Ask, and You Will Receive.
Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
The disciples have just asked. “Teach us to pray” after seeing Jesus pray.
Then Jesus tells a story:
The story of a friend who comes to his neighbor at an inconvenient time. “At Midnight.” (Luke 11:5-8)
He has company. Someone who has come from a long journey and is in need of bread. But the man has none to give.
So he goes to his neighbor and knocks.
“Forget it…it’s midnight, I am in bed, and I’m not getting up!” Is basically the word given the knocker.
But he keeps knocking.
So…..not because he is his friend (he might not be, after this);……but because he kept knocking; the neighbor opens and gives the man what he has asked for.
Then Jesus says, the way to get from God is the same:
Ask, like you really need it.
Seek, like you really want the reply.
And knock, till the answer comes.
When we pray to God, Jesus is saying that we should come believing God will hear,……and expect that He will make known His will.
Ask, and you will receive. Ask till you receive an answer as to what and how you should ask. (How many times we think we know what we need, but as we are praying we receive what we really need to know)
Seek, till you get the means of getting your petition answered. (Sometimes there is a verse to claim, or a prayer promise to use: Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 5:14-15)
Then knock, using those means, till you get the answer that you were seeking.
Just to be clear, “means” are those parts of the promise that we must use:
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.”
“Come unto me”, is the means; His rest is the promise.
When Jesus healed the ten lepers: (Luke 17:14) “When he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
Jesus healed them by His word, but they were only healed, as they went to do what He said. That is the means.
Luke 11:10 “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
As Christians, our lifeline is prayer.
Paul said:
Philippians 4:6-7 ” Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The promise is: you will receive, find, and have an open door set before you.
The means is: ask, seek, and knock.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 