As believers, we have a great promise from Lord Jesus to do all that we ask in His name. He added to this that the Father in heaven knows all that we need. These two statements bring a dichotomy in our lives. Once God is aware of all that we need, why does He wait for us to ask something and not give all that we need?
Necessity pof asking to receive – God created everything with an inbuilt dependence on each other and this became more prominent after sin entered human life. The first part of the curse of sin was on the woman through pain in childbirth (Genesis 3:16-20). But with that the inherent desire in her for her husband came, who will rule over her. The man was cursed to eat bread by toil and sweat as well as in separating thorns and thistles from the crops. This dependence is also evident in fulfilling the God given blessing to ‘be fruitful and multiply’, for both man and woman need each other to have children. For this reason, Adam named his wife ‘Eve, because she was the mother of all living’. A child expresses his hunger by crying and thus attracting the attention of his mother to himself to be fed and cared for. In every aspect of life everyone, right from childhood to the end, is dependent on others for living in some comfort.
God is perfect in Himself, needing nothing from His creation or anyone and is dependent on nothing. He is love and our expression of love for Him brings joy to us more than to Him. Love is also an essential need of every created being and being created in His image, we learn to love each other from God.
Moses was chosen by God from before birth, saved from the decree of death of all male Jewish children, raised in the palace of the same Pharaoh by his daughter to make him learned in all Egyptian knowledge and ways. When God revealed Himself from the Burning Bush to send him back to Egypt, he expressed his inability to do so with various excuses (Exodus 3 & 4). As a last resort, he said, ‘O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue’ (Exodus 4:10-14). The answer from God was absolutely clear, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?’ God was angry with Moses when he still refused to go and Aaron, his brother, was appointed as his spokesperson before Pharaoh. God revealed His power to Moses, but why did He not heal him of his weakness? Moses did not ask for healing and God, who is always ready to listen to the voice of His chosen ones, did not do anything.
When Moses’ sister Miriam and Aaron his brother spoke against Moses, a verse written in brackets, reveals the true reason for his not asking God for healing for himself. It is written, ‘Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth’ (Numbers 12:3). It is presumed that Moses in his humility did not feel worthy to request God for his healing. God has taught us through his dealings with the greatest Prophet and leader of Israel that we must ask what we want from Him.
The promise of God to bless us, is stated with a fact, ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it’ (Psalm 81:10). He did one thing and is able to do the other also and our duty is to ask in faith. God desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives, from small to great. When we think something is too big or too small to ask from Him, we insult God, implying it is not possible for Him to do so. If God wants to decline, it is His decision. My responsibility is to ask with faith, in His power and willingness to do anything, however simple or complex. The Saviour Lord has further promised, ‘For everyone who asks receives’ (Matthew 7:8). The basic principle in asking to receive is to be dependent on God and also about lack of appreciation for something received without asking. Adam and Eve had the best of everything given to them without asking but they desired only the one thing that they were not supposed to eat (Genesis 3:6).
The Greek word ‘aiteo’ for asking is about earnest requests and not just a casual demand from One who is greater than oneself. Our Lord connected the asking to the generosity of God who readily provides the best for His children (Matthew 7:11). When our life itself and every breath is from Him, why feel shy in asking? He is our loving Father and we reach out to Him in prayer with confidence in receiving the answer.
Relationship of seeking and knocking with asking – This is in continuation of the Sermon on the Mount where Lord Jesus taught us to depend on God for all our daily needs (Matthew 6:25-34). With this He has emphasised persistence in our efforts to maintain a direct and close relationship with God. Lord Jesus used a parable of a man in need, going late at night to his friend, to teach us about diligent and repeated efforts for an answer (Luke 11:5-8).
The Greek word ‘zeteo’ is about continuous searching till the object is found. The extent of our efforts to seek God and to be in His presence is directly related to the depth of our desire to be in His presence and to know Him. God’s promise to everyone is, ‘And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13). Prayer is not a passive work but a continuous effort from deep within the heart. This search is for the One who is being asked to answer our prayers.
The Greek word ‘kruo’ shows continuous and desperate knocking on a door until it is opened as if our very life depended on it. Through the parable of the widow, Lord Jesus has taught ‘that men always ought to pray and not lose heart’ (Luke 18:1-8). We ask, search for Him and keep at it till God’s timing starts for us. Warning the Israelites about life in the Promised Land and the idolatry of the Canaanites, Moses told them, ‘But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deuteronomy 4:29). Our seeking must be more desperate when we are surrounded by and under attack from the evil all around us. We cannot make half-hearted efforts and expect results, for God desires total commitment.
The Israelites are the chosen people of God and were called Jeshurun, or ‘the blessed/upright one’ with the promise of assured help (Isiah 44:2). This shows their dual identity of chosen and blessed ones but also with the danger of spiritual decline that could come from that high point of closeness to God. When we have a deep relationship with God, He blesses us in totally unexpected ways, when we least expect.
