FYW4 Ask Seek Knock

What are you looking for? What is your most important unanswered question? Do you know what the one thing is you don’t have, that would instantly elevate your life if you had it? (hint-it’s not money) Every person on earth has questions, needs, and desires. How they resolve them defines them. The way you get your questions answered, your needs met, and your desires fulfilled reveals your maturity, your character, and your priorities.

Matthew 7:7–8 (NKJV) 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.

Guaranteed Results

            When I began collecting Scripture verses to meditate and feed on my needs were different than they are today. My understanding of the Father has grown. I perceive things differently. My interest in and desire for the Word and for the Person of Christ is still developing. I mention this because when I added Matthew 7:7-8 to my list it was in the budding stage of my discernment. In other words my reason for adding it may not be the reason I appreciate it today. This is normal and expected in our growth as children of the Living King.

            I remember being amazed that God would put it in writing that all I had to do was ask, and He would give it to me. It encouraged me that He would commit in advance to answering my questions and respond to my inquiries. Western culture trains us not to ask, or not to expect an answer if we are brave enough to ask, or to not trust the answer we get if we are forward enough to ask. But an eternal all knowing infinitely wise Person with unlimited power and boundless love for His creation has promised, in the written contract of His blood covenant, to answer every question His children dare to ask.

            It must be stated that the expectation and promise of receiving what is asked for is only possible if the request is within God’s will. Our Father has no interest or obligation answering petitions for things inconsistent with His will.  He will not reveal information that is none of your business.  He will not give you something you are not mature enough to handle, even if it is His will that you have it. The same rule applies to the seeking and knocking promises. The asking seeker knocker must discern the will of God prior to approaching God about asking for something to have a valid hope of receiving finding and opening. Where the will of God is plain and certain the answers and results are guaranteed. We know these verses are talking about asking God because of the next few verses (Matt 7:8-11). Jesus declares His Father knows how to give good things to those who ask Him. We would be wise to learn enough about God’s will to ask intelligent questions. He is always ecstatic to fulfill those requests.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

            When your heart is inclined toward the Lord, not yet perfected, not yet mature, but purposefully choosing to develop a relationship with Him, He will respond to you. He will give you what you desire. When we do not delight in the Lord, when we do not really care about Him and His values and priorities, why should He still give you whatever you want? Do you know any parents that are ignored and even despised by their kids, but the parents still shower them with everything they desire. I think not! Every healthy fruitful relationship thrives when both parties are fully committed to each other and fully invested in each other. God is fully committed to you, and fully invested in you. How invested are you in Him? How committed are you to Him? God proves His commitment and investment to all of us by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The right to receive from God follows your commitment to Him and your investment in Him. And how much you receive parallels your level of commitment and investment.

Why We Need To Ask Seek Knock

            God knows what we need before we ask Him. What does He not know?

Matthew 6:8 (NKJV) “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Luke 12:30 (NKJV) For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

            God knows everything. Every. Thing. He understands our situation better than anyone. If He knows what we need before we ask, and loves us so much He volunteered to die for us, why doesn’t He just give us what we need? Well, He already HAS given us all things through Jesus Christ. We have inherited everything the Lord owns! All that God has is ours already in Christ. God has completed His part of the covenant, the blood covenant, of Jesus Christ, which includes provision protection and so much more. (see 1Pet 1:3-4, 2Pet 1:2-4, 1Cor 3:21-23, Phi 4:19, 2Cor 9:8-11, 1Tim 6:17)

            Parents know what their children need. Much of the stress of parenting revolves around the inability of a parent to provide what they are fully aware their child needs. Many parents grapple with basic needs like adequate healthy food, safety and protection in dangerous environments, and a stable positive culture at home. It hurts a parent when their child asks for something to eat, and there is nothing to give. In the context of human parents responding to their children the asking seeking knocking of the children may add stress and anxiety to the parent.

            God wants us to ask Him because that proves we know something about Him, about His amazing covenant, about His promise of supply and safety and peace. Asking suggests expectation of reply. Seeking leads to discovery. Knocking opens opportunities. Asking is deliberate, calculated, precise. (well, it should be if you want God to answer you-He cannot deal in vague generalities (see James 1:6-7))

Asking seeking and knocking are done in faith, and faith demands accuracy and precision.

            Asking someone implies relationship, a connection, at least an awareness of existence. Those who do not know God never ask God for anything. Those who know God well ask him often. The better you know the Lord, I think the more you will be asking Him, seeking Him, knocking on His door. And just as an earthly father is excited by the child’s request that he was going to do anyway, our Father is delighted we care enough to learn what He wants to do and ask Him about our role in His plan.

Questions Reveal Maturity

            A baby cries not knowing what they need. A child demands the toy the other child is playing with. Teens and young adults lose themselves (literally) in video games, oblivious to those around them. Adults wonder how to survive the economic jungle. The things we ask for expose our maturity. The things we seek and the doors we knock on highlight our character and our priorities. Your maturity can be measured by the things you ask for and things you seek.

