For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the door is opened, so coming to God for help is never in vain. It is a sure and unfailing law of His government that true seeking is joined to giving, especially of the Holy Spirit, because God is true and His word cannot fail. The good things He gives are the Spirit with His guidance, grace, power, light, truth and wisdom, given in measure to desire, faith and capacity to impart to others. Receiving comes by simple faith that takes God at His word without prescribing how He must answer, with earnest persevering prayer, humility and a felt hunger for righteousness. He answers everyone, yet gives only what is for best good, sometimes giving what is healthful instead of what was asked and not always in the way or time expected.
Sermon Setting and Wording
The saying belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, spoken especially for the disciples while the listening multitude also heard it. Its plain language and simple thoughts made its truths understandable to the poor and unlearned. Those teachings became a light in darkness and a sure foundation for faith and practice.
It states foundation principles of the kingdom of God and a condition of entrance into it, as important now as for the multitude on the hillside. It does not directly attack error nor delineate the misery and wretchedness caused by sin, but teaches something infinitely better than was known, leaving hearers to draw their own conclusion about the nature of the kingdom. It disappointed hope of worldly greatness and undid false education in order to give a right conception of the kingdom and of Christ's own character. It virtually contradicts the doctrines of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees and sweeps away the misrepresentation that makes God look like a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy, and love. It restores confidence in the love of God by presenting Him in paternal love and teaching men to address the Supreme Ruler of the universe by the new name Our Father, which signifies His true relation to them and is music in His ears when spoken in sincerity, leading them to the throne by a new and living way. It sets out the far-reaching principles of God's law and the spirit that must be in the heart.
It belongs to instruction to be studied carefully for personal enlightenment and seeking of God, not to find faults in others. Every word of the seventh chapter of Matthew is to be studied as for life, together with James 2 and James 4:5-12 and James 5:13-20, by practicing the truth in daily life to know the work the Lord has given to do. Failing to walk in the light God gives separates from Him and brings darkness in proportion to the light rejected.
The threefold repetition of asking, seeking, and knocking repeats and strengthens the assurance that everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the way is opened. The repeated promise leaves no room for unbelief or misunderstanding and assures seekers that God is able to do all things. It makes assurance doubly sure that God answers everyone who prays in faith, so unbelief should be put away. Knocking means coming by special invitation, where God waits to welcome seekers into His audience chamber and admit them into closest intimacy and communion with Himself. Those who desire blessing are to knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, pleading the promise back to God as His own word.
Certainty of the Promise
Everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the way is opened, so coming to God in prayer for help is never in vain. This assurance is spoken personally by Christ to be believed, and those who knock are welcomed into what He promises.
The verse states a sure and unfailing law of divine government that joins human seeking with divine giving, so those who truly seek receive and those who ask find. This applies especially to asking, seeking and knocking for the Holy Spirit and His guidance, by which Christ empowers witness, and God works out His plans through people who seek Him in faith and hope and willingly submit to His hand, even choosing the most unpromising to show His wisdom and power. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised, to use made of light and knowledge already given, to capacity to receive, and to ability to impart to others, and testing by individual experiment gives assurance of receiving. The promise stands not as a maxim or theory but as fact and law, because God does not deceive, God is true, and His order is perfect, so truly seeking the precious grace of Christ never ends in disappointment and hungering and thirsting after righteousness brings filling with light and truth shining according to the desire of the soul.
The promise is to be believed exactly as read and trusted rather than treated with indifference or doubted, putting away unbelief. The Lord's promises are verity and truth and His word cannot fail, being more sure and valuable than any human word, an infallible rich promise to be repeated in full confidence with thanksgiving, which barricades the needy soul so the wicked one shall not touch him because the Lord will reveal Himself for His own name's sake. Not receiving reflects weak faith that fails to use God's rich, glorious promises, for it is God's nature to bestow His gifts and, being all-wise and all-powerful, He gives liberally to all who ask in faith, more merciful, tender, patient and loving than any earthly parent, drawing sinners with endearing language and tenderest sympathy to give courage and confidence. Nothing God can give will be withheld, for in giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven, and the heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask far more than even sinful human parents give good gifts to their children.
