“So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and
it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and
keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and
keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to
him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.” This passage,
taken here from the Amplified Bible, demonstrates the Greek present
imperative/present participle: A command to do something in the future
involving continuous or repeated action. These verbs, Ask, Seek, and Knock, are
commands: we are to Ask, to Seek and to Knock, whenever and as often as the
need arises. And, we are to be shamelessly persistent and passionately
insistent in our Asking, Seeking, and Knocking – obstinately tenacious...
doggedly relentless... expecting an answer! This fact is further substantiated
by the Unjust Judge Parable and A Friend Comes at Midnight Parable. Our
petitions to our Father are not meant to be passive or restrained... rather
passionate and unrestrained. Receiving, Finding and Opening Doors are the fruit
of our persistence – which is simply our faith demonstrated over time -- and,
God owns time. Remember we are talking to our loving Daddy... who loves giving
us good gifts!!!
Scripture
qualifies our petitions relative to content: “Now this is the confidence that
we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will ... we know that we have the petitions that we
have asked of Him.” God’s will for New Covenant believers... Gracers, is the
New Testament... the New Will, since “Testament” is translated from the Greek
word diatheke and literally means will, a qualitatively new divine ordering
establishing the terms and conditions of a religious inheritance for God’s “whosoever
will.” God only hears prayers that are in agreement with His Word which
filters all heaven bound petitions: These prayers He hears... These prayers He
answers!
And,
scripture qualifies our petitions relative to purpose: “You ask and do not
receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” This
verse is a prayer road block called Self-centered love. Our prayers become
purposeful... carrying the scent of God’s heart, when we really “love your
neighbor as yourself” – love others as we love our Self. Loving others involves
sharing their concerns and praying for their needs with the same passion we
reserve for our own life issues and needs.
When we
petition God for the right things for the right purpose with shameless persistence
and passion insistence, God hears and answers. Prayer is, after all, simply
finding out what God wants to do, than asking Him to do it. As a child before a
loving and generous Father of great substance we Ask, Seek, and Knock,
realizing He will only give things that bring His children into closer
relationship with Himself... things that release the implanted DNA of His
Beloved Son... things that transform His children for Kingdom living... things
that provide substance for Kingdom ministry... things that accord with His
purposeful will... things that are good in light of eternity. This kind of
prayer will make us rich toward God laying up treasure in heaven.
PRAYER:
FINDING OUT WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO
THAN ASKING HIM TO DO IT
(Lk. 11:9-10, 18:1-6, 11:5-8; 1John 5:14-15; James 4:3; Matt. 22:39)
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