            The development of a human baby from birth to death is a natural example of a spirit realm principle. When a person chooses Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, they initiate the same process in their spirit that a baby begins at birth. Just as the health and effectiveness and success of each child is affected by food, environment, education, resources and effort, so it is in the spirit realm. Someone with few resources puts out more effort than those with more resources, and produces much more than others who have more to work with. And just as a screaming baby doesn’t know what to ask for yet, a newborn Christian may be crying out not knowing what they need or how to find the answers to their problems, even though they may be mature adults by worldly standards.

            In the spirit realm, every person is born naturally on earth outside of the Kingdom of God. Only those who choose Jesus Christ as Saviour can enter this Kingdom. Everyone on earth is invited but few accept God’s offer of forgiveness and redemption. Once we are born again and translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God (Col 1:13), every child of God must learn and grow up just like we expect our children to do. This development can be seen in the book of Mark. 

Mark 4:14–20 (NKJV) 14) The sower sows the word. 15) And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16) These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17) and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18) Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20) But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

            The “food environment education and resources” of a newly saved believer is the Word of God. No Word no growth. Period. A Christian baby without the Word cannot grow and mature any more than a starving baby can without food. Satan tries to steal the Word of God from new believers. If they don’t get rooted in the Word they fall away. If they do persist in the Word Satan applies tribulation and persecution to the young Christian. Remember, a young Christian may be sixty years old. This tactic causes them to get offended and stumble in their walk with the Lord. If they continue beyond that offense, the next strategy is to distract the believer from his divine purpose with what is called the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. At this stage of growth the believer may be more or less faithful in a local church, but more concerned about their own needs than God thinks they should be. The care of providing for our family and the drive for more money and power choke out the Word. Our growth as a disciple of Jesus stops until we learn to ask seek and knock for the right things

            The mature disciple of Jesus Christ trusts God no matter what. They know how to get their own needs met from God. Their questions are not the same as a new believer’s squawking. They seek out the knowledge of the Almighty, and knock on the door to His heart.

Application in Prayer 

            When I am praying for someone else using Matthew 7:7 I usually ask the Lord that they will ask what He wants them to ask, or seek what He wants them to seek. I ask Him to work on their heart so that what they ask seek and knock for aligns with Him rather than them. In most situations the praying person won’t know all the things their prayer target is asking for and knocking on, but you should have a good grasp on their overall maturity. This helps you to know what to ask the Lord for on their behalf.

            In the context of “Frame Your World” where you deliberately say things to affect your future according to your understanding of the will of God for you, you use this verse over yourself. For example:

“Thank you Lord that you allow me to ask for anything. You said in your Word in John 14:13 that whatever I ask in your name You will do for me.  In John 16:23 You told us to ask in your Name so our joy may be full. Therefore I declare in the name of Jesus Christ by the grace of God I will only ask according to your will. I will only seek the things You have prepared for me, and I will only knock on the doors You direct me to. I choose your will for my life, and purpose to ask for and seek only those things in agreement with your will. And Father (Daddy, Abba, whatever your term of endearment may be), I ask you to correct me and convict me if I ever ask for or seek for something outside of your perfect plan for my life. May all the glory be to You! Amen.”

            Simply saying this will affect your spirit and begin the shift toward only asking for His will. Of course you may be a while getting there, but if He corrects you for “asking amiss” (James 4:3) repent and continue to believe for what you were asking for. As you develop as a child of the Lord you will see your own prayer changing as your heart becomes ever more congruent with His.

Prayer for Repentance and Salvation.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Saviour, I invite you to ask Him into your heart. If you knew the Lord but have not been hungering for Him I invite you to consider your ways and repent. He is faithful and righteous to wipe your slate clean when you confess your sin to Him! (1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 (NASB95) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He gave His life for you, and you honour Him when you give your life for Him. It is the right thing to do!

1 Corinthians 6:20 (AV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You must give yourself to God for Him to come into your life and help you change. He will not force you! Ever. But oh! The joy and peace and hope He gives you!

Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) 1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

You must acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord, and you must believe He was resurrected from the dead by the Father.

Say this prayer out loud.

Heavenly Father I turn to you and acknowledge You as the Almighty God, eternal and sovereign over all. I have been rebellious, selfish, and deceived trying to live without you. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross to redeem me from death and sin, and that He rose from the dead, alive forever with You. I ask you to forgive me of all my sin, known and unknown. Please come into my life as my Lord and my Saviour. Thank you for forgiving me, and redeeming me from sin. I choose to trust You and put You first in every area of my life. I will love You and serve You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my resources, for the rest of my life, beginning right now. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

If you prayed this to the Lord, please let me know! I have some resources to share with you, and will help you on your journey with the Lord.