The promise stands written above every cloud of discouragement, distress and apparent failure, and God will lead step by step those who will be led, giving an experience at every step. When prayer is made for more faith and peace in Christ, even the blackest cloud and sense of divine wrath is His way of answering, driving to earnest effort and persevering faith so that faith grows strong in conflict with doubt and is proved by sufficient testing. Faith must therefore press through the clouds instead of settling under them talking failure and unbelief, and then God lifts the cloud, reveals His clear light, and diffuses through the soul peace beyond understanding.
Christ's promise to answer prayer is yea and amen and gives all things pertaining to life and godliness, not a limited amount, placing before believers an open door which no man can shut to be entered at once instead of being slow to enter it. Christ remains with those who ask and seek so each step can be taken with confidence in His presence and help, and God never fails those who claim the promise in prayer. Angels are commissioned to assist those who seek and knock, but opportunity must be given them by seeking God for oneself. Believing the promise brings comfort, spiritual strengthening and renewed physical strength, keeping the one who believes and all who come with a humble and contrite heart who obey and serve with undivided affection, giving reason not to be gloomy or despondent even amid physical weakness but to be hopefully cheerful with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise, looking on the bright side, talking faith and hope and courage, and holding fast to the hand of divine power.
Conditions for Receiving Answers
Faith is simply taking God at His word and believing He will do just as He has promised, without requiring strong emotion or joyful feeling as proof of acceptance. Feeling must not be made the criterion, for acceptance is proved by relying on the promise in faith and receiving its assurance as one's own, laying hold of Christ as strength with thanksgiving. Requests are to be brought in living, active faith with entire dependence as little children, presenting the case frequently and trusting He knows helplessness and want of righteousness and will fill the lack, lift out of difficulties and perplexities, cure by the blood of Christ and make His righteousness ours. Asking without faith is sin, and even if blessing were given it would not be recognized or appreciated.
Asking must be sincere, earnest, fervent, persevering and continual until God bestows what is needed to perfect Christian character. Languid, half-hearted, faithless prayers bring no answer, while asking in faith with perseverance and expectation, waiting and receiving in faith and rejoicing in hope, reaches the mercy seat. Pressing petitions to the throne in Jesus' name by the Holy Spirit's kindling, keeping in communion with God and grasping the promise and the God whose word is pledged, is a pledge He is about to answer exceedingly abundantly, able to make whole and to do all and more than is asked or anticipated. Victory depends on constantly asking and receiving and praying without ceasing even when prayers seem answered, for when God imparts soul-hunger His grace accompanies it, and by communing in prayer with trusting faith and thankfulness believers partake of the divine nature, constantly receiving grace to impart to others and going forth prepared for any duty or trial, whereas self-sufficiency makes character imperfect, flimsy and unreliable.
Receiving comes with humility, contrition, simplicity and childlike confidence as a child to a parent, admitting weakness, walking in simplicity with firm dependence, and possessing meekness and lowliness. Prayer for strength and grace to resist temptation is heard when offered earnestly in faith with a contrite heart, and God opens opportunities to those who seek in simple faith and works as each case requires when they yield fully to Him. All, even the most learned, noble and rich, are in His sight as little children, dust of the balance, babes in knowledge, and should come in simple words all can understand for eternal life, trusting without doubting His infinite sacrifice to bear sin and redeem for eternal life. Blessings are to be received with humble grateful hearts, for this unfaltering trust works through love and purifies the soul, and even the lowliest saint from a broken heart is heard.
