What did Jesus mean when He told us to ask, seek, and knock?

http://www.gotquestions.org/ask-seek-knock.html

Answer:Matthew 7 is part of what is commonly called theSermon on the Mount. It’s a description of the truly righteous life, an outlining of “the law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21, ESV). When Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you,” continual prayer is in view (Matthew 7:7a). Prayer is how we communicate our needs and desires to God. Of course, God, being omniscient, knows what Christians need whether they ask or not, but prayer is the means God has chosen to bring about those answers (James 4:2b).

Jesus isnotsaying that believers always get what they ask for—wrong motives, for example, will hinder answers to prayer (James 4:3). However, the more time a Christian spends in communion with God, the more he or she will know what to ask for in accordance with God’s will. Prayer, in and of itself, does not produce sanctification (an increasing holiness in a believer’s life), but it does show a dependence on God for needs that can be met no other way. God is always pleased with such displays of faith. It is only faith in what God can do, and what Christ has done, that brings about true sanctification, not an artificial self-righteousness (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus went on to say, “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7b). What is it believers ought to be seeking? It is God Himself! “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’” (Psalm 27:8). “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (Psalm 105:4). “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart” (Psalm 119:2). God is not hiding from His children. His heart’s desire is for us to persistently and passionately look for Him all around us, and when we do, He promises He will be found (Proverbs 8:17). Seeking is a matter of paying attention with an engaged mind and acute awareness.

BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME

Dear in Christ Jesus, May -

 “‘“The Lord bless you 
    and keep you; 
 the Lord make his face shine on you 
    and be gracious to you; 
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace. ”’ (Numbers 6:24-26)

CHILDREN OF GOD 1. RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST

Hope you are true Christian by having –

1.    heard the word of God - Salvation through Jesus Christ,

2.    Admitted that you are a sinner and live far away from God,

3.    repented your sin, turned away from your sinful way of life and turned to God

4.    confessed your sin and asked the forgiveness of God.

5.    thank God for sending Jesus to save you from the power of sin.

6.    received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of your life.

7.    surrendered your life and everything to Jesus.

8.    entrusted Jesus Christ to control and direct your life, thought and actions.

If you have already followed the above steps, in the strength of God’s word in the Bible, you are now God’s child, ‘spiritually born again’! But, how will you confirm whether you become God’s child?  The Bible says,

“If you declare (confess) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ” –(Romans 10:9)

“ Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 

— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12,13)

“ Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old has passed away;behold, all things are become new! ” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Know that you are a new born baby in the family of God and need spiritual food. The best spiritual food is the word of God. You are ‘born again’ not like natural birth. You have born ‘spiritually by believing in Jesus Christ’.

You become a new person in a new place and have to live in a new life. You must learn how to live in your new found life with Jesus. Therefore, study God’s word in the Bible daily for instruction, with prayer. Always pray to God – ask Him to be with you through the Holy Spirit in Jesus name and help you live a good life worthy to be His worthy child. Thank God for saving you and have accepted you for His child.

3 THE BIBLE IS A DIFFICULT BOOK from BIBLE STUDY FOR THE CHOSEN

 God is spirit. His words are of the spirit. His words in the Bible are the word of the spirit. Therefore, without having the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit no one can understand the word of God. The Bible itself says -

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

 “The Bible is a difficult Book because it came from the infinite to the finite - from the unlimited, all-powerful God, to limited man. Therefore you cannot understand the Bible as you would understand the writings of Plato or Socrates. You can study the great philosophers with the natural mind, and by diligent application, grasp their profound meanings.

If the Bible could be understood by natural man, it would be a natural book, and could not be the Word of God. Since the Bible is from God, and therefore spiritual, before you can receive its teachings, you must be born of the Spirit (John 3:6) and filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Always approach the Bible, praying that the Spirit will be your teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of His Holy Word, or it will remain a difficult, closed book (John 16:12-16).”

 When you came to believe in Jesus, confessed your sins to Him, asked Him to forgive you, and to become your Savior and Lord, among many other blessings, you became born again of the Spirit, and received the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and guide.

Why not take a moment now to thank and praise Father God for all His many blessings, to thank and praise Jesus for making it possible for you to become a child of God, and to thank and praise the Holy Spirit for working in your life.

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a Christian. The Bible makes it clear that everyone receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14). One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit coming into a Christian's life is to change that life. It is the Holy Spirit's job to conform us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him.

THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

The Bible must be read not like other books, as the word of God has power and purpose for every reader. When God speaks, the words are very powerful –

when God say “’Let there be Light’”, there was Light. (Genesis 1:3” When Jesus say, “ “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”(Matthew 8:3)

Jesus took dead girl by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around. (Mark 6: 41-42)

Jesus said to the deaf “Be opened!”. At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. (Mark 7: 34-35)

When Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.(Mark 4:39)

Such is the power of God’s word. Read the Bible with prayer by asking God to help you understand and request Him to give you what you need.

