We are looking at the passage of scripture in Matthew 7:7-11.
“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. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7 – 11 (NKJV)
This section of Scripture in Matthew 7 comes from what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus taught the crowds and His disciples on many different topics concerning how to live a life that is dedicated to and pleasing to God. Last week we saw that asking and receiving come from a relationship with the Father because we are His children. We ask humbly (1 Peter 5:6-7), reverently (Hebrews 5:7), but boldly (Hebrews 4:16), and in faith with the expectation of receiving our request (Hebrews 11:1).
This week we are looking at the word seek. Seek means to attempt to find. Jesus says that everyone who seeks will find, and He specifically says that you will find (Matthew 7:7 – 8). We have His Word on it! Seeking also comes from a relationship with God, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Seeking involves more than asking or petitioning in prayer. We focus on seeking with our hearts and minds as we search the scriptures to find who and what we are seeking.
What is it believers are to seek? We will find the answers in the Bible, which are the Word of God, truth, and life (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17; 6:63; Hebrews 4:12; Proverbs 3:1-2).
We need to seek the right things to live the abundant life Jesus came to give us, godly things, i.e., truth, His answers to problems, wisdom, His kingdom, to know God Himself, to have intimacy with Him, to know His heart, and hear His voice, etc. When we look to people or worldly things to satisfy us, i.e., riches and wealth, power and status, perfect relationships to bring love and acceptance, a great job, a dream home, etc., we soon find that these leave us feeling empty because apart from God, they can’t satisfy us.
All things on earth are God’s blessings, but without Jesus Christ in the center of them, they are empty blessings. We can never be satisfied with the things that were created by the Creator apart from Him. God created us to have fellowship with Him and to worship Him. He is a God of relationship and has a longing for us, and we have a longing for Him, which is why we are seeking! But only He can satisfy that longing.
God wants us to enjoy abundant life now as well as spending eternity with Him forever through Jesus Christ our Savior. The Father is seeking true worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). Jesus came to seek and save us (Luke 19:10). He is everything we need!
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 (NKJV)
We are to seek to know God Himself and fellowship with Him through the Word and in worship and prayer. We are to seek His face, and His strength, with all our heart (Psalm 105:3-4). When we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 63:1; Psalm 9:10; Proverbs 8:17; Isaiah 55:6; Deuteronomy 4:29).
One thing I have desired of the LORD that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4 (NKJV)
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” Psalm 27: 8 (NKJV)
There are blessings associated with those that seek Him (Amos 5:4; Psalm 119:2).
But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
Oh, taste, and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:8 – 10 (NKJV)
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. When we do that, we won’t need to worry about what we are going to eat or drink, and what we will put on for clothing, because our Heavenly Father will provide all these things that we need (Matthew 6:33).
The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:20-21) and is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). We should make it a daily priority to have our inner spirit man flowing with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. These are not our own but what Jesus has given to us (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 14:27; 15:11).
We are to seek and set our minds on things above, not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:1-2). Because believers have the mind of Christ, our mindset is on heaven’s values, and we manifest the life of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 1:30). God’s kingdom functions in a manner opposite to the world. We are not to be conformed to the pattern of the world but to renew our minds with the Word so that we can understand God’s will and ways (Romans 12:2).
The Word of God has everything we need when we are seeking an answer from the Lord. His Word is truth (Psalm 119:160; Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17; 8:32; 1:14; 14:6; Isaiah 55:11;) and light (1 John 1:5; Psalm 119:105, 130). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and brings revelation and understanding (light) to the Word (John 16:13; Daniel 2:22). We hear His voice as we read, study, and meditate on the Word (John 1:1, 14; 6:63; 10:27).
Put the Word to work by first searching the scriptures to find the promises that cover your situations. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you which promises are for you at this time. Feed your spirit and soul on them by reading and meditating on them to build your faith (Romans 10:17). Declare them in faith over your life and give Him praise for the answer even if you haven’t seen it come to pass yet. Seek God’s wisdom so you will know what to do with the answer (Proverbs 8:17)! Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7; 3:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Ecclesiastes 7:12, 25). Then obey what the Holy Spirit tells you to do! We should not be self-seeking (1 Corinthians 10:24) but seek to do the will of the Father, even as Jesus did (John 5:30).
Seeking implies diligence and perseverance. Remember what it was like as a child to play the game hide and seek? We kept looking until we found the hidden person or object; then, we rejoiced! We must also diligently seek with perseverance to find who or what we are seeking when it comes to spiritual things. We are to seek the Lord with our whole heart. We search the Scriptures until the Holy Spirit reveals the answer. Then we take it to the Lord in prayer, knowing how to pray based on the Word of God, which is His will. Jesus has promised good results for our seeking. We will find Him and the answers we need. Now that is something to rejoice about!
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us the Word, Jesus, and Your Holy Spirit so that we can know You. Help us to desire to know You more and to seek You alone and not the things of the world which can’t satisfy our longing for You.
Thank you that You have all the answers we need and have provided them through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Help us to come to You for the answers and to trust that You will work out everything for our good.
You are a good Father, and we give You praise and thanksgiving for what You are doing and will do in our lives.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Living the Abundant Life 