THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – MATTHEW 7:7-12

My top ten requests to God:

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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 ESV

In our prayer life, how are we asking, seeking, and knocking?

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15 ESV

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 ESV

Asking is an action that requests a gift.

Seeking is an action that discovers a provision.

Knocking is an action that invites a door to be opened.

In our prayer life, how are we requesting a gift, discovering a provision, and inviting a door to be opened?

You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2 ESV

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  Luke 18:1-8 ESV

How have we stopped asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer for:

• People who are unsaved

• People who persecute us

• People in government authority

• People who have sinned against us

• People we have broken relationship with

• People who are our neighbors

• People we work, play, or go to school with

Pray one more time for that person.

ASK  Request a gift for that person.

SEEK  Discover a provision for that person.

KNOCK Invite a door to be opened for that person.

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:8 ESV

If we believed that God would answer our next prayer, what would we pray for right now?

What do we think we will receive from God?

What do we think we will find in God?

What do we think will be opened by God?

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?” Matthew 7:9-10 ESV

“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!” Matthew 7:11 ESV

What does the Bible teach about the goodness of God our Father?

“No one is good except God alone.” Luke 18:19 ESV

For the Lord is good. Psalm 100:5 ESV

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Psalm 106:1 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8 ESV

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 ESV

You are good and do good. Psalm 119:68 ESV

Discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. James 1:17 ESV

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 ESV

For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV

“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!” Matthew 7:11 ESV

The goodness of our Heavenly Father transforms our prayers:

Asking our Heavenly Father to receive His good gifts.

Seeking our Heavenly Father to find His good provision.

Knocking so our Heavenly Father will open His good door.

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 ESV

Who will you share a verse (the goodness of God) with today?