God speaks to us when we read His living words in the Bible. You may not hear what God say to you but He will give you understanding in your heart if you study with prayer, asking God to help you understand His words and what is His plan for you.

The Bible says,

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

According to the Theologians, the word “Scripture” comes from a Latin word which means “writing”. When the word “Scripture” is used with a capital ‘S’ it means the sacred writings of the one true God.

“All Scripture is inspired by God.”  By “inspired” we mean that the Holy Spirit exerted His supernatural influence upon the writers of the Bible. Therefore the Scriptures are God inspired word for word. By this we mean that every word, in the original, is fully and equally inspired in all of its teachings. The Bible does not just contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God.

The writers of the Bible did not write by natural inspiration, or an act of the human will. “Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:21). David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me and His word was on my tongue. (2 Samuel 23:2).

 01) The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible (2 Peter 1:21).

02) Man is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible.

03) Results: The infallible Word of God. Therefore, the Bible is free from error and absolutely trustworthy (Matthew 24:35).”

I pray our Lord uses this Lesson to increase your faith in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and that it encourages you to spend time finding out what God wants to say to you.

ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE BY GOD

God assures us that if we believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He will give us eternal life.

“ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. .” (1 John 5:13)

God promises to never leave us.

 ” I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God has forgiven all of our sins, past, present, and future.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ” (Colossians 2:13-14)

God has given you His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) to enable you to live in a way that pleases Him.

 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ” (Galatians 5:25)

BECOME GOD’S CHILD

1.    GOD created MAN and the universe with all created beings.

2.    GOD created MAN to be LIKE HIM and not to be His slave.

3.    So, GOD gave MAN the necessary FREEDOM to live a happy life.

4.    GOD bound MAN with a simple RULE.

5.    MAN must not OBEY any other’s command other than the command of GOD.

6.    GOD warned MAN must face DEATH if he ever breaks the given RULE.

7.    MAN misused his FREEDOM and OBEYED the UNGODLY BEING (called SATAN in the Bible)

8.    OBEYING to UNGODLY or any other than GOD is DISOBEDIENCE to GOD.

9.    DISOBEDIENCE to GOD is called ‘SIN’ in the BIBLE.

10. GOD is JUST and HOLY. He can not lives with INJUSTICE and UNHOLY

11.  In his JUSTICE, GOD must PUNISH all the UNHOLY and INJUSTICE.

12. MAN became SINNER by DIS-OBEYING GOD.

13. GOD banished MAN from His PRESENCE.

14. MAN live far away from GOD, the place called the ‘WORLD’ in the BIBLE.

15. In the absence of GOD, MAN became under the powerful influence of UNGODLY SUPPER POWERS of the WORLD.

16. MAN suffers from the powerful influence of these UNGODLY SUPPER POWERS.

17. UNGODLY SUPPER POWERS created UNENDING SUFFERING for human beings.

18. LIFE on earth (in the WORLD) becomes so miserable that man becomes liable to suffer from physical as well as mental ill health.

19. MAN becomes destine to face DEATH - Physical as well as Spiritual DEATH.

20. The BIBLE says that the result of SIN is DEATH and is the fate of MAN. Life on earth itself is SPIRITUAL DEATH without the SAVING GRACE of GOD  and ETERNAL DEATH in HELL after life on earth.

21. Where there is God, the UNGODLY SUPER POWERS have no influence.

22. With untold suffering under the influence of UNGODLY SUPER POWERS, MAN cry out to GOD and seek HIS help.

23. GOD LOVE His created beings MAN as His created beings that He sent His SON, JESUS CHRIST to SAVE them from SIN and its consequences.

24. JESUS came to this WORLD as MAN, taught human beings the WAY to become GOD’S CHILD.

25. GOD is JUST, He must PUNISH SIN. So, JESUS offered HIMSELF and DIED on behalf of those who believe and accept Him as LORD and SAVIOUR.

26. GOD was satisfied with the sacrificed of JESUS and ROUSE JESUS again.

27. After JESUS resurrection, GOD gave Him the POWER to give the RIGHT to give the CHILDREN OF GOD to all who believe in Him and accepted JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR.

28. Anyone who BELIEVE and accept JESUS CHRIST become GOD’S CHILD.

29. GOD saved His CHILDREN from the POWER of SIN and its consequences.

30. Those who BELIEVE and accept JESUS CHRIST will become GOD’S CHILDREN and are saved from SIN and ETERNAL DEATH in HELL.

