Season 4 Podcast 65 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 7: The Sermon on the Mount Pt V “Prayer.”
Season 4 Podcast 65 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 7: The Sermon on the Mount Pt V “Prayer.”
We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 7. It contains eight concepts.
1. Judging Others
2. Prayer
3. The Golden Rule
4. The Strait and Narrow Path
5. False Prophets
In last week’s podcast, Podcast 60, we analyzed Matthew 7: 1-6, Judging others. In this podcast, Number 65, we shall analyze Matthew 7: 7-11, Prayer.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Previously, in what some would perhaps consider the most beautiful prayer ever given, Jesus gave us what is commonly called ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ which is a perfect model for prayer. In the above scripture Jesus continues to teach us about prayer.
Note the three primary verbs: ask, seek, and knock. Prayer is not a passive act. We are not expected to simply ask for a blessing and then wait for it to come. Asking is just the first step in what sometimes is a very long process. In this podcast we shall cover the three steps to prayer.
Step 1 To Ask!
As we learned in the Lord’s prayer, we are actually addressing our prayers to our Father in heaven. It is as if we are kneeling before his throne. How many kings will give you daily access to his throne? God is the only ruler who not only gives us daily access but commands us to approach him as often as we need to.
Psalm 55:16–17
As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
5 RON
It is helpful to actually imagine that we are talking directly to our Father in Heaven, but naturally we must remember that the only one who gives us that access is his Son Jesus Christ who made access to the Father possible by suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and by dying on the cross. That is our only calling card. We must do everything in the name of Jesus Christ.
What is it that we ask for? The general answer is that God is in the details of our lives, and to him nothing is too trivial. That is the second magnificent attribute of our Father in Heaven. What is important to us is also important to him. In the above Christ mentions the following:
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Food for our table is a fundamental need for everyone, and God is aware of that. The image represents all the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, health, etc. But Christ doesn’t stop there: In the Lord’s prayer Christ mentions that we should pray for forgiveness, for deliverance from temptation, and for deliverance from evil.
Luke expands the image:
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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