Kingdom of God
Kingdom Prayer
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:7-11).
I believe that in this passage of Scripture that Jesus was giving us the way that prayer works in and for Kingdom of God. However, I submit that there is a type of prayer that oftentimes is overlooked when this Scripture is mentioned. When this Scripture is mentioned in the parallel Scripture in Luke, something important is added.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13). Notice, the Holy Spirit is the answer to prayer. While I believe that this "ask, seek and knock" principle should be used for many types of prayer, I also believe that it should be applied in a context that is sometimes overlooked.
Jesus has been teaching about the Kingdom of God. He has been teaching in this particular portion that our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees. Then He talks about murder and adultery in the heart, oaths, going the second mile, loving your enemies, good deeds, prayer and fasting, keeping your eye on Him and not the world, trusting Him for all your needs so as not to worry, and finally, judging, all of which we covered in previous chapters. If you were to go over this list without revelation and understanding you could feel condemned. You might say, "How can I live like this?" Jesus' answered your question before you even asked. He in effect says, "You cannot, but if you ask, seek and knock, I will give you the Holy Spirit, not just once, but in ever increasing measure, so that He may live His life in and through you."
In any prayer, most often our real answer comes in the form of revelation knowledge, God speaking, often referred to as rhema. This gives us supernatural knowledge regarding the finished work of God through the Cross and resurrection of Jesus. Sometimes it can come to us in the form of a fact or a promise. For instance, "You are seating with Him in heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6). That is a fact. "You have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20), a another fact. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8), a fact and a promise that causes hope. This type of revelation has enough power within it to change us and/or our circumstances, most likely in that order.
The only blessed life on this earth is to live in the Kingdom of God. You cannot live in the Kingdom and enjoy its blessings very long without living a righteousness that exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees. You cannot do that without dying to your self and allowing the Holy Sprit to live the life of Jesus in and through you.
Sowing and reaping is real.
Jesus concludes His teaching about living in a higher righteousness with this sobering thought. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). I don't think this needs my comment.
Opposition.
In this and other related Scriptures mentioned in this chapter, He warns us that there will be opposition in prayer, and that we should be aware of that opposition and understand how to overcome it. He was also instructing us that prayer does not begin with us, but it begins with Him, as Lord. Going back to God's original creation, Adam was to have dominion over the earth and everything in it, but he was to first fellowship with God first, obtain his orders and plans, and then execute them.
I believe that there are two primary factors that hinders prayer. First there is Satan, the prince of the air, who opposes our contact with God. Next, as is stated in this Scripture, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3).
These two factors combine to make us feel separated from God, unworthy, and often give us the attitude of "Why should I even bother trying to get closer to God?" When you are feeling this way, press on with the ask, seek and knock process as we describe it below.
The way is narrow.
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13,14). Many pray for issues all of their lives and never understand some of the basics. I believe that the ask, seek, knock process gives us a path to follow.
Jesus warned us that we would sometimes think that God does not hear or answer our prayers.
The friend at midnight.
"And He said to them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'" (Luke 11:5-13).
We know from Scripture that God is love, God is good, and by these verses, that God wants to bless His kingdom children. However He warns us that there is a procedure for passing the blessings from the heavenly realm to the earthly realm. He warns us about the narrow gate and difficult way. We don't simply tell God what we want and then expect a special delivery package the next day. There is a Kingdom process.
In this Luke Scripture there is a parable about a friend asking for help. The man inside the house was asleep, and was rather indifferent to the request. Jesus was saying, that often it will seem like God is indifferent, but He is not. Our persistence in prayer is needed. However, many misunderstand what kind of persistence is needed.
The unjust judge.
"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' Then the Lord said, 'Hear what the unjust judge said.' And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8).
Daniel's prayer.
Notice in the following Daniel example, God was not holding out on Daniel's prayer and request, but an enemy devil, a satanic angel, had held up the answer. God had also honored Daniel's kind of prayer, an unselfish prayer for his people, a prayer admitting his people's failure to obey God, and a prayer for God to show mercy and to speak again. It was not "asking amiss," but was the prayer of a man who had "died to himself."
