Ask, Seek, Knock

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

 

One lesson my Dad taught me was that it’s often worth asking.  I remember we went to a sporting event and we were told we could buy seats on metal bleachers and sit in 95 degree heat for $1, or purchase “box” seats with real chairs, and some shade.  So he asked, what is the price difference?  The response shocked us, a buck.  That’s it!!!  All he had to do what ask and I found out that what sounds like a HUGE difference was in fact very little.

 

This is how we often pray.  God I won’t ask you for that because it’s too big, it’s too much, there is just no way that could ever come true, so instead I will ask for something much smaller, something that I could probably get or do myself.  In Matthew 21:21 Jesus talks to the disciples about the importance of praying BIG and from the heart, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.”  Notice what he says, you are not praying because God is a holy ATM or genie, but praying from a place of faith and trust in Him.

 

As you pray don’t censor God, don’t “filter out” your prayers because it sounds hard or complex, because you are talking to the God who made the universe.  Trust me what you are asking is likely easier or smaller than creating the world and sending His innocent son to die on the cross for people who don’t deserve it, and can never return the favor.  Instead pray from the heart, and pray with faith that says, I am not God, and I don’t know what God is thinking.  God I will pray for what has been placed on my heart, and trust that if it is your will, not matter how “big” or small, You will do it.  God says, ask, seek, knock, and let me take care of the rest.

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

1. What do you want to ask God for in prayer?
2. Is there something you have wanted to pray for sometime but have not?  Why or why not?
3. What is your biggest reservation to pray for “big” things or to ask God for anything in prayer?

What Moves You?

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:36-38

 

The NFL has been running an advertising campaign about the importance of children being active and healthy called Play60.  I was watching one of the commercials the other day and was caught by the commercial’s motto, “What moves you?”

 

They could have asked a number of questions, what gets you excited to exercise, or what kind of exercise do you want to try out?  Why you’re interested in getting healthy, but they instead chose to ask, what moves you?

 

As a follower of Jesus I began to think, what moves you?  Not what do you like to talk about, or what do you like to write about, or what do you have a passion for reading about, but what moves you?  Movement can be different from passion or interest.  Bill Hybels describes it as the “holy discontent” that God has placed inside of you.  Your holy discontent is the thing that drives you to not just an emotional response or interest, but causes a tangible reaction.  It’s the thing that makes you like Popeye say, “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more.”

 

God placed that discontent in you for a purpose.  You might the only person who sees something, and your role is helping bring it to light.  Your action might move others to rally behind the cause and make a huge impact.  Your experience with the needs of children in the community causes you to become a mentor, or seeing the number of families struggling to make ends meet may cause you to start a food pantry.  You see the number of kids and youth who need the Good News, and a safe place to meet God, and can’t help but to make sure they have a place to do that.

 

Your holy discontent was put there by God with a purpose.  It’s not to be ignored, or talked away, but instead pushes you to move, to use your gifts and passion to make an impact in the world around you.  So the question is what moves you?  And why aren’t you moving yet?

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

1. What moves you?
2. How might you ignite that holy discontent?

Tunnel Vision

Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.  “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” Nehemiah 6:2-3

 

The town of Jerusalem was in shambles.  The walls had fallen down, the temple was ravaged, and people had no jobs, no money, no food, and no hope.  Nehemiah heard a call from God to go rebuild the wall in Jerusalem.  As he worked, two neighboring governors sent a message along.  They asked for Nehemiah to take some time away from his project: the one God called Nehemiah to, so they could talk with him.

 

But Nehemiah held fast and simply said what I am doing is too important to stop and do something else.  The work God has called me to do has such high priority; it cannot be stopped for any reason.  Nehemiah was offered a chance to meet with high-powered people, yet he said, no, I have to stick with what God has called for me to do. He held fast to the most important thing he had to do, unapologetically and God blessed His work. 

 

Your life is filled with distractions.  Each moment you face distractions, more “important” things do to, that may not be all bad, but are they the most important thing, or do they take away from what is truly most important in your life? 

 

As a parent you will have to work to make your children a priority over and above other things, so when other good things come that take away from your children, you can say, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”  Because your children are a blessing from God, not to be taken for granted.

 

What about your spouse?  A marriage is like a garden, it needs time and regular attention, and it only flourishes with intentional work spent on it.  So when something “good” comes up that takes you away from that priority you can declare, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”

 

Your relationship with God should not be stagnant, but dynamic, always changing and growing, but it requires work.  Life is going to place some “good” opportunities before you that would put God in the rearview mirror, and you will have to say, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”  Distractions will come, but will you have the focus and discipline to understand what priorities God has placed in your life, and be able to declare like Nehemiah, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.”

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

1. What is that one priority in your life?
2. What challenges keep you from focusing on the most important things?
3. Who or what might help you to keep the best things in focus?

A Little Help Here

^“One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

John 5:5-7

 

Jesus, why do you ask if he wants to be well, the guy clearly has been seeking healing for 38 years!!!  Even more shocking is the answer Jesus gets.  If Jesus asked me this question, the answer would be simple, “Yes please.”  Instead Jesus is given excuses for why it has not already happened.

 

It’s easy to look down on the man for not just saying, yes to Jesus, but are we much different?  In any 12 step program, the first step is reaching an awareness of your need for change or healing.  “Hi my name is Tony, and I’m an alcoholic.”  Once you have an awareness of your need for change, the remaining steps involve your action and involvement.  Jesus question perhaps is less about the man’s desire to be healed, but instead are you ready and willing to be healed?

 

You want to be healed financially; to get out of debt, to put some money away, Jesus says do you want to be healed?  Walk away from finding joy in a shopping bag, or happiness in the latest gadget.

 

You want healing in your relationship with your kids; Jesus says do you want to be healed?  Taking on an extra project at work or agreeing to more travel may not help you find what you are looking for.  Joining another club, or working more from home and likely not going to lead you to the place of healing you are seeking either.

 

You want healing in a broken relationship; Jesus says do you want to be healed?  Holding a grudge, or starting rumors about the other person are not going to lead you down the path to healing.

 

Do you want to be healed?  Jesus reminds us that he is the great physician, able to heal both the body and the soul.  Jesus reminds us in scripture, “I am…” I am what you need, I am the great physician.  Are you open to the great physician?  Or are you filled with excuses?  Or just not listening for His work all around you?

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

1. What is one place that you want Jesus’ healing in your life?
2. What might healing look like?