The promise applies individually to those who feel spiritual need and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Asking God for the things of God with desire is met without hesitation, and those things are the Holy Spirit with His power, light, truth and grace, thirsting after godliness. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised, to capacity to receive, to use made of light and knowledge already given, and to ability to impart to others, and is found by individually testing the Word by experiment. A sense of need and desire for righteousness evidences Christ working on the heart to draw sinners to seek what only God can do through the Holy Spirit, and when God imparts soul-hunger His grace accompanies it.
God sets no conditions except hunger for mercy, desire for counsel and longing for love, and asking proves a sense of need. Asking in faith always receives because His pledged word cannot fail, and coming with true contrition for blessings needed to perfect character after Christ's likeness is never presumption but asking according to a promise that will be verified. Feeling and knowing oneself a sinner is sufficient ground without first being holy, for the condition is not being holy but desiring Him to cleanse from all sin and purify from all iniquity, and the plea to urge now and always is great need and utter helplessness which make Him and His redeeming power a necessity. Doing the allotted human part means believing in Christ, seeking so as to find and knocking so it is opened to make grace one's own, keeping the soul in Jesus' love, bearing fruit to God's glory fit for repentance, and keeping communion open without resisting the Spirit, since every provision is made and loss is one's own fault. Under this law of justification and sanctification good works will not save even one soul, yet none is saved without them, with forgiveness to the repentant, justification to the believer, and the crown of life and eternal life to the faithful.
Believers are to trust without waiting for special feelings and leave the timing and manner of the answer to the Father who gives what is good. An answer need not be accompanied by an immediate special feeling, for His word can be trusted, so they should continue asking and seeking with confidence that they will receive and find. They are to live out prayers, watch and keep moving forward humbly in living, active faith rather than unbelief and despair, even in affliction.
Good Gifts God Gives
The heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask Him, as the promise of receiving, finding, and opening is explained by a father's gift to his child. Even flawed human parents know how to give good gifts, yet His fatherly care is more merciful, more tender, more patient and loving than that of any earthly parent. Being all-wise and all-powerful, He gives liberally to all who ask in faith, freely by His own glory and virtue, and it is His nature to bestow His gifts. He draws sinners with endearing language to give courage and confidence, winning them by the tenderest sympathy flowing from His heart of love and pleading with the erring more earnestly than any human parent could. Parents are to show children this relation by kindly refusing what would injure while still seeking to make them happy.
The good things are identified with the Holy Spirit and His guidance, grace, power, light, truth and wisdom. Asking God for the things of God with desire is met without hesitation, and those who thirst after godliness and ask in faith for the Spirit receive. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised for it, to capacity to receive, to the use made of light and knowledge already given, and to ability to impart to others. Assurance comes by individually testing the word by experiment, for light and truth shine forth according to the desire of the soul, so hungering and thirsting after righteousness brings filling. The gift comes through Christ's merit and intercession when sought not for self-advancement but to bless others, and the promise belongs to every single person and not to leaders alone.
God hears the prayer for pardon and grants it to the sinner who comes in faith without first making himself worthy. Jesus alone cleanses from sin and forgives, giving forgiveness to the repentant, cleansing from all sin and unrighteousness, transformation of character, and pardon and peace by trusting His mercy. Seeking the Lord includes confessing and forsaking sins, humbling the heart, and bringing petitions for His presence, pardon, grace and blessing. A person burdened by sin can ask simply for salvation, and when the burden is taken away the soul receives the peace of Christ and sacred joy. Release from bondage comes by personal consent, every contrite soul is received and in nowise cast out during probation, for God longs to forgive and gives needed blessings to perfect Christian character to those who continue with sincerity and earnestness.
God gives strength and grace to resist Satan's temptations, overcome sinful habits, and sustain hold on truth and growth in conversion. His help is available in every emergency and trial, especially where people cannot overcome in their own strength, and the blessing is theirs when the promise is grasped in faith so the weary and burdened need not remain anxious or spiritually weak. Prayer for strength to resist temptation is heard when offered earnestly, in faith and with a contrite heart, by admitting weakness, asking for His strength, and claiming the promise with active faith working through love. Believing brings comfort, spiritual strengthening, and renewed physical strength, keeping the one who believes and all who come with a humble and contrite heart because He loves all who obey Him with undivided affection. Prayer brings relief from spiritual anguish, and children and youth can bring burdens and perplexities to Jesus, trusting without waiting for special feelings and leaving timing and manner to the Father who gives what is good.
