1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder to consider others Please:
Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. Our Good Father Matthew 7:7-12
It is normal and proper for children to want to imitate their parents
Problems arise when a child thinks he is wiser than his parents or gains his identity outside the family
The righteous identify with Jesus and strive to be like Him in both behavior and attitude

4. Our Good Father Matthew 7:7-12
To live as a child of God you must be a child of God
To be discerning without being judgmental requires humility and insight not natural to man
God knows our weaknesses and will help us overcome those weaknesses as we ask, seek and knock

5. Ask, Seek and Knock Matthew 7:7-8
This passage is often interpreted incorrectly because it is interpreted out of context
Without context, even professing Christians can twist Scripture into heresy

6. Ask, Seek and Knock Matthew 7:7-8
Psalm 37 - the context sets the conditions - those who trust, obey and delight in the are given their desires
John 14:14 - asking in Jesus’ name is not an incantation, but asking according to His will
The context of Matthew 7 is judgment and discernment

7. Ask, Seek and Knock Matthew 7:7-8
God provides wisdom and discernment for us to live in practical righteousness as we ask, seek and knock
James 1:5 - God gives us wisdom to live in righteousness - how to be joyful in the midst of trials

8. Ask, Seek and Knock Matthew 7:7-8
Asking, seeking and knocking all stress the same point of importunity in prayer
Asking, seeking and knocking are present active tense - you keep doing these things

9. Two Illustrations Matthew 7:9-10
Verse 9 - Bread:
A stone may look like bread, but a man would not switch them to give to his son
Verse 10 - Fish:
The meat may look similar, but a man would not switch fish for snake to give to his son

10. Our Good Father Matthew 7:11
Men are by evil by nature
Philosophical foolishness has resulted in efforts by society to redefine or excuse sin
Only God can declare what is good and what is evil - and He declares man is sinful

11. Our Good Father Matthew 7:11
Psalm 14:3;
Isaiah 64:6;
Jeremiah 17:9;
Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3;
Proverbs 22:15,
Matthew 7:11

12. Our Good Father Matthew 7:11
The goodness of God is emphasized by the comparison with evil men
God gives what we need, not what we want - getting what we want could be very bad for us
God want you to be holy (1 Peter 1:16) –
you can be confident if you ask He will help you become righteous

13. Our Good Father Matthew 7:11
Hebrews 11:6; Jeremiah 29:13 - seek and He will reward you with knowledge and relationship with Himself
James 1:5 - knock seeking wisdom to live righteously and God will grant it

14. The Golden Rule Matthew 7:12
The “therefore” points back to what Jesus has just taught
This is the basic rule of how to love your neighbor

15. The Golden Rule Matthew 7:12
Other cultures have similar sayings, but they are all from the negative position - don’t do this
Jesus’ statement is active and from the positive position - do this

16. Jesus’ Example
The text reflects God’s redeeming grace - ask, seek and knock and God answers because He is good

17. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