Ask, Seek, Knock

The point: Practice discernment in sharing spiritual truths, not casting pearls before swine by offering promises meant for God's children to unregenerate rebels.

Illustrates that approaching God with requests is proper for His children (princes) but brazen for unregenerate rebels, emphasizing the exclusive nature of the promises.

his father who is a king, would be outright brassiness for some rebel who dared to come to the gate of the king and ask the same thing. For the prince who is the son of the king to come and say, Dad, I'd like this and that, is proper, it's right, and the king welcomes his son into his presence. But for someone who has rebelled against the authority and the laws of the king, and who stands out in defiance to the king's rule and reign, for him to dare to knock on the chamber room of the king and come in and say, Oh king, I want this or that, that's outright brazenness. And so for those who have ...

6:06 - 6:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section explores why the Lord gives these as commands, arguing it demonstrates God's strong desire to give, overcomes our reluctance, and reveals the ugliness of failing to…

Compares a king's invitation to his people to share his wealth, moving from a general announcement to a 'please come' to a 'command to come,' showing that a command is the strongest expression of the king's desire and grace.

The greatest way someone can show his or her desire on your behalf is to couch that desire in the form of a command. Let me illustrate. Imagine a king who has infinite resources at his disposal and out in his kingdom there are those who are destitute and in poverty and need what he has. In his heart he's willing to empty his coffers upon his people.

19:01 - 19:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains why God requires persistent asking: to prove the depth of our desire, to purify and strengthen our faith, and to produce patience in us, ultimately preparing us to…

Illustrates how persistence in seeking a job proves the depth of a young man's desire, paralleling God's testing of our desire through persistent prayer.

Some of you are in business. And here's a young man who comes and he wants a job. And so you're out when he comes. And where it is left, a young man came to see you, Mr. So-and-so,

32:46 - 32:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains why God requires persistent asking: to prove the depth of our desire, to purify and strengthen our faith, and to produce patience in us, ultimately preparing us to…

Recounts the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15, whose persistent faith, even when called a 'dog,' purified her faith and led to her request being granted, demonstrating how God proves and purifies our faith through obstacles.

Secondly, to prove and to purify our faith. This is why our Lord asks us to keep on asking and knocking. You remember the illustration of the woman in Matthew 15? She came pleading for a touch from the Lord Jesus, and she wasn't a Jew.

33:58 - 34:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to the promises, noting their general, specific, and illustrated nature. Martin emphasizes that the promises are for each individual believer, encouraging…

Compares knocking at a door as a beggar, a stranger, or a friend with a standing invitation, illustrating the confidence believers should have when approaching God, knowing they have an open door and heart.

Our Lord is saying, when you knock, you're not to knock as a beggar, who when he comes to the door and knocks, always has a fear, well, people are going to see me and recognize I'm a beggar. And they're going to slam the door in my face. Or a stranger, he may be well dressed, but he knows when he knocks at your door and asks for something, you're going to be a little bit suspicious. Is he a crook dressed up?

41:27 - 41:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin analyzes the a fortiori argument in verses 9-11, where God's goodness is compared to that of evil human fathers. He briefly touches on the doctrines of human depravity and…

Quotes an 'old servant of God' who compared all human fatherly affection to a drop in the ocean compared to God's infinite love, emphasizing the vastness of God's heart for His children.

How much more shall your Father in heaven give good things to those that ask Him? One old servant of God has said, and I never can forget this, if we could take all of the tender affection that has existed in all the hearts of the tender fathers who've ever lived and could take all that affection and pour it into one heart, it would be as but a drop to the ocean and as a candle to the sun compared with the infinite measure of the love of the heart of God for His own. Now, beloved, you've got to pray this in.

49:04 - 49:48 Read in full sermon

The point: As parents, love your children enough to withhold things that are not good for them, rather than indulging their whims out of self-love.

Compares children in a toy store wanting every toy to believers asking for things that are not truly 'good' for them, illustrating that God, like a wise parent, withholds what would be harmful.

Now, the only condition here is that what we ask for is good and that we ask for it. How much more shall the Heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him? And I'm so glad, as a father, I know what's good for my son more than he does. You see, lots of times we're like a kid in a toy store.

50:40 - 51:00 Read in full sermon