Matthew 7:7-11 The Blessed Privilege of Asking

 

Introduction:  This text is obviously about prayer.  Jesus has already taught some on prayer.  (1) Not to pray to be heard of men but to be heard of God.  (2) Not to pray for vast riches, Matthew 6:19.  (3) To follow the model. (4) In this text He emphasized the privilege and the need of asking God for things.

 

I.  The threefold command, verse 7.

            A.  Ask.

                        1.  This means to ask as a free gift.

                        2.  It is not an offer to buy; it is not an exchange.

                        3.  It is to come empty handed and unworthy and ask.

            B.  Seek.

                        1.  This expresses a sense of urgency, a sincere desire.

                        2.  It is the kind of strong desire Hannah had when she asked God for a child.

                        3.  The effectual fervent prayer . . .  availeth much, James 5:16.

            C.  Knock.

                        1.  The idea is knock and knock again,  . . .and again.

                        2.  Persistence is somewhat involved.

                        3.  Mostly it is faith involved.

 

II.  The promise, verses 7-8.

            A.  Everyone gets an answer from God.

            B.  There are some implied restrictions.

                        1.  One must be sincere, must be humble, must ask in faith, and must ask that which is in keeping

                                    with the character of God.

                        2.  No right thinking person would assert that Jesus promised to grant the request of one who

                                    was insincere, proud, lacked faith or asked amiss.  (Suppose someone asked God to kill

                                    an enemy for him.)

            C.  But everyone gets something, verse 8.

                        1.  One who asks amiss gets “No.”

                        2.  Almost everyone else gets, “Yes, gladly.”

                        3.  Sometimes one gets “Not now.” James 4:3

                        4.  Sometimes one gets, “Not that.  I’ll give you something better.  (For example Paul asked,

                                    sought and knocked for a thorn to be removed.  Instead God gave him grace.)

 

III.  The illustration, verses 9-11.

            A.  Jesus gave an illustration to encourage us to ask.

            B.  He asked two questions:

                        1.  What father would give a stone for bread?

                        2.  What father would give a serpent for fish?

            C.  The conclusion was:  Since imperfect men give good things to their children who ask, we should

                        know that God, who is perfect, will give good things to His children who ask of Him.

 

IV.  Some things which the child of God may properly ask.

            A.  To supply his material need, (and for his family).

                        1.  He is not to worry about his material need, but he can ask of God and depend on God to

                                    supply.

                        2.  He can ask for food, clothing, money, or whatever else he has as a genuine need.

            B.  To take care of his physical health.  (Nobody knows more about the physical body than God.)

            C.  To protect him from his enemies.  (The prayers of David abound in such request.)

            D.  To supply what is needed in the work of God.

                        1.  Do you need land?  Ask God, He owns it all.

                        2.  Do you need a building?  Ask God, He built the world.

                        3.  Do you need more workers?  Pray the Lord of the harvest and He will give you workers.

                        4.  Do you need money?  Ask God.  He is able to supply.

            E.  To supply over and above our absolute necessity.

                        1.  We may ask many things above the absolute necessities without asking amiss.

                        2.  God had supplied much for David and He said, “If that were not enough, I would have

                                    given more.”

                        3.  An earthly father likes to give his child more than he absolutely needs and so does God.

           

Conclusion:  Jesus taught this lesson not to discourage us from asking, but to encourage us to ask the more.  But be careful not to ask amiss.  Thus it is helpful to first consider what would be most important to ask.

(1) You who are unsaved, what would be the most important thing for you to ask for?

(2) You who are saved, what would be the most important thing for you to ask for? 

            (Would it not be for God to help you to live your life in His will?)

(3) You who are members of this church, what would be the most important thing for you to ask for in interest

            of this church?

 

Why not ask right now?

 

Preached at Pleasant Hill M.B.C. 10-24-82 A.M.