Ask, Seek, Knock
Scripture: Matthew 7:7Devotional Series: Effectual Fervent Prayer
Teaching: Effectual Fervent Prayer pt. 1 (SUN_AM 2023-03-26) by Pastor Star R Scott
We say so often, “Well, the Holy Spirit told me this, and the Holy Spirit told me that.” The Holy Spirit will primarily be telling you, “You need to get more like Jesus.” That’s His ministry to us. “Here’s the will of God for your life: sanctification”; amen?
“Seek, and ye shall find; knock, it shall be opened.” Ask, seek, and knock continually. Too often we pray, and we don’t see a change, so we stop. Ask, seek, knock; amen? Luke 18 (verse 1), “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Then, He goes into the parable of importunity. The whole truth of that parable of importunity, it’s not wearing God out by coming, it’s being convinced that He will deliver you speedily; amen? That’s the conclusion of that parable that follows. But the admonition is, we “ought always to pray.” We’ll talk about putting the prayer armor on, and how important that is in each one of our lives. But the most effectual evangelism, the way to reach the lost—and we see it in the Scriptures, and we see it practically as you begin to survey over many years. People that are reached for the kingdom are usually reached by acquaintances. People that they can now hear what you’re saying and watch what you’re doing. Because we are epistles read of men (2 Corinthians 3:2); amen?
I’ll link two stories together. There were a couple of guys when we were out racing years ago, and one of them was a very wealthy person. We probably don’t have any Colts fans in here, Indianapolis Colts, but would anybody in here by chance know what the name of their stadium is? Very wealthy, deals with all kinds of oil products. So, we were racing, and we get an invitation. Mr. Lucas asks us to come and have dinner with him. There was another very wealthy man who sold top-of-the-line motor homes. Also, very wealthy and well-known in the racing circuit. And he invited us over to his coach one evening. And he said, “I’d really like to have you guys come over and just get a chance to talk with you.”
As we went into that individual’s coach, he made this comment. He said—and I won’t get it all right, it’s been a couple of years ago now. Even my photographic memory—I’m still operating off film. So, I’m not digital, but it went something like this. He just said, “I want you all to know, I’ve been watching you.” He said, “I’ve seen a lot of people come out here and talk about Christianity and a lot of different things. And I’ve been watching you, and the literature that’s being handed out, and the chapels that were done.” But the implication being, that’s not what he was watching. He was not watching the literature being handed out, he was not watching the preaching. “I’m watching how you conduct yourselves around people. And it’s so good to see the genuine article”; amen? We’re epistles read of men.
“Seek, and ye shall find; knock, it shall be opened.” Ask, seek, and knock continually. Too often we pray, and we don’t see a change, so we stop. Ask, seek, knock; amen? Luke 18 (verse 1), “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Then, He goes into the parable of importunity. The whole truth of that parable of importunity, it’s not wearing God out by coming, it’s being convinced that He will deliver you speedily; amen? That’s the conclusion of that parable that follows. But the admonition is, we “ought always to pray.” We’ll talk about putting the prayer armor on, and how important that is in each one of our lives. But the most effectual evangelism, the way to reach the lost—and we see it in the Scriptures, and we see it practically as you begin to survey over many years. People that are reached for the kingdom are usually reached by acquaintances. People that they can now hear what you’re saying and watch what you’re doing. Because we are epistles read of men (2 Corinthians 3:2); amen?
I’ll link two stories together. There were a couple of guys when we were out racing years ago, and one of them was a very wealthy person. We probably don’t have any Colts fans in here, Indianapolis Colts, but would anybody in here by chance know what the name of their stadium is? Very wealthy, deals with all kinds of oil products. So, we were racing, and we get an invitation. Mr. Lucas asks us to come and have dinner with him. There was another very wealthy man who sold top-of-the-line motor homes. Also, very wealthy and well-known in the racing circuit. And he invited us over to his coach one evening. And he said, “I’d really like to have you guys come over and just get a chance to talk with you.”
As we went into that individual’s coach, he made this comment. He said—and I won’t get it all right, it’s been a couple of years ago now. Even my photographic memory—I’m still operating off film. So, I’m not digital, but it went something like this. He just said, “I want you all to know, I’ve been watching you.” He said, “I’ve seen a lot of people come out here and talk about Christianity and a lot of different things. And I’ve been watching you, and the literature that’s being handed out, and the chapels that were done.” But the implication being, that’s not what he was watching. He was not watching the literature being handed out, he was not watching the preaching. “I’m watching how you conduct yourselves around people. And it’s so good to see the genuine article”; amen? We’re epistles read of men.