ASK SEEK KNOCK

Christ's Sermon on the Mount reveals the righteousness, sincerity, humility, purity, and love expected of His followers. Jesus acknowledges that they are bankrupt spiritually, but assures them that His demands are possible when earnestly sought through prayer.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Christ is providing the means by which we can be transformed. Righteousness manifests itself in the life of a believer when he exercises the three imperatives mentioned above ... 'ask, seek, and knock'. (expressed in the present tense to stress the persistence and sincerity required) 

... you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Often Christians do not have the marks of true discipleship because they either don't ask ... or they ask with selfish motives. Matthew 7:7 is often taken out of context and believed to be a promise that if you have enough faith, God will give you anything your heart desires. 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

Dwight Pentecost - Prayer is perhaps the greatest manifestation of faith a child of God can demonstrate. In praying we address words to a God we cannot see but believe exists. We are one among multitudes who are praying, yet we believe God singles out our petition and hears it specifically. We believe God is not alienated from His creation and is able to move in answer to our prayers. The very act of praying is based upon faith. 

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

The spiritual life advocated by the Sermon on the Mount is available to every believer who persistently asks, seeks, and knocks. I find it interesting that you can ask and receive, that you can seek and find; but that you cannot both knock and open ... the Lord Himself opens the door. 

There is an intimacy put forth in that thought, I believe.