Trusting God: The Power of Asking, Seeking, Knocking
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound teachings of Jesus from Matthew 7:7-11, focusing on the concepts of asking, seeking, and knocking. These actions are not just simple requests but are part of a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father, who desires to give us good gifts. We began by acknowledging the sometimes awkward nature of receiving gifts, which can feel burdensome or uncomfortable. However, Jesus invites us to approach God with our needs and desires, emphasizing that our Father in heaven is eager to provide for us.
The act of asking is straightforward, yet it requires humility and trust. We often hesitate to ask because we fear the answer might not align with our expectations. However, Jesus assures us that God knows what is best for us, even when it doesn't match our desires. Seeking involves a more active pursuit, akin to searching for something valuable. It requires effort and persistence, much like looking for lost keys. In our spiritual journey, seeking God's presence and guidance is crucial for growth and understanding.
Knocking represents persistence and faith. It is the continuous action of reaching out to God, trusting that He will open the right doors at the right time. Jesus uses the analogy of a loving parent who gives good gifts to their children to illustrate how much more our perfect Heavenly Father desires to bless us. Even when the answers to our prayers are not what we expect, they are always what we need.
A personal story highlighted the importance of trusting God's timing and wisdom. Despite initial fears and doubts, the outcome was a testament to God's perfect plan. This narrative reminds us that God's answers may not always be immediate or in the form we anticipate, but they are always for our ultimate good.
In this family of faith, we are encouraged to maintain an ongoing conversation with God, continually asking, seeking, and knocking. This relationship is built on trust, persistence, and the assurance that God loves us more than we can imagine. As we embrace this truth, we are invited to approach God with confidence, knowing that He will provide what is truly best for us.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Nature of Asking: Asking God for our needs requires humility and trust. We often hesitate because we fear the answer might not align with our desires, but Jesus assures us that God knows what is best for us. [07:13]
2. The Act of Seeking: Seeking involves an active pursuit of God's presence and guidance. It requires effort and persistence, much like searching for something valuable, and is crucial for spiritual growth. [11:37]
3. The Persistence of Knocking: Knocking symbolizes continuous faith and persistence. It is the act of reaching out to God, trusting that He will open the right doors at the right time, even if the answers are not immediate. [14:05]
4. God's Perfect Gifts: Even when God's answers to our prayers are not what we expect, they are always what we need. Our Heavenly Father, who is perfect, desires to bless us with good gifts beyond our understanding. [16:04]
5. Building a Relationship with God: In this family of faith, we are encouraged to maintain an ongoing conversation with God, continually asking, seeking, and knocking. This relationship is built on trust, persistence, and the assurance of God's love. [21:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:51] - Introduction to God's Gifts
- [05:46] - The Awkwardness of Receiving
- [07:13] - The Power of Asking
- [11:37] - The Importance of Seeking
- [14:05] - The Persistence of Knocking
- [16:04] - God's Perfect Gifts
- [19:34] - Personal Testimony of Faith
- [21:12] - Building a Relationship with God
- [23:45] - Trusting God's Timing
- [26:10] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 7:7-11
Observation Questions:
1. What are the three actions Jesus encourages us to take in Matthew 7:7-11, and what are the promises associated with each action? [07:13]
2. How does Jesus use the analogy of a parent giving gifts to their children to explain God's nature in Matthew 7:9-11? [14:05]
3. What personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of trusting God's timing and wisdom? [19:34]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the act of asking God for our needs require humility and trust, according to the sermon? [07:13]
2. In what ways does seeking God's presence and guidance resemble searching for something valuable, as described in the sermon? [11:37]
3. How does the pastor's personal story about his father's health illustrate the concept of God's perfect gifts, even when they don't align with our expectations? [19:34]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you hesitated to ask God for something. What was the reason for your hesitation, and how can you overcome it in the future? [07:13]
2. Identify an area in your life where you need to actively seek God's guidance. What steps can you take this week to pursue His presence more intentionally? [11:37]
3. Think of a situation where you need to persist in knocking on God's door. How can you maintain faith and patience while waiting for His response? [14:05]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's timing, especially when His answers to your prayers are not what you expect? [19:34]
5. In what ways can you build a more consistent and ongoing conversation with God, as encouraged in the sermon? [21:12]
6. Consider a gift or blessing you received that initially seemed unexpected or different from what you wanted. How did it ultimately benefit you, and how can this experience shape your future prayers? [16:04]
7. How can you encourage others in your faith community to embrace the practice of asking, seeking, and knocking in their spiritual journey? [21:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Humility in Asking
Asking God for our needs requires a posture of humility and trust. Often, we hesitate to ask because we fear that the answer might not align with our desires. However, Jesus assures us that God knows what is best for us, even when it doesn't match our expectations. This act of asking is not just about making requests but about acknowledging our dependence on God and trusting in His wisdom and love. When we approach God with our needs, we are invited to let go of our fears and embrace the assurance that our Heavenly Father desires to provide for us in ways that are truly good. [07:13]
Matthew 6:8 (ESV): "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Reflection: What is one specific need or desire you have been hesitant to bring before God? How can you approach Him with humility and trust today?
