Just Ask: Embracing God's Invitation to Prayer
Summary
There is truly nobody greater than our God. In every season, in every circumstance, God stands alone as the one who invites us to come to Him, to ask, to seek, and to knock. This is not just a song we sing, but a reality we live in: God is greater, and He welcomes us into a relationship where we can bring our needs, our desires, and our burdens directly to Him. The invitation to “just ask” is not based on our performance, eloquence, or timing, but on the loving character of our Heavenly Father. Jesus, in Matthew 7, assures us that everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. This is a promise, not a mere possibility.
Yet, many of us hesitate to ask—not because we doubt God’s power, but because we fear His response. We worry about disappointment, about what others will think if our prayers aren’t answered the way we hope. But Jesus teaches that prayer is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom and dependence. Wise people pray because they know they are not self-sufficient; they know that every good thing comes from God. The commands to ask, seek, and knock are in the imperative—God is not making a suggestion, but giving us a command to persistently come to Him.
God’s responses are always just, always good, and always rooted in His perfect knowledge of what is useful and helpful for us. Like a loving father, He will not give us what is harmful, nor will He withhold what is truly good. Sometimes, what we ask for may not be helpful in the moment, and God, in His wisdom, may delay or redirect our requests for our own growth and protection. Our relationship with God is not transactional, but deeply relational—He is our Father, and we are His children. This positive paternity transcends our earthly experiences and disappointments with human fathers. God’s love, care, and wisdom are unmatched.
Ultimately, the quality of our prayer life reflects our dependence on God and our desire to live for His kingdom. God’s just responses are consistent with our relationship with Him, His purposes for our lives, and His kingdom principles. The invitation is to live not just a natural life, but a supernatural one—empowered by God, marked by inner peace, and aligned with His will. The call is simple: just ask, and trust that your loving Father will always give you a just response.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Invitation to Persistent Prayer
God commands us to ask, seek, and knock—not as a one-time act, but as a continual, persistent pursuit. This is not about repeating empty words, but about sincere, ongoing dependence on Him. Our persistence in prayer is a reflection of our trust in God’s character and His willingness to respond, even when the answer is delayed or different than expected. [10:53]
- Prayer as a Declaration of Dependence, Not Weakness
Society often teaches self-sufficiency, but true wisdom recognizes our need for God. Prayer is not for the weak, but for the wise—those who understand that apart from God, we can do nothing. Our willingness to pray reveals our humility and our recognition that every good thing we have is received from God, not earned by our own strength. [08:07]
- God’s Fatherhood Transcends Earthly Disappointments
Many struggle to relate to God as Father due to negative or absent earthly fathers, but God’s paternity is perfect, compassionate, and trustworthy. He gives what is useful and never what is harmful, always acting out of love and wisdom. Our relationship with Him is not limited by our past, but transformed by His invitation to intimacy and trust. [18:09]
- A Just Response Is Rooted in God’s Kingdom Purposes
God’s answers to our prayers are not arbitrary; they are always consistent with His kingdom purposes, our relationship with Him, and His Word. Sometimes, what we desire is not what is best for us, and God’s “no” or “not yet” is an act of love and protection. The measure of a just response is not our immediate satisfaction, but alignment with God’s greater plan for our lives. [32:05]
- The Distinction Between Natural and Supernatural Living
Living for God’s kingdom means seeking more than just personal comfort or success; it means desiring God’s will above all. God empowers us to live a supernatural life—marked by inner peace and kingdom outcomes—even as we remain fully human. The quality and consistency of our asking, seeking, and knocking shape not only our external circumstances but our internal transformation and peace. [33:16]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Nobody Greater: Worship and Prayer
[03:33] - The Fear of God’s Response
[04:38] - The Promise in Just Asking
[05:24] - The Command to Ask, Seek, and Knock
[08:07] - Prayer as Dependence, Not Weakness
[10:53] - The Call to Persistent Prayer
[13:05] - Sincere Repetition vs. Empty Words
[14:58] - Positive Paternity: God as Father
[15:59] - Kingdom Living and the Reality of Trouble
[18:09] - God’s Compassionate Fatherhood
[19:42] - God Gives What Is Useful and Helpful
[22:03] - When God’s Timing Differs from Ours
[24:13] - The Poignancy of Just Asking
[28:34] - The Request Frequency: How Often Do You Ask?
