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a) The Prayer of Faith in God the Father (Matthew 7:7-11)
MATTHEW 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being 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! (Jeremiah 29:13-14; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; James 1:17)
Do you suffer from a problem or distress, finding no solution or redemption? Come to your Lord and tell Him about it. He is the only one who can solve the problems of your soul, body and spirit. He sent His almighty Christ to the world with sovereign authority to wipe away your ugly sins and poured out the Spirit of His love into you to guide you to contentment, wisdom and honesty. Do not concern yourself night and day with your worries, but listen to the Word of God and believe His faithful promises. Do not be confused. Do not be afraid. Come to your heavenly Father and trust Him with open conscience, for your sins have often been the reason for your prayers being unanswered. Beg His pardon and forgiveness. He is waiting for you to return to Him. When will you come? Your heavenly Father will help you in your personal problems. Moreover, He will be pleased to answer you if you pray for others, for God is love and He wants to fill your heart with His love. How many demands do you ask for yourself, and how many prayers do you pray for others? The answer to this question shows you the reason for what slows down the answers to your prayers.
However, the Holy Spirit guides you to the saving will of God and leads you to His Fatherly heart. He does not help you only superficially, nor support you with cash-money and success in the first place, but makes you stand fast in His unique Christ. This Savior does not only give you the assurance of salvation, but He Himself loves you.
Did you observe the mystery of the Holy Spirit’s school of prayer? Every man is wicked and corrupt in his nature, for Christ called us in his kindness, “evil.” But God loves us as a merciful Father even while we are lost. He wants to change us by His Spirit that we can live with Him forever. How do we come to Him seeking only the delights of the world? This is why Christ invites you to enter into His gospel that you may seek the kingdom and righteousness of God first and help to spread them, sparing no effort to establish them in your surroundings, then your heavenly Father adds what you need.
God often seems to be slow in answering those who call Him, for He examines their hearts whether they love Him in person or only ask for His gifts. God waits for your full confidence in your prayers. He wants to open the windows of heaven and shower you and your friends with His blessings, grace for grace. Persevere in praying and believe in God’s presence beside you, for He is ready to be with you and to use your life to His glory. Do you accept Him, thank Him and consider Him the center of your future?
Christ has taught us to advance step by step in our prayers and to insist more and more in our petitions individually and in groups. Come and meet for common prayer that your heavenly Father may bless you. He is waiting for the thanksgiving and requests of His children. Ask Him first with dignity and love about the best solution for your problems. Seek the power of God for the salvation of others. Knock at His door insistently through your prayers, begging His pardon and asking for renewal for those who hunger for righteousness in your surroundings, for without love for the lost, your prayer remains weak.
How beautiful is the image that Christ has given the earthly father, who gives his children help and good livelihood in spite of their selfishness in their childhood. He will not crash them in his rage if they do wrong, but will educate them, for he loves them. Thus, God gives you only good gifts. He does not reject you, for He is your Father and He makes every effort for bringing up, feeding and dressing His children. He cares for the body, the soul and the spirit, that His children may reach spiritual maturity.
Believe in the providence of your heavenly Father and thank Him for His goodness flowing upon you and your church. Do not be tired of praying. Believe in what you ask in your prayer in the name of Christ, and you will experience His miracles through the indwelling of His Spirit and a divine wisdom in preaching to the lost.
The promise is made. Your heavenly Father will meet those who come to Him. Ask and it will be given to you; not lent to you, not sold to you, but given to you. And what is more free than a gift? Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, whatever you ask in the spirit of Jesus, will be given to you. Ask and have. You do not have, because you do not ask. Or do you not ask rightly? What is not worth asking for, is not worth having, and then it is worth nothing.
The child is supposed to ask for bread, which is necessary, and for fish, which is wholesome. But if the child should foolishly ask for a stone, or a serpent, for unripe fruit to eat, or a sharp knife to play with, the father is wise to deny him. We often ask God for things which would do us harm if we had received them. He knows this, and therefore does not give them to us. Denials in love are better than grants in anger. We should have been undone before this if we had had all we desired.
Examine your intentions in your prayers comparing them with the gospel and pray according to what we have learnt from Christ in the Lord’s Prayer, for these petitions are answerable.
PRAYER: O Merciful Father, we rejoice, for You do not neglect our little and big worries, but respond to us every time. Please forgive us every selfish prayer and fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may love You and pray to You continuously for the salvation of our relatives and others. We will not leave You until you have saved them. Teach us to ask You, to seek You and to knock insistently at the door of heaven so that You may send Your help so that Your holy name be glorified.
QUESTION:
- Why does Jesus ask us to pray constantly and insistently?