Sermon Tone Analysis

Ask and it shall be Given

Ask and it shall be given

Moving from our relationships with our fellow men, to our relationship with our Heavenly Father

Earlier Jesus has warned us against hypocrisy in our prayers

against making vain repetitions

praying with wrong motives (t o be seen)

Now Now He actively encourages us to pray

offering gracious promises

regardless of our frailties, we have the full assurance that we will be heard

So Jesus begins this section by instructing us to “ask”

Ask:

1 say something in order to obtain an answer or information:

2 say to (someone) that one wants them to do or give something.

Ask - many people don’t ask - they fail to pray

sometimes we ask amiss- but Jesus did say to ask

as we learned earlier - Pray (or ask) for His Will

This “asking” ought also to include asking “if” it is His will.

Seek and You will Find

Jesus uses repetition to imprint the principle upon our minds

Perhaps a deliberate scale of urgency: Ask, Seek, Knock

Also a distinction between these three verbs

1 attempt to find.

2 attempt to obtain or do.

Not only should we ask, we should seek the object of our prayers

Seek = 1: to attempt to find

2 a: to go in search of: look for

2 a: to go in search of: look for

b: to try to discover

b: to try to discover

3: to ask for: REQUEST 〈seeks advice〉

3: to ask for: REQUEST 〈seeks advice〉

4: to try to acquire or gain: aim at 〈seek fame〉

Not only should we ask, we should seek the object of our prayers

If, however, asking should not appear to succeed, the Lord would arouse you to a more concentrated and active longing; therefore let your desires call in the aid of knowledge, thought, consideration, meditation, and practical action, and learn to seek for the blessings you desire as men seek for hid treasures - Charles Spurgeon

5: to make an attempt: TRY—used with to and an infinitive 〈governments … seek to keep the bulk of their people contented—D.

M. Potter〉 verb intransitive

5: to make an attempt: TRY—used with to and an infinitive

Not only should we ask, we should seek the object of our prayers

Knock, and it will be opened to you

By using this ascending scale of repetition, Jesus implies persistence also

Ask and keep on Asking

Seek and keep on Seeking

Knock and keep on Knocking

knock

1 strike a surface noisily to attract attention.

2 collide forcefully with.

3 make (a hole, dent, etc.) in something by striking it.

Knock denotes action

Faith without works is dead

Consider the heroes of faith in

Again and again, we see action in their faith

Another way to look at it:

Ask, Seek, Knock

Ask = Pray, request (of God)

Seek = Learn, discover, discern (God’s will, how to obtain)

Knock = Act, strike, decidedly take action in faith with expectation

Everyone who asks receives

Here we have an amazing promise

extraordinary - “everyone”

This promise is of universal application-

Our God wants to Hear from us, and he desires to give

God is not angry with us for asking

You need not worry about asking for too much (He has no limits)

If your son asks bread, would you give him a stone?

Of course we can all identify with this example

Who could all imagine a child asking for something from a parent?

Even unbelievers and sinners provide for their children

If you child asks for bread (something good and needed) you would not give him a stone (something harmful, or not good for him)

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts...

Jesus acknowledges the inherent, sinful nature of men

Yet, He does not deny that even evil (sinful) people are capable of doing good things

Even while doing good, they do not escape the designation of “evil” for that is what is in man.

(; )

The point however, is that if even wicked men can do good… How much more...

How much more

The comparison here is not that God is better than men

the contrast is that if even men can do good, How much better will God do?

How much more will your Father in Heaven give good things...

God wants to do exceeding, abundantly above all that you asked or even thought

Salvation, and abundant Life

He is a Good, Good Father

God knows what gifts are good

He will give Good things to those who ask

Asking is necessary -

acknowledges dependence

acknowledges relationship

Acknowledges authority (George Muller ex.)

Is God Your Father?

The Pharisees would never have viewed God as Father, Abba

The old Testament Jews would not have seen Him as Abba

But Jesus always saw Him as Abba, Father

And, He invites us to the same relationship

romans8.15

This “sonship” is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ

It is an “adoption”

Through faith, we receive this adoption and are presented to God as sons

Receive this adoption right Now

If you are not already adopted into the wonderful family

Today is your day

Promise is not unconditional

It is absurd to suppose that the promise ‘Ask, and it shall be given you’ is an absolute pledge with no strings attached