? Maybe
you've asked in the past - but didn't get it...perhaps someone interrogated you
regarding your request, so now you don't ask anyone anymore.
However, when it comes to prayer - it's not an issue of
begging! We have to push through our pride and really seek the Lord for
breakthrough; whether in our homes / children / ministry / etc.
The reality is - our pride keeps us from asking...we'd
rather do things on our own. This produces a 'Work-oriented' mentality.
However, The Lord only rewards those who diligently seek
Him! This requires humility. A sincere crying out from a humble people. This is
the environment that we are trying to maintain...in order to do this...we have to
refuse to treat God like a man...
Psalm 50:21 (NKJV)
21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You
thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in
order before your eyes.
God rebukes us by telling us, that due to our misdirected
arrogance, we have reduced Him to manhood...we put God on our level and treat
Him as though we were speaking to a human being...we get into trouble every
time. So, we stop communicating with God because we didn't get whatever we were
asking for!
Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of
man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken,
and will He not make it good?
God says, 'I am not a man that I should lie!' - Whenever you
approach God, you must do so by faith!
If I'm seeking God, and negativity arises, I cannot bring
God down to my level.
If God says anything - He is bound by that word! God's word
can never fail...all things are held together by the power of His Word.
When you talk to God, don't treat Him like your husband /
wife / brother / sister...human...He's God all by Himself.
Matthew 6:5-6 (NKJV)
The Model Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the
hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they
have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and
when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the
secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you
openly.
Forget the fluff, just ask.
Look at all of the miracles Jesus did for people in the gospels. Most if not all of them, were disqualified...they were NOT of Israel, but they were simple - intimate - and expectant! God leaves the door wide open with the dynamic of: 'If only you would believe in Me, I can do all things!'
How powerful is that? He's waiting for you and I to simply ask Him, so that He can show you who He really is and what He can do because He loves you!
Question: So, how do
I ask?
We can ask for things, but we don't ask right...
So how? Text verse 8, now that scripture messed me up
because I've asked and have yet to receive...
Faith levels the playing field | Jas. 4:3 - there cannot be
ulterior / selfish motives for what you're asking for...
Faith is the key…humility and being tuned in to God’s
will…this all requires listening…God is talking all the time, are you willing
to listen?
