The pandemic has disrupted much of our daily lives, but encouraging things are apparently happening too. Random reports indicate that the number of prayers being offered up to God have increased, even by some who share that they’ve neglected reading their Bible and prayer for years.
God tells us, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray . . . I will hear from heaven . . . and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:13-14).
Our land needs healing. I hope God’s people are humbling themselves and turning from their wicked ways. I hope God hears our prayers.
Jesus said, “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them” (Matt. 18:20). Numerous ministries and churches have called days of prayer, even fasting. Though in separate locations, groups are engaging in united corporate prayer. That raises hope that God will surely answer.
Furthermore, Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-11: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
“9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 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!”
This is a promise, Ask and it will be given. You will receive. He didn’t just say if clearly and straight on, it’s expressed in three different ways, and summarized with the assurance that our Father will surely give us good gifts.
For many, these are trying times. We could use good gifts in these challenging times.
BUT experience tells me that sometimes when we ask—even when we keep on asking, or ask in unity unity—we don’t always see an answer to our prayers. Why? What blocks our them? Or hinders His answers?
Some possible reasons could be:
(1) Matthew 21:22 and Mark 11:24 add the condition that if you ask “believing” you will receive
(2) While talking with His disciples shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus told them, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (Jn. 14:13-14 ESV, emphasis added).” “In His name” is covenant talk and implies that the thing asked for should be in agreement with His will if you expect an answer.
(3) If an answer to our request needs to bring Him glory that could rule out some requests.
(4) Or maybe we’re too impatient and don’t wait long enough, and so forth.
But, are these just rationalizations to smooth over what seems to us like a disconnect? After all, in Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus tells us if we ask, we’ll receive, if we seek we’ll find, and if we knock it will be opened, He said it—and His words are true.
As I meditated on those verses, I realized I’ve missed something in the past. Think about the meaning of the words. They don’t just repeat the same message.
Ask* means “to ask, petition, or inquire.” It suggests the attitude of a supplicant, such as a person asking of God, a child of a father, or the priests of Pilate. By asking, we acknowledge our dependence on Him to make something happen. That’s good. It’s also reassuring that God wants us to present our needs to Him.
Seek* means “to seek, to strive after, desire.” It can also include the notion of coveting earnestly. That’s good. Well, at least it’s good if we’re seeking good/righteous things!
The word for seek is also used in Matthew 6:33, where we’re told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. That broadens the picture. The Lord wants us to ask, but seeking Him for our needs is secondary to seeking His kingdom. Our focus is always to seek Jesus, His kingdom, and His righteousness. Our priority is to be in right relationship with the King of kings.
Knock* means “to strike, knock as on a door, of importunity in dealing with God.” Doors illustrate an entrance into a place. In this case, it’s to a Person, Jesus Christ.
In Rev. 3:20 the word knock is used again, telling us that Jesus is knocking on our door, and if we open the door and let Him in, He’lll come in and eat with us. It’s an intimate picture of fellowship. Knocking goes far beyond asking and seeking. It speaks of relationship and is even much more intimate than seeking the kingdom. King Jesus wants an intimate relationship with us—with you, and with me.
I had always seen this passage as stating in three different ways that if we ask, we shall receive, but it’s more. There are depths to our asking, seeking, and knocking. Knocking takes us to the heart of our God.
Asking speaks of our need.
Seeking directs us to where to look for the answer, moving the focus from ourselves to our God. From our needs and desires to our purpose: promoting the kingdom of God and glorifying Him.
Knocking brings us face to face with Jesus and our relationship with Him. He is our Savior. He is our all in all. All we need can be found in Him.
Ask and you will receive. Why do we not receive when we ask?
Could it be because we get stuck with the first step, with ourselves, and don’t move on to seek His kingdom. Are we making time to knock on His door and build an intimate friendship with our Lord and King. If we broaden our goals and deepen our search, we will be richly rewarded. Knock and it will be opened.
(Note: Definitions of ask, seek, and knock were taken from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)