PRAY FOR POWER FROM GOD

Leaders in our Churches stress too much about ethics or moral rules, living good life,doing good works. Actually, morality should be the outcome, not the first. We must know that all moral (ethic)-rule keepers tend to look and find themselves good by comparing themselves to those who don’t keep these rules. This keeps them blind about ‘sin’ the Bible say and  consider themselves ‘not sinners’. This prevent them follow the required condition the and do not need to confess and invite Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. As such, we fail to receive God’s Grace and blessing through the Holy Spirit.

This is not the right approach – keeping the Cart before the bull, as some preachers say. The right approach is to know God and His love revealed in Jesus Christ. One must first believe and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. For this, one must follow the steps mention in the Bible. The Bible say –

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10)

 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Roman 10:9-11)

Step 1. Admit that you are sinner, and confess;  2. Ask forgiveness of God for your sin; 3. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, so that God will forgive your sin and rose again from the dead, which open the way to God for you and make you God’s child; 4. Invite Jesus and declare that you have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour ; 5. Thank Him for that and ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit. Then all the blessings of God will come through the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.

This is the right approach. Without doing this and receiving Jesus Christ first no one will become a good Christian. Preaching ethic or morality first left us in ‘stagnant’ position in our spiritual standard. As such, there are no differences among us – we all are same in spiritual standard. No one receive the gifts of the spirit, the power, which Jesus promised to His followers in Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Holy Spirit is the Power come from God to help the believers of Jesus Christ. God help believers through the Holy Spirit in Jesus name. When the Holy Spirit lives in the believer, He guides and helps the believer to have Christ-like character. The believer is bound to change and will be able to live a good life and do good works.  

So, let’s pray that God may give us the power , which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ promise His followers.

THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF GOD

Look, see and examine all your actions, thoughts, attitudes and plans. You will find many short-comings, even if you are good as a person and other persons praise you. Such as, sometimes you lie, deceive others, commit mistakes, expert in finding the wrong of others but not of yours, lazy, angry, hate others, thought and made plans not good but harmful to others’ don’t want to pray, complain than praising others, and many more.

God know you very well. One of your gravest fault is ‘you still can not receive the blessings of God as you desire’.

Yes, we all commit mistake and displease God. Displeasing or angering God is called ‘Sin’ in the Bible. The result or consequence of sin is separation from God – ‘spiritual dead’ ( Romans 3:23; 6:23). Without God, we are ‘spiritually dead’. That is why, we all face problems physically, mentally and spiritually, even up to physical dead.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ that we may have ‘Life’ (the Spirit of God). We are promised to have ‘life’ here on earth and life after dead to be with God forever if the Spirit of God live in us. We have the ‘Spirit of God’ (Life) if we believe and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.( see John 3:16) But, those who do not have ‘Life’ (the Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit) are already condemned (even here on earth and forever in Hell. (See John 3:17-18)

Therefore,  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 Those who believe and accepted Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour are given the right to become the children of God. (John 1:12) This means, the believers are given the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit).

The Holy Spirit is God. Where there is God, there can be no unholy spirit (Satan). When the Holy Spirit lives in the believers of Jesus Christ, no unholy spirit can disturb and the believers live a transforming life, transforming towards the Holy life of Jesus Christ and we the believers shall be like Him in the life to come. Halleluiyah, Amen.

Therefore, let us not deceive ourselves as if good but follow the best way to receive the blessing of God -

Knell down. Call Jesus. Surrender all your past life with all the wrong you have done in action, thought and plan. Also surrender your life and future in His hand, as Jesus surrendered His life to save us from sin and its consequences – eternal separation from God – eternal dead. Pray this prayer -

“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and to die in sin without You. Forgive me and cleanse me of all my sin. I thank You for dying on the cross for my sin and give me the right to become the child of God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. I keep my life and everything in Your hand. Come and take your throne in my heart and control my life. Bless me with the Holy Spirit to help and guide me live a worthy life as Your child; comfort and save me from trouble. Help me to tell others about Your love for all so that they may also receive Your blessings abundantly.  I pray in Your name, Amen.”

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD

The Bible is book of books. The Bible is the Word of God. God speaks to us through His words.  We can learn God’s word and His works in the Bible.

The Bible is not a book of philosophy, although it is philosophical. Do not go to the Bible for a scientific treatise; however, there is no discrepancy between the ascertained facts of science and the Bible.

The Bible is not a book of history, but is found to be accurate when recording history.

The Bible was given to man from God, revealing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God the Son, the only Savior. (John 14:6)

The Bible is as high above all other books as the heavens are above the earth. Someone has said of the Bible: “Read it to be wise; believe it to be safe; and practice it to be right.”

