warm-up

Do you like asking for help? Why or why not?

Tell us about one of your hobbies or interests. Why do you persist in that activity?

Share a story of how you gained something by being persistent in doing or asking for it.

word

7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8

(Read Matthew 7:9-12.)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduced the idea of coming to God as our Father, with the confidence of His children, for the first time. When we pray, we do not need to bargain with God, or do anything in exchange for an answer. Rather, Jesus encouraged His disciples to approach God as our Father, persist in prayer, and act in faith.

1
Approach God as our Father.

“Ask, and it will be given to you . . .” Matthew 7:7

Jesus asked His listeners if a father would give his son a stone or serpent if the son asked for bread or fish. It made perfect sense to them that a son would confidently ask his father for food, and that the father would be willing to grant his son’s request. Jesus concludes, how much more will your Father give good things to those who ask him! What does it look like to confidently approach God as His children for our needs and wants?

2
Persist in prayer.

⁷“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8

(Read Luke 18:1-8.)

We persist in our prayers and petitions to God because we know we are dependent on Him for everything, and that He answers them according to what He knows is best for us. Here, Jesus told His disciples to continuously ask, seek, and knock in prayer to God. This means that we should spend more time seeking God's will and asking Him what needs to change in our lives as we persist in prayer. In the parable, the unrighteous judge eventually responded to the request of the persistent widow. Have you ever had a persistent prayer answered? Share about it.

3
Act in faith.

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

Jesus sums up the message of asking, seeking, and knocking by directing His disciples to act in faith. Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. Helping and giving to those in need is an act of faith that acknowledges that God is our Father, and that He is willing and able to grant what we ask as we seek His will and persist in prayer. How does God respond to those who knock persistently and in faith (Luke 18:7,8)?

application

Do you believe you can confidently approach God with your needs and wants, as His child? How can you gain a deeper understanding of God as your Father this week?

How can you spend more time praying and seeking God’s will and purpose for your life this week? How can you make persistent prayer and active faith a part of your everyday life?

Do you have a family member or friend who needs encouragement to ask, seek, and persist in prayer? How can you encourage and pray with him or her this week?

prayer

Thank God for being a Father you can confidently approach with your needs and wants. Thank Him for listening to you and being willing and able to answer your prayers.

Pray for the confidence to continuously ask, seek, and persist in prayer. Pray for His will to be done as you continue to seek Him every day.

Pray that you will encourage family members or friends who need prayer. Pray for an opportunity to tell them about approaching God confidently as His children.

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© 2017 by VICTORY®
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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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