Seeking Jesus First - Nov. 17, 2022
There is a principle that Jesus taught in two separate places and applied it to two separate outcomes. The principle is asking, seeking, and knocking with persistent, patient faith. God is not in the business of withholding good from His people. He has never been reluctant to bless His people. In fact, He starts the relationship off with an unlimited blessing and promise. God is faithful to Himself which means that He is faithful to His word.
Matt 7:7-12 “aAsk, 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. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Luke 11:5-13 "And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Jesus tells us to, “ask, and we will receive”, “seek, and we will find”, and “knock, and the door will open to us”.
These are not the words of someone who does not want you to be blessed. These are the words of a loving and doting father. These are words built on a loving relationship with a good father. These are words of favor.
These words destroy arguments that some things are not provided because it is not God’s will.
God’s will is expressed in the words of Jesus. If Jesus says anything, The Father said it first. His Word is His Will. God wants to give good things to those who ask, seek and knock because He is good. There is no evil in Him. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk “uprightly”, or “in righteousness”.
The passage in Matthew comes after the sermon on the mount where Jesus taught the beatitudes. In this passage, Jesus says The Father will give what is good to those who ask Him.
The passage in Luke says that He will give His own Holy Spirit to those who ask.
What is there in either of these passages that suggests to us that God will not give us what is good?
The key here is that we use persistent and patient faith. Faith is based upon knowing God, knowing God’s words, and knowing God’s character. We will overcome, we will receive, we will find, we will have the open door, if we persist in faith.
Read it again this way: We will overcome, we will receive, we will find, we will have the open door if we persist in knowing God, knowing His words, and knowing His character.
Jesus taught this again many times in Scripture. (John - Chapters 14, 15, and 16)
The questions are not, “Did Jesus mean what He says? or “Did Jesus leave out some special conditions for these promises.” or “Was Jesus only talking to the original twelve?”
The questions are, “Do I know God?” “Do I believe God?” Do I know His words?” Do I know His character?” Do I believe that God wants only good things for me?” “Do I know The Good Father’s love for me?” “Am I willing to trust Him even when I don’t see the manifestation of the promise?” “Am I willing to have persistent patient faith in God, in His Words and in His character?” (If the answer to all of these questions is, “Yes”, then you got an “A” of the test.) ;-)
If we are willing to walk uprightly in HIS righteousness by abiding in Him and letting His words abide in us, we will overcome. We will receive the promises manifested in our lifetimes. Just don’t be surprised if God’s, “Yes”, is followed up with, “Now, let’s get to work.” Some of our “asks” have pre-requisites.
Ex 1: “God, will you make me a doctor?” “Yes, let’s start by getting you into medical school.” Ex 2: “God will you give me a house?” “Yes, let’s start by getting you out of debt.” (These may or may not be God’s response. The point is, some “asks” have pre-requisites. This is why we need patient persistent faith.)
Be quick to believe God. Be quick to obey God. This decreases the amount of time between sowing and reaping, asking and receiving, seeking and finding, and knocking and opening.