The Bible is written for all men and women on earth to make us understand God’slove for us. By studying the Bible, one can understand ‘who is God and how to get His help to be saved from unending misery of life and share His eternal life.

The Bible says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(John 3:16-18)

Here, we find that God understand all our misery in life cause by Sin and have mercy on us. He loves us very much and wants to safe us from these worldly troubles. Therefore, He sent His son Jesus Christ to so that any one who believes in Him will not live a miserable life and shall not perish but have eternal life and be saved through Him. Here, we also find that “but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” This means, if anyone do not believe in His Son Jesus Christ will be condemned. So, you must believe in Jesus.

Many persons study the Bible to get worldly knowledge and understanding. Yes, one can learn knowledge and wisdom from the Bible, but it is not the main purpose of God.

1. BIBLE STUDY FOR THE CHOSEN/ INTRODUCTION:

God loves you. He cares for you. He wants to bless you. For which, He made a provision. But He also gives us ‘freedom to chose’ – to receive or not. If you want to receive, you must learn how to receive it. His provision is both for life on earth as well as for life after dead – for eternity.

God created us to be His beloved children and live a blissful life so that we can praise His name. Sin entered the world and separated us from God. Living away from God, all live uncomfortable, miserable life with problems, sufferings and must die sooner or later. All these on earth are the result of sin and living under the power of sin and its consequences - eternal separation from God, eternal death.

God loves us so much that He made a plan to save us from the power and consequences of sin. He gives us the way to return to Him and become His children. Many persons have already received His blessings and enjoy a blessed life on earth with a hope for eternal life with Him in Heaven after this life on earth.

All the provisions of God are recorded in the Bible. So, many studies the Bible to know how to receive the blessings of God, our Creator. Hope you also receive the same. For which, you must know who is God, who created us and everything. Let us learn through His Holy Words in the Holy Bible.

You must also know that the Bible is not easy to study meaningfully without guide and without the help of the Spirit of God. Because, it is not just a simple book but the book of books, all written by men of God as God Himself had spoken to them and made them recorded His Holy words for all the people on earth.

This is a good and simple guide, easy to understand. I have prepared this with prayer and from lessons I have learnt. Please study one chapter daily with fervent prayer and meditation. Take the Bible with you and read the Bible verses given here from your Bible. Don’t try to read the whole lessons immediately. The best way is to study one lesson daily with earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit helps you understand the meanings. Read at least twice what you read after a gape of more than an hour, so that your memory may record it for you benefit.

PATHETIC LIFE OF MAN WHEN DESERTED BY GOD

When a person continue to live in sin, God deserted him. All the blessing of God also deserted him. His health and wealth become poor, poorer and he become the poorest and most pitiful person. Others started talking about him, saying :

“How deserted lives this person, once so full of power, healthy and wealthy! 

How like a widow is he, who once was great among his friends!
He who was leader among the people has now become a slave.

Bitterly he weeps at night, tears are on his cheeks.
Among all his lovers  there is no one to comfort him.
All his friends have betrayed him; they have become his enemies.

After affliction and harsh labor, he has gone into bad habit. 
He dwells among the most bad guys; he finds no resting place. 
All who pursue him have overtaken him in the midst of his distress.

The roads to him mourn, for no one comes to his appointed festivals.
All his gateways are desolate, his priests groan,
his young women grieve, and he is in bitter anguish.

His foes have become his masters; his enemies are at ease.
The Lord has brought his grief because of his many sins. 
His children have become slave, captive before the foe.

All his greatness has departed from him. 
His daughters are like deer that find no pasture;
in weakness they have fled before the pursuer.

In the days of his affliction and wandering person remembers all the treasures that were his in days of old.
When his people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help him. 
His enemies looked at him and laughed at his bad luck.

This person has sinned greatly  and so has become unclean. 
All who honored him despise him, for they have all seen his poor condition; 
he himself groans  and turns away. ( Please read the real text below in LAMENTATION 1:1-8)

HOPE, you will not be deserted by God !

Call on Jesus. If not yet, accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and be baptized. Study the Bible daily and always pray. Pray for yourself and others, too.

Let’s pray, ”Lord, forgive my all the wrong I have done in Your sight. Save me from the power of sin. Be with me always and don’t ever desert me. I thank You, for dying on the cross for me and given me the right to become God’s child. You are my Lord and Saviour. Come and take Your seat in my heart. Control and direct my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit You promises us – to help, guide, teach and comfort us. Help me to live a worthy life as Your child and bless me to bear fruit so that I may also tell others about Your love and Salvation for all who believe in You, that they may also believe You and receive Your blessing as You have given me. In Your Holy name I pray, Lord Jesus,Halleluiyah, Amen."

Write 'Amen' if you pray. God bless you.