God gives wisdom, counsel, light, knowledge and understanding to those who present petitions for grace and counsel, plead for light to understand the Word, and pray for wisdom to communicate it for the encouragement of others. Those in need of wisdom are to ask God directly and find in Him, instead of looking to human wisdom and depending on human guidance, which is leaning on a broken reed and proves a snare. Christ is the mighty Counselor, so those needing advice and counsel can turn to Him in faith with trust rather than indifference or doubt. Those who seek God's truth receive clearer light and understanding, He enlightens their understanding and unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to hearts that long to know and are open to the Holy Spirit. Opposition and objections should lead to closer study of Scripture and more earnest seeking, strengthening faith and practical knowledge of truth.
God hears prayer for health and clearness of mind as the Great Physician. Bringing the case to Him and pleading promises with living faith for healing of eyes and brain, for freedom from pain and distress, and for clearness of thought brings peace of mind, assurance that prayer is heard, relief from affliction, and renewed strength of soul and body. The sick and suffering may come as helpless children for blessing and healing, believing He loves them and is abundantly able to make them whole and to do all and more than asked or anticipated, by continued persevering earnest asking without failing or discouragement. He also moves people to provide offerings and means needed to carry forward His work and bring people out of error, in answer to calling upon Him for special help. He loves to impart the bread of heaven and the rich treasure of His love with generous liberality and abundance to everyone who makes large calls upon Him.
How God Answers Prayer
God answers everyone who asks, seeks and knocks, yet He gives only what is for the best good and withholds what would injure. He may give what is good and healthful instead of what was asked, as a loving parent gives a child what is best rather than what is harmful. Parents are to set this relation before their children, telling them they are themselves God's children and desire to treat their children as God treats them, so that when a child asks for something harmful the parent kindly refuses with explanation and still seeks in every way to make the child happy. Sincere prayer receives an answer when people ask for humility, wisdom, courage and greater faith, and requests for spiritual blessing are made subject to God's will to be answered in the way and at the time that serve the asker's best good and bring glory to God.
The answer may come when the blessing is most needed and may exceed expectation, but it does not always come in the way desired or at the time expected. God may answer differently than expected, leading through trial, providence and the mystery of His workings, and He may not answer immediately yet He does not turn from His people indifferently. Diligent seeking is rewarded, and the experience gained through affliction is worth its cost, for hindrances and trials do not cancel the promise. Believers are therefore to wait without fretful anxiety, trusting God's faithfulness to fulfill His word rather than cherishing unbelief.
To find requires seeking, to receive requires asking, and to have the door opened requires knocking. Keeping open the channel of communication between God and the soul is the foundation of spiritual growth, and those who find heart and voice to pray will have God find answers to their prayers. Asking and receiving the bread of heaven is how growth in grace happens, giving strength for duty and filling the heart with peace as food sustains the body, including prayers offered in loneliness, weariness and trial. Those who share in the divine nature pray earnestly and receive, and diligently seek to understand God's commandments so they can obey them without error, for though sin deforms and Satan strives to control the passions, God knows human weakness and provides help through Christ who breaks every yoke and gives a perfect example.
Trials and grievances are permitted to come in order to lead people to seek the Lord, and seeking the Lord in that need proves the promise true. God may lead through trial to the good He intends, diligent seeking is rewarded, and the experience gained through affliction is worth its cost. Asking, seeking and knocking are not to be in vain, and the unjust judge's refusal to answer the widow stands in contrast to the response promised. The promise therefore calls for weeding out complaining and fault-finding and looking at defects in others, and turning instead to seek the Lord and behold the Father's love that makes sinners His children.