Jacob fled from his father Isaac’s house for fear of Esau, his brother. He was going to his mother Rebecca’s brother Labaan, filled with doubts and with an uncertain future. On his journey he ‘came to a certain place and stayed there all night’, enroute at Bethel, thus meaning an unexpected encounter with God (Genesis 28:11-16). While sleeping, in a dream, he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven with God on the top and angels ascending and descending. He saw God receiving our prayers and sending the answers also. God answers our prayers in ways that we would never expect, when we seek Him with all our mind, heart and soul, Jacob received the promise of God’s presence and protection, ‘wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land’. Added to this is Jacob’s night time wrestling with God/His angel during his return journey while fearing Esau. We expect God to follow our scripts but it is His story and He surprises us. We, like Jacob, receive glimpses of deep spiritual mysteries, when alone and far from home, at night, in distress, in the face of danger. Jacob received the vision and later said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it’.
When we seek God and keep on knocking, we suddenly discover His presence and blessings on us in unexpected ways. We have the promise, ‘For He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5-6). God does not hide Himself from His children and is readily available to those who ‘seek Him with all their heart’. Moses assured the people of Israel, ‘For the LORD’s portion is His people’ (Deuteronomy 32:9). God created everything as an expression of His love and not for any personal need. All along in the Scripture we find God calling out, like He called Adam in the Garden, ‘Where are you?’ (Genesis 3:9). Finally, when all efforts of the Prophets also failed to turn mankind to God, He sent His Son as our Redeemer. Lord Jesus has expressed the ultimate level of seeking of man by God (Revelation 3:20). The call is absolutely clear, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me’. He has shown His deep desire for an intimate relationship with His chosen people.
God is not running a free gift shop, where anyone can go grab what is required and move on till the next time some need arises. How much more is the need for us to get close to God who readily answers our prayers, assures us of His presence with us and has blessed us with His indwelling Holy Spirit.
In pain and distress why does God seem so distant? God has not turned away from us, but is within each believer who readily receives Him as his Saviour. ‘God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth’ (John 4:24). We have our spirit within us and only that can connect with God while our soul is the link between the body and the spirit. We want to experience God more in the physical form than in the spiritual and try to feel Him with our five senses. The reason man has created so many religions, following numerous rituals to please God, is to fulfil this desire. Our desire is to serve and worship a visible God, whom we can see and try and control.
Second, we want the God we serve to act as an ATM to provide all that we need when we need it and where we want it. We desire an immediate answer to our prayers, without waiting for His timing. Many times I have thought about all that I desired and prayed for from God, which He did not give. Now, looking backward in my life I can understand the evil that would have come on me had all those prayers been answered by God.
Third, God wants to prepare us to be able to receive His best which may be far better than what we seek. God does not want us to turn away from Him after receiving the answer to our prayer. This may be due to pride in prompt answers to our prayers or in receiving beyond what we deserve.
Fourth, we are part of the whole world and our life is linked to and affects others, not only in our family and neighbourhood but all over. God shows no partiality to anyone in His dealings with mankind (Romans 2:11). His resources are not limited but our capacity to receive is.
Fifth, be clear and precise in what we ask. The blind beggar, Bartimaeus’, cry for help was answered and Lord Jesus called him to Himself (Mark 10:47-52). His first action was persistent crying out to the Lord, despite the others trying to shut him up. The second, on being called, ‘throwing aside his garment, he rose’. His faith assured him of a definite change in his life, where he would never need that beggar’s cloak. The Lord asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ His third action was a clear statement of his wish, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight’. A definite and a concise prayer brings answers. Fourth, he ‘followed Jesus on the road’ for he was grateful for the healing and decided to follow Him and live as per His teaching.
Sixth, answered prayer must bring obedience. – A Gadarene man was possessed by a legion of demons (6 thousand) and freed from them by Lord Jesus (Luke 8:30-38). He wanted to follow the Lord but was told to go back to his own house to ‘tell what great things God has done for you’. He was sent as an evangelist to touch the lives of others in his area.
Importance for a believer – First, dependence on God alone. A believer who asks in faith, trusts in God’s provision, timing and wisdom to answer. It is about a close relationship between a child and his loving Father, not based on any rituals but trust.
Second, diligence in following God. It is seeking the Lord through Scripture reading, worship and meditation, fellowship and a deep desire for God’s presence and submission to His control.
Third, perseverance in knocking, though no answers may be visible for the moment. We keep waiting in faith while continuing in prayer and turning away from short-cuts/rituals.
Fourth, following God’s will. Our sole purpose must be to honour God in every aspect of our lives. Instead of looking for personal gain, the aim of all this is to fulfil His good purpose for our lives and be a blessing to others.
All those who continue in the dictum, ‘ask, seek and knock’ have experienced unexpected doors being opened for them in supernatural ways. Spiritual transformation, physical, social and financial healing and resultant peace fill their lives. We rejoice in close and sincere fellowship with God who then delights to answer our prayers.
Through these three words, Lord Jesus has defined the true basis of our relationship with God, the Father. All those who live in such closeness to Him are filled with His love and peace, Shalom. Then, any delay in answers to our prayers appears clearly as His Divine will, which turns everything for our good only!
