Prayer (1)
Course: The Importance of Effective Prayer.
Lesson 10
Lesson Title: Ask, Seek, Knock.
Lesson Text: Luke 11:9-10 'And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.'
Introduction: Faith never lets go.
See also: Matthew 7:7 ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:’
We are to ask and keep on asking until we receive;
we are to seek and keep on seeking until we find;
we are to knock and keep on knocking until the door is opened unto us.
The key to answered prayer can be seen in the words 'Ask, Seek, Knock'.
1) ‘Asking’ concerns our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit leads us to ask in prayer;
2) ‘Seeking’ concerns ourrelationship with Jesus.
Love for Jesus puts in us the desire to seek Him with all our heart;
3) ‘Knocking’ concerns our relationship with the Father.
We are sons and daughters of the living God.
We can boldly enter the throne room of God.
It is with the promises of God that we knock with great confidence on the door of answered prayer.
Introductory illustration: David Wilkerson - The Cross and the Switchblade. David Wilkerson began his work with the gangs in New York when he set time aside in the late evening for prayer rather than watching TV.
How much do you want something? Prayer is not a casual thing. We must be determined. We must ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking and knock and keep on knocking.
People often say they would like to have something – it’s a wish but they are not going to do anything about it because it is something they like but it is not essential. Much unanswered prayer is offered like this.
Main Points:
1. Ask and you will receive the Holy Spirit, Luke 11:13.
We need the Holy Spirit to be able to pray.
All prayer must be ‘in the Holy Spirit’, Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20
Without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot pray, Romans 8:26 'Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.'
The great need of the church is the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Revival will not come unless the church recognises its dependence upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 'But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea , and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.'
2. Seek the Lord and you will find Him.
The Bible says ‘You will find Me when you seek Me with all your heart’.
Jeremiah 29:13 'And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.'
We need to be in a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Abiding in Christ - John 15:7 'If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.' Answered prayer is dependent upon relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must desire the Lord so that we seek after Him. Song of Solomon, how much do we desire Him? Paul wrote that his one desire was ‘…that I might know Him’ Philippians 3:10.
The presence of the Holy Spirit enables us to seek God’s Word and find Him. We know Him through the scriptures, Luke 24:27
3. Approaching the Father.
We have great boldness in prayer because we can come boldly into the presence of the Father. Hebrews 4:16. We need to knock and keep on knocking because our Heavenly Father will answer.
John 16:23 '…Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you.'
When we keep on knocking then the Lord will open doors of opportunity for us.
Luke 11:5-13. A person who has a need even at an untimely hour can expect to receive provision from a friend who is able to help. How much more will God open doors for us if we are persistent to call to upon Him. The Lord does not need persuading; the Lord needs people who will call upon Him so that He is able to answer them.
The Lord has set an open door in front of the body of Christ. Revelation 3:8 'I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.'
We can knock on the door of answered prayer with great confidence. We know He will answer because He has already given us the greatest gift.
Romans 8:32 'He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?'
Summary:
Ask; seek, knock.
1) We need the empowering of the Holy Spirit in order to pray.
2) We need to seek after Christ and His words need to be in us.
3) We need to come boldly before the Father and knock on the door in faith it will be opened.