Day 2: The Pursuit of Seeking
Seeking God involves an active pursuit of His presence and guidance. It requires effort and persistence, much like searching for something valuable. In our spiritual journey, seeking is crucial for growth and understanding. It is not a passive act but a deliberate choice to draw closer to God, to learn from Him, and to align our lives with His will. As we seek, we are reminded that God is not distant but is eager to reveal Himself to those who earnestly pursue Him. This pursuit is a journey of discovery, where we find deeper meaning and purpose in our relationship with God. [11:37]
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you actively seek His presence and guidance in that area today?
Day 3: Faithful Persistence in Knocking
Knocking symbolizes continuous faith and persistence. It is the act of reaching out to God, trusting that He will open the right doors at the right time. This persistence is not about demanding our way but about maintaining faith in God's perfect timing and wisdom. Even when the answers to our prayers are not immediate, we are encouraged to keep knocking, knowing that God hears us and is working for our good. This act of knocking is a testament to our faith, demonstrating our trust in God's plan and our willingness to wait for His perfect provision. [14:05]
Luke 18:1 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."
Reflection: Is there a door you have been knocking on for a long time without seeing it open? How can you continue to trust in God's timing and remain persistent in prayer?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Perfect Gifts
Even when God's answers to our prayers are not what we expect, they are always what we need. Our Heavenly Father, who is perfect, desires to bless us with good gifts beyond our understanding. This truth invites us to trust in God's wisdom and love, even when His answers differ from our desires. We are reminded that God's perspective is far greater than ours, and His gifts are always for our ultimate good. Embracing this truth allows us to rest in the assurance that God is working all things for our benefit, even when we cannot see it. [16:04]
James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: Think of a time when God's answer to your prayer was different from what you expected. How did it ultimately turn out to be for your good, and how can this experience help you trust Him more today?
Day 5: Building a Relationship with God
In this family of faith, we are encouraged to maintain an ongoing conversation with God, continually asking, seeking, and knocking. This relationship is built on trust, persistence, and the assurance of God's love. As we embrace this truth, we are invited to approach God with confidence, knowing that He will provide what is truly best for us. This ongoing dialogue with God is not just about making requests but about deepening our relationship with Him, learning to listen to His voice, and aligning our lives with His purposes. [21:12]
Psalm 145:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a more consistent and meaningful conversation with God in your daily life? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him today?
Quotes
"Someone's always going to be there to help you. you and walk you through it that's exactly what Jesus is getting at in Matthew chapter 7 these four verses from 7 through 11 let's read that right now and then we'll we'll jump right in ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and the door will be opened to you for everyone who asks receives the one who seeks finds and the one who knocks the door will be opened which of you if your son asked for bread will give him a stone or if he asked for a fish will give him a snake if you then though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him that's amazing this is all Jesus is talking about and he's giving us an open invitation to follow these three things there are three things that we need to know about Jesus and he's giving us an open invitation to follow these three things there are progressive ask seek knock he tells us that when we do those things what we ask for will be given to us what we seek we will find and when we knock that door will be opened it's just like this I remember when Matthew was was little I would ask him what he wanted for Christmas all the time I knew it's gonna be the same thing but he got so excited as a little boy when he was talking about what he would want it was just that was more enjoyable for me than actually going out and hunting down and fighting the crowds to try to get what he wanted I would ask him all the time and I will say that that that year what he got for Christmas gave us a lot of joy and a lot of humor you know it was a little Jeep battery -powered Jeep and he was three years old he he only rode in circles I mean I would look out the back door and he was just riding around in a circle and that Jeep having a great old time I said he was preparing for NASCAR that never really kind of panned out but but he got so excited when I would ask him over and over what do you want for Christmas Matthew what do you want Santa Claus to bring you and he would get all excited and talk about it I didn't know if the Jeep was what he was asking for but he got it and he loved that it's just like a child asking a parent for the things that that child needs or wants in those cases this is what Jesus is saying we can bring our requests to God it's it's straightforward it's that easy if you need something just ask the question that we need to think about is if that's true then why don't we ask we're gonna look at that a little bit later the next thing Jesus tells us to do is to going a little bit deeper now to seek there's a little bit more involvement in seeking." [00:07:43]
"Well, in the same way, Jesus is telling us that we're not going to be able to find something that's important. We're not going to be able to find something that's important. We're not going to be able to find something that's important. We're encouraged to actively seek God's presence. What we talked about in our worship, what we've talked about in our joy shot, the presence of the Lord in our lives. Actively seek God's presence and his guidance, his wisdom, his direction in our lives. And then the third one, knock." [00:11:37] (27 seconds)