Asking must be done in faith with expectation of receiving, not asking and then going on as if nothing will come, and not asking to use for selfish pleasure. It means enquiring at every step whether Jesus would have that thing done, building a sober solid character in harmony with heaven, and receiving steadfastness against being swayed, for God is more willing to give power to remain steadfast than people are to ask. The heavenly Father's gift includes the Holy Spirit to those who ask, and under the Spirit's power understanding is enlarged and capabilities increase as responsibilities are carried. Asking, seeking and knocking describe urgent need for immediate help from God as the source of all grace and power, and seeking the Lord from the heart in this way is profitable, supporting a call to more earnest prayer and confidence while doing the work one can do.
Living Out the Promise
Troubles are to be taken to God in prayer rather than unloaded upon other people, for Christ supplies the grace and guidance needed and transforms the seeker into the divine likeness. Everything is to be brought to Him, little trials and large trials, heart difficulties opened before Him and just how one feels told to Him, instead of carrying them to anyone else. Heart-burnings against anyone for whom Christ died are to be cut away, and grace essential to be victors is to be asked for, and precious, rich, full, abundant victory comes by believing. Seeming silence does not mean He has not heard, for the adversary with evil angels works to cast a hellish shadow between soul and God so no ray of light comes, clouding mind and heart with trusting everything and everybody but God; to stop asking is to leave the fountain of living waters and the cool streams of Lebanon to drink the turbid waters of the valley. Prayer is to be sincere rather than empty or merely formal, growing faith, edifying gathered believers, strengthening and encouraging the weak, and turning the discouraged toward hope in God.
God gives spiritual and temporal gifts to be passed on to the needy and used in His work, so that His people minister to others and become like Him. Those who lack spiritual strength or light to help others may ask for the Holy Spirit, trusting that He stands behind His promises and answers earnest, Spirit-inspired prayer. The prayer of faith is the key unlocking heaven's treasury, for God holds Himself responsible to hear and answer supplications, loves to help, and bestows His best and choicest gifts that supply great need, bringing faith, peace and comfort, opening the heart to the Spirit, and working through the one who prays to bless his labors. Asking, believing and receiving are connected, and having received Christ by faith believers become channels carrying living truth to the world. Asking in faith brings the heavenly gift pictured as golden oil that keeps the lamps — the churches — burning to enlighten others, and believers are to keep seeking with humble hearts, with Jesus' name giving assurance and boldness.
To find requires seeking, to receive requires asking, and to have the door opened requires knocking, and keeping open the channel between God and the soul is the foundation of spiritual growth. This is to be testified and practiced in the home before family and workmen and in the church with brethren, praying three times a day without neglecting religious duties, and even when only a few are assembled the promises may be claimed with Father, Son and holy angels present to behold faith and steadfast principle and give the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that those who ask, seek and knock walk in the light and triumph in God. Heaven is full of blessings waiting to be claimed by asking in faith, so no one should be negligent but must press petitions to the throne for wisdom and rich grace, for Jesus to preside in councils and deliberations, and for the Holy Spirit for those bearing responsibilities in publishing and school work, with at least one special season of prayer each day for wisdom from heaven and counsel from One who never mistakes. Every member of the family circle has reason to come humbly in faith and present petitions. Meeting together for special seasons of prayer is acting on the promise, for God gives the special blessings so much needed, breaking through the enemy's clouds of darkness and giving refreshing as in olden days when believers met for prayer. Asking must let Jesus preside and prepare the way for the Holy Spirit, for the work is for eternity and the churches must not be found at Christ's coming as they now are. United prayers of the church offered for success in beseeching men to be reconciled to God are heard with power from on high greater than that answering private prayer, proportionate to unity and love for God and one another.
