Praying Until Something Happens

Text: Matthew 7:7-12

  1. The Most important Invitation You Will Ever Receive

Matthew 7:7  “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.”
Jesus is saying, “Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.”
Prayer is not a single moment in time; it is a continual relationship with God.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.” ( Jeremiah 33:3 )
“Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness…” ( Hebrews 4:16 )
“My heart says this about you: ‘Seek his face.’ Lord, I will seek your face.” ( Psalm 27:8 )

Key Truths:

  • Your Father in heaven is listening.
  • Your Father in heaven is drawing you near.
  • Your Father in heaven is opening the way before you.

  1.  The Most Important Gift You Could Ever Receive

Matthew 7:8  “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds and the one who knocks, the door will be open.
“You do not have because you do not ask.” ( James 4:2 )
“You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” ( Psalm 16:11 )

Key Truths:

  • Keep asking—you will receive.
  • Keep seeking—you will find.
  • Keep knocking—doors will open.

  1.  The Most Important Relationship You Could Ever Experience

Matthew 7:9–11  (9) “Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? (11) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”
“You received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” ( Romans 8:15 )
“See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” ( 1 John 3:1 )

Key Truths:

  • The Fatherhood of God is for ordinary people, not just the spiritual elite.
  • Prayer flows from relationship, not performance.

  1.  The Most Important Impact You Could Ever Have

Matthew 7:12  “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.”
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.  Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…” ( Philippians 2:3–5 )
“We love because he first loved us.” ( 1 John 4:19 )
“For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:14 )


Key Truths:

  • The Father desires to love others through you.
  • Sacrificial living is evidence of a transformed heart.
  • Persistent prayer changes us before it changes circumstances.