"I want you to picture yourself standing outside of a friend's house. Not a sister, someone that is conditioned to have to love you, but someone that you're friends with, that you love them and they love you. You know that if you knock on that door, regardless of what time it is, eventually they're going to come to the door and let you in. They're going to open that door. Why? Because they love you. And now with the ring doorbell, they can see who it is and make sure it's not the guy from the from Vivint or someone selling solar panels. You know, it's true. They come around all the time, right at dinnertime too. I mean, it's like as soon as I put a fork full of something delicious in my mouth, someone comes to the door trying to sell me something. Knock. I want you to picture that. That's what it's like. This is a lesson in persistence." [00:12:04] (53 seconds)
"Jesus tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. And it's an imperative. It's not, it's a present imperative. It means keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. Don't stop. Be persistent. Even if the door doesn't open right away, you know because that person behind the door loves you, it's going to open." [00:13:03] (26 seconds)
"But it's it's the simple example and his point is this that even though you and I are not perfect we're not in the same at the same level as as our heavenly father we know how to give good gifts it's obvious to us right even though we're not perfect we know how to give good things to our kids so if you and I with all our flaws and our brokenness and our shortcomings and and all of that other encouraging stuff if we can do that imagine how much more our father the perfect Heavenly Father all -knowing loving he's not loving he is love how much more are the gifts that he's going to give to us how much more does he want to give good things to his children it's a it's comforting to know it really is comforting to know that he's not going to trick us his yes is yes his no is no he knows how to give good things to us and he genuinely wants to provide what's best for us verse 11." [00:14:05] (77 seconds)
"Jesus kind of wraps up this little lesson in the sermon on the Mount by saying if you then though you are evil though you are human though you are imperfect and broken if you know how to give good gifts to your children then how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him that means that even though we aren't perfect as I just said we still want to give good things to those that we love so how much more does God who is perfect want to bless us well when we come to him with our needs and our our wishes our desires our wants we can trust that he'll provide for us he'll provide what's truly good what's truly best for us now here's the point why don't we ask sometimes why don't we seek sometimes why don't we knock sometimes because we know God may not give us what we think we need what we think is best for us what he gives us it might not be exactly what we have in our minds but it's always what's best let me give you a personal example I'm glad you guys don't look at my notes because my note says dad lung tumor saved that's it my dad years ago was told that he's gonna have to go in for cancer lung cancer there was a spot of lung of cancer on his lung was no surprise I mean he said he was 12 years old so they did all the tests stands x -rays all of that stuff they brought him in to the surgeon and the surgeon came back and just a short while later and he said I don't know how to explain this but we open your dad up and there's no cancer because and we knew there were so many people praying for that little fifty -cent size pieces of cancer or spot on his lung, that God was going to do something. We asked." [00:16:04] (135 seconds)
"We sought his wisdom and his guidance. We kept knocking and knocking and knocking, and God heard us, and he opened the door, and Dad didn't have cancer. They sewed him back up, and he was good for a little while. And after that surgery, I said to him, because we were living in Minneapolis, at the time, I said, Dad, I'm not going to pray for your physical health anymore. I've told some of you this." [00:18:19] (27 seconds)
"Being part of God's family in this family, it means that we have an ongoing conversation with God. It's not one and done. We ask, and then we ask again. And then we continue to ask. we bring our needs and our desires to God openly he invites us to do that God encourages us as well to actively look for his presence and his guidance his wisdom his direction in our daily lives we seek him every day and we keep seeking and we seek some more and finally he tells us to be persistent in our faith trusting that that he will open the right doors at the right time we always talk about if if is important when is just as important if I do something at the wrong time it's just as disastrous as if I'd never done it at all sometimes more disastrous sometimes in the act of asking and seeking and knocking it helps us to grow closer to God all God wants is a relationship with us he wants to be our father not a dysfunctional father that we see only when we need something allowance or you know help in something he wants us to be his children and for us to approach him as our father every day asking and continued to ask seeking and continue in to seek knocking and being persistent until the door is open it's about building that relationship and trusting in his timing so today I'd like us to take Jesus at his word Jesus said it do we believe it absolutely we wouldn't be here if we didn't so we should not hesitate to ask God for what we need to seek his will in our lives and to keep knocking with the confidence that he'll open the right doors in this family and you are a part of this family he loves us more than we can imagine I want to talk about because we confuse he will give us he will answer us when we ask when we seek and when we knock sometimes the answer is no sometimes the answer is wait sometimes the answer might be yes but it will look completely different than what we ever expected and it will be completely so much better than we could ever imagine or conceive once we have the distance to look back on it that's the God that we serve in this family pray with me" [00:21:49] (0 seconds)
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