Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:
7 “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.
Jesus gave those who are FATHER’S Sons and Daughters a directive: ask, seek, and knock. We are to do this with expectation of fulfillment for we trust and rely on Our Heavenly Father. Jesus continues:
9 “Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? 10 Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead? 11 If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your Heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”
Jesus is revealing the depths of FATHER’S Agape Love for us. Many who read this passage don’t want to rely on it because of their fear of failure and exposing their state of true immaturity. Their trust in FATHER is simply incomplete and there is a need to move on to greater maturity. Don’t stop now!
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in chapter 4 of his epistle:
1 What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? 2 You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it! 3 And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. 4 You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
The one criteria for receiving from FATHER is to ask with the proper motives. HE will not fulfill our selfish desires, it is that simple. This is why we must focus on The Word and hearing The Holy Spirit. The Truth not only sets us free but provides the guidance for what we ought to expect when we ask, seek, and knock.
For those who need healing, FATHER expresses HIMSELF as The Healer. It is not asking amiss for healing. Do you think FATHER wants HIS Children to suffer? For those who need deliverance, HE is the Deliverer. We must not allow inaccurate or corrupt teachings in the past prevent us from receiving FATHER’S promises to those who Love HIM.
Persistence is the firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. What or who opposes us? The adversary and his demons do not want us to fully mature as Sons and Daughters for we will then be formidable enemies against his agenda. His deceptions are meant to keep us from rising as “lights” unto the world.
The devil tempted Jesus in order to sidetrack HIS mission and he will do the same to those of us who are maturing into Sons and Daughters. We must not let up as we rise to full maturity. Let us intensify our persistence to the point where the adversary gives up. He failed with Jesus and he will fail with each of us who are fully committed to walk in Holiness.