[32:05] - What Makes a Just Response
[33:16] - Natural vs. Supernatural Life
[35:57] - Living for God’s Will, Not Just Ours
[36:51] - Trusting God with Public and Private Requests
[38:10] - Invitation to Trust Christ
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Just Ask for a Just Response”
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### Bible Reading
Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)
> “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
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### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 7:7-8, what three actions does Jesus command us to do, and what are the promised results for each?
2. According to verses 9-11, how does Jesus use the example of earthly fathers to teach us about God’s character?
3. The sermon mentions that the commands to ask, seek, and knock are in the imperative mood, meaning they are not suggestions but commands. Why is this significant? [[06:56]]
4. What does the pastor say is the difference between repeating empty words and persistent, sincere prayer? [[13:05]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The pastor says many people hesitate to pray, not because they doubt God’s power, but because they fear His response. Why might someone be afraid of God’s answer, and how does this affect their prayer life? [[03:33]]
2. The sermon teaches that prayer is a declaration of dependence, not weakness. How does this challenge the way society views self-sufficiency? [[08:07]]
3. How does understanding God as a perfect Father—one who gives what is useful and never what is harmful—change the way someone approaches prayer, especially if they have had negative experiences with earthly fathers? [[18:09]]
4. The pastor says that God’s “just response” is always consistent with His kingdom purposes, not just our immediate desires. What does this mean for how we interpret “unanswered” or “delayed” prayers? [[32:05]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that God commands us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking—not just once, but persistently. Is there something you have stopped praying about because you felt God wasn’t answering? What would it look like to start praying about it again with persistence? [[10:53]]
2. The pastor shared that prayer is for the wise, not just the weak. In what areas of your life do you try to be self-sufficient instead of depending on God? How can you practice declaring your dependence on God this week? [[08:07]]
3. If you have struggled to see God as a loving Father because of your own family experiences, what is one step you can take to get to know God’s true character as a Father? [[18:09]]
4. The sermon challenges us to examine the “request frequency” in our prayer life. How often do you bring your needs, desires, and burdens to God? Is there a specific area where you want to increase your “asking” this week? [[28:34]]
5. When God’s answer is “no” or “not yet,” how do you usually respond? Can you think of a time when God’s delay or redirection turned out to be for your good? How did it shape your trust in Him? [[22:03]]
6. The pastor talks about the difference between living a natural life and a supernatural life empowered by God. What is one area where you want to move from “natural” to “supernatural” living? What would be a first step? [[33:16]]
7. The sermon ends with the reminder that our prayer life reflects our dependence on God and our desire to live for His kingdom. What is one practical way you can align your prayers more with God’s kingdom purposes this week? [[32:05]]
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Closing Prayer:
Invite group members to pray, asking God to help them trust His character, persist in prayer, and experience His just and loving responses.
Devotional
Day 1: The Promise in Just Asking
God invites us to come to Him boldly in prayer, assuring us that when we ask, seek, and knock, He will respond. This is not a tentative hope but a guarantee rooted in His character and love for us. We are not required to have perfect words, perfect timing, or perfect behavior—He simply commands us to come. The act of asking is itself an act of dependence, a declaration that we trust God to provide what we need. Even when we are hesitant or fearful of His response, He reminds us that He is faithful and desires to give us good things. [05:24]
Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Reflection: What is one specific need or desire you have been hesitant to bring to God? Will you take a step of faith today and ask Him, trusting in His promise to respond?
Day 2: Positive Paternity—God as a Loving Father
God is not a distant or indifferent deity; He is a loving Father who desires to give His children what is useful and helpful, never what is harmful. Even if our earthly experiences with fathers have been disappointing or traumatic, God’s fatherhood transcends all human limitations. He invites us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He cares deeply for us and wants to nurture and protect us. When we pray, we are coming to a Father who delights in giving good gifts and who always acts for our ultimate good. [19:42]
Matthew 7:9-11 (ESV)
“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Reflection: How does viewing God as your loving Father change the way you approach Him in prayer today?
