Ask, Seek and Knock

When Jesus finished praying, it so impressed the disciples that they asked Him, to teach them to pray. They knew prayer worked--and, knew it was powerful because they saw it in action, in His life. I don't know what they were expecting; maybe, like many of us today, they were looking for some kind of magical formula that would give them access to everything they wanted. At this point, not all of them were the spiritual giants they would become. They were still just pretty ordinary men with some issues, doubts and fears. Some wanted prestige and power, some struggled with doubt (more than others), at least one had a violent temper, and another would eventually betray Jesus, and all of them would hide at His most difficult moment. So, I'm not sure what their motives were for wanting to learn how to pray--or, what ours are. I do know our motives (like theirs) for prayer aren't always the purest.

Jesus knew that we might not always appropriate prayer correctly, so He gave us a  guideline to follow. If we use it and understand the principles of our Lord's prayer model, it will lead us to great spiritual success. Jesus said, "Father,
May your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come.

Give us each day the food we need.
Forgive us our sins, for we too forgive everyone who has wronged us.
And do not lead us to hard testing." [Luke 11:2-4, Complete Jewish Bible]

It was a simple prayer--no lofty words, no repetitions--He warned against that (Matthew 6:7). He taught them to speak to God honestly, simply, and reverently. He gave them goals to use for prayer: Hallow or honor the holy Name of God. Seek His Kingdom. Ask for the things that we NEED. And, the door that provides access (knock) is in our willingness to forgive as we have been forgiven. We can ask all day long and seek His Kingdom, but without forgiveness, God will neither give or respond. It's how we ask "amiss" (James 4:1-3). 

Jesus didn't stop with the format, but gave an explanation to make it clearer to the disciples. In verses 9 and 10, He says, "Moreover, I myself say to you: keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who goes on asking receives; and he who goes on seeking finds; and to him who continues knocking, the door will be opened." Often, this passage is taken separate from its context, and read in such a way as to imply that if we have a desire and are persistent--whatever it is, God will honor it. In context, it becomes clear that Jesus never meant that, at all. We are to ask for what we need (not only for ourselves, but to minister to others), as we seek His Kingdom and forgive others. In Matthew 6, Jesus makes it clear what our needs are: water, clothing, and food. He also makes it clear that our Father already knows we need them--and if we seek His Kingdom, first, He promises to supply them. Our prayer goals then, should be spiritual in nature. Seeking His Kingdom is to invite the "things" that will glorify Him to the end that men might be saved. It is all about souls--the harvest of mankind, not natural things. When we ask for natural things, they are for sustenance to enhance the spiritual Kingdom--not for our earthly comfort, and not to excess. 

Jesus pointed out to the disciples and to us, that it is all about being delivered from evil through forgiveness of sins. We receive that from God as we forgive others. And our prayer continues to be for rescue from evil--salvation. That's what it is all about, His grace toward man. Jesus was pointing them toward grace, not things. It was always about spiritual deliverance with Jesus. The point was really driven home for the disciples immediately, too. Right after He taught them to pray, He drives the devil (mute) out of the man, and the people marveled. And while His opposers debated back and forth that perhaps He was able to drive the devil out, because He, Himself was from the devil, Jesus makes a point that really clarifies everything. It settles some facts: First, since it is a "deliverance from evil" it is completely within the context of the previous discourse; this is a prayer issue. Secondly, God hears when we ask as we ought to (1 John 5:14-16), especially for our brother who sins. Third, God is able to answer prayer doing "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us".

Our prayers have to be patterned after the model of Christ--Who honored and revered God as the One Who is able, and then sought Him for us. Only once do we read Jesus praying for Himself, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then still choosing the "cup" for us. Prayer cannot be selfish, or it is "amiss". It's purpose can't be to consume upon ourselves with natural, earthy, temporal desires (lusts). Like Jesus, our prayers must be for others, and for the eternal. "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires." [Psalm 37:4, HCSB]. Delight in Him, and He will give you your Delight, Him. And, He will provide all that you need--natural and spiritual to share Him with the world.

Ask, Seek and Knock...but not amiss.