Step one - ask.
During our asking process, which could be for some personal need or perhaps as an intercession for someone else, we lay our petition out before God. We tell Him what is on our mind, admit we do not have all the answers, and ask Him to reveal His will and His Word, or rhema on the situation. Often it is just pouring out our frustrations. We ask for forgiveness, for mercy and to keep us from presumptuous sins. We tell Him how we do not line up with the Kingdom of God righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. We ask Him for a breakthrough in our soul.
We need to ask as in the model of the Flowing River, walking through the Tabernacle and taking up our cross. [1]
Seldom is my "asking" for something personal, rather it is asking for God to speak His ordained Word, His rhema to me. If I can hear God speak, the main part of my battle is over! "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).
Part of this step is worship and thanksgiving. What we need most of all is the Holy Spirit making Jesus real to us. Looking at so many examples in Scripture we need to worship Him and rehearse our thanksgiving before this is possible. "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name" (Psalms 100:4).
Ask as Daniel asked.
He asked favor for his people and for the Kingdom of God. However he also asked for forgiveness and for God's mercy. He laid himself out with his people as disobedient sinners.
Daniel 9:3-7, 10:17-19
3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
5 "we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
6 "Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.
7 "O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You."
10:17 "Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.
18 "O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
19 "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."
Step two - seek.
The next stage is seeking to hear from Him in response to our request. Often prayer is answered not in a material way, but by God speaking His Word to us. Prayer is not going to be answered unless God originates it. We need Him to reveal His will to us. Sometimes we do not hear anything in reply to our request. Sometimes He just sends us back to what He told us years or months ago. Often, we do hear from Him through various media, including His Word, the witness of the Holy Spirit, through other people and through circumstances. I like to line up all four of these if possible.
Daniel sought.
Daniel 10:2-9
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Daniel received.
Daniel 9:20-22
20 "Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God,
21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand."
Daniel found.
God spoke about an important future event concerning the crucifixion of the coming Messiah. This was far above what Daniel could have prayed for. One day many years ago when I felt that God had let me down on a business deal that did not work out, one which I desperately needed, He spoke this to me. "Larry, how would you like it if I gave you everything you prayed for, nothing more and nothing less?" I said, "No Lord, only You know what is good for me." He said, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
During the 25 years following that conversation, that promise has come to pass in my life, and is still unfolding. Be prepared to find more than you are capable of asking for!
Daniel 9: 23-27, 10:1
23"At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
Step three - knock.
Once God speaks, His Word, His seed, is planted in our hearts. Satan comes to steal. We must stand, by speaking the Word, and by overcoming the temptation, sin and flesh in our own lives, as laid out in the Parable of The Sower in Mark Chapter 4. We must have patience to inherit the promise, because the promise is in the form of a seed planted in your heart. Satan attempts to steal the seed by various means, but of which have to do with your potential ungodly "walk."
Knocking includes spiritual warfare against the demonic forces assigned to stop God moving through our prayer. We stand. Standing infers that we already have a victorious position that we need to protect against attack. We do that by faith and patience, and by speaking the appropriate Word of God out loud as the sword of the Spirit.
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, " "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ("Ephesians 6:11-14,17).
Daniel's knocking.
Daniel 10:10-15
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
14 "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless."
We live in a world that is more spiritual than natural.
The Kingdom of God rules the spiritual through us as we walk and live in it. The spiritual governs the natural realm. We don't see the "prince of Persia" or other such spiritual demonic beings, but they are real. They tempt us to misjudge God as the "one who will not open the door at midnight." They tempt us to live out our old unregenerated nature, the flesh, instead of allowing God's character to prevail in our everyday lives. According to the Parable of The Sower in Mark chapter 4, as we do this, Satan steals the Word that Jesus planted in our hearts.
"The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred" (Mark 4:14-20).