Day 3: The Poignancy of Just Asking—God’s Goodness Despite Our Imperfection
Even though we are imperfect and still struggle with sin, God’s desire to give us good gifts remains unchanged. Our spiritual condition does not disqualify us from His generosity; rather, it highlights His grace. God knows our hearts, our weaknesses, and our needs, and yet He still invites us to ask. He gives not because we are worthy, but because He is good. Our goal is to become more like Jesus, but even as we fall short, we can trust that our heavenly Father delights in blessing His children. [25:54]
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel unworthy to ask God for help? How can you rest in His grace and goodness today, knowing He gives because He loves you?
Day 4: A Just Response—God Answers According to His Kingdom Purposes
God’s answers to our prayers are always just, shaped by His kingdom relationship with us, His purposes for our lives, and His principles found in His Word. He does not answer based on what He is doing in someone else’s life, but according to the unique calling and good works He has prepared for each of us. Sometimes His answer is “not yet” or “not in this way,” because He knows what will truly help us grow and fulfill our purpose. Our role is to align our requests with His will and trust that His response is always for our best. [32:05]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Reflection: What is one area where you need to trust God’s timing or His “no” as a just and loving response? How can you align your prayers more closely with His kingdom purposes?
Day 5: Living a Supernatural Life—Dependence on God Through Persistent Prayer
God calls us not just to live natural lives, but to experience the supernatural by depending on Him through persistent, sincere prayer. The quality and consistency of our asking, seeking, and knocking impacts our inner peace and the outcomes God has ordained for us. When we pursue God’s kingdom and His righteousness, He empowers us to live beyond our own strength and understanding. The invitation is to keep coming, keep asking, and keep trusting, knowing that God’s best is found in continual relationship and dependence on Him. [33:16]
John 15:5 (ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Reflection: Where have you been relying on your own strength instead of persistently seeking God? What is one way you can practice greater dependence on Him in prayer today?
Quotes
It's not that we don't know that God doesn't have power. It's not that we don't know that God is not the creator of the heavens and the earth. It's not that we don't know that God has given us an invitation to come to him. It's not that we don't think that God doesn't have the power. Sometimes we are afraid to ask God because of God's response. What will God's response potentially be? [00:03:12] (24 seconds)
He does not say he may not answer your prayer. He doesn't say he'll answer your prayer if you say it just right. He didn't say, you know what, if you ask me at just the right time, I'll respond. He didn't say, in fact, he didn't even say if you behave properly, I will respond to your request. He says, ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. [00:05:33] (23 seconds)
You've got a father that transcends your race. You've got a father that transcends your disappointment. You've got a father that transcends your trauma. You've got a father that loves you. You've got a father that cares. You've got a father who invites you. You've got a father who wants to hold you and nurture you, amen? [00:19:10] (17 seconds)
God wants to give you what is useful. So when you go to God in prayer, you better understand that God at some level is a utilitarian God. God wants to give you what you need. God wants to give you what you stand in desire of. God wants to give you what is useful. [00:20:06] (17 seconds)
Our goal is not just to secure our eternity. Our goal is to look just like Jesus in our character, our conduct, and our communication. Our goal is to be just like Jesus. Our goal is not to compare ourselves to most people who don't know Christ. Our goal is to be just like Him. [00:25:38] (19 seconds)
The Bible models that a child should continue to ask his father for what he desires and for what he needs. Just make sure it's a just ask. Verse 7 commands us to keep on asking, to keep on seeking, to keep on knocking. [00:30:10] (17 seconds)
A just response means it's based upon your kingdom relationship. Number two, a just response says, you know what? It's consistent with his kingdom purposes. God is answering your request based upon his kingdom purpose for your life. [00:31:00] (15 seconds)
When you're trying to give people everything they want, but you leave out what God wants, you ultimately turn what they want against what God wants for their lives. But when you do what God wants, then God will give you everything he wants you to have. Amen? [00:35:57] (19 seconds)
You may have the same clothes, you may have the same body, you may have the same address, but the question becomes, do you have inner peace? And do you have the outcomes that God has ordained for your life because of the quality of your life and the consistency of your asking, your seeking? [00:36:23] (19 seconds)
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