Laborers together with God must never neglect the promise but present petitions for grace and counsel, plead for light to understand the Word, and pray for wisdom to communicate it for the encouragement of others. Each worker in a publishing house is to seek the Lord through prayer and study of the Word in order to know duty. This instruction is essential study for ministers and physicians as part of the genuine science of higher education, joined to the assurance that the Father gives good things to those who ask. All who serve to the full extent of ability, praying for the Spirit's guidance and believing, receive light and knowledge and an answer, and that received light is revealed in daily association by introducing the leaven of truth into heart and character and conversation and declaring the transforming grace of the Word. All grace and efficiency for sanitarium work comes through united persevering prayer, with workers feeling dependence on God and receiving the Spirit working with every effort to impel and direct, making consecrated workers with Christlikeness channels of light to many souls.
Doing the faithful human part means making grace one's own by seeking so as to find and knocking so it is opened, keeping the soul in Jesus' love and bringing forth fruit fit for repentance. Every provision has been made and responsibility rests on us, so loss is one's own fault; coming to Christ at once without resisting the Spirit lays hold on eternal life, with forgiveness to him who repents and believes and the crown of life to him who is faithful. Jesus as representative and as Author and Finisher of faith carries believers through, giving this lesson of simplicity as part of the whole sum of Christian experience to be carried out, requiring more time for prayer and less for useless conversation. Asking brought relief from spiritual anguish and the blessing of God, encouraging continued desire for the fullness of God.
The promise is for everyone whatever nationality, color, strength or wealth, for God is Father and Jesus is Saviour to all who come and ask for what they need. Asking, seeking and knocking express urgent need for immediate help from God the source of all grace and power, and seeking from the heart in this way is profitable. Those who ask for peace and blessing receive them. Heavenly grace sought in faith nourishes and consoles the soul with gospel truth found. God's promises are fulfilled in those who place themselves in right relation to Him. As when prayer for wives' conversion was rewarded, experience confirms God's promises are sure in Christ.
God welcomes earnest confident prayer and does not weary of His children, who may bring all needs and plead for blessing and power to live as His children. Those desiring blessing may approach with firm assurance as repentant sinners through Jesus, trusting Him to keep His word on the ground of His goodness, as the heavenly Father gives good things including the Holy Spirit even as human parents give good gifts. Asking, seeking and knocking in faith are not in vain, for God answers, grants what is sought and opens the way, encouraging continual fervent supplication grounded in trust and presented in Christ's name, through whose merit and intercession the petitioner receives access to God's gifts, especially the Holy Spirit. Those who seek in earnest prayer and living faith are heard and helped with strength to resist temptation and overcome sinful habits, and continued prayer sustains hold on truth and growth in conversion.
Everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the door is opened, so coming to God for help is never in vain. It is a sure and unfailing law of His government that true seeking is joined to giving, especially of the Holy Spirit, because God is true and His word cannot fail. The good things He gives are the Spirit with His guidance, grace, power, light, truth and wisdom, given in measure to desire, faith and capacity to impart to others. Receiving comes by simple faith that takes God at His word without prescribing how He must answer, with earnest persevering prayer, humility and a felt hunger for righteousness. He answers everyone, yet gives only what is for best good, sometimes giving what is healthful instead of what was asked and not always in the way or time expected.
Sermon Setting and Wording
The saying belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, spoken especially for the disciples while the listening multitude also heard it. Its plain language and simple thoughts made its truths understandable to the poor and unlearned. Those teachings became a light in darkness and a sure foundation for faith and practice.
It states foundation principles of the kingdom of God and a condition of entrance into it, as important now as for the multitude on the hillside. It does not directly attack error nor delineate the misery and wretchedness caused by sin, but teaches something infinitely better than was known, leaving hearers to draw their own conclusion about the nature of the kingdom. It disappointed hope of worldly greatness and undid false education in order to give a right conception of the kingdom and of Christ's own character. It virtually contradicts the doctrines of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees and sweeps away the misrepresentation that makes God look like a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy, and love. It restores confidence in the love of God by presenting Him in paternal love and teaching men to address the Supreme Ruler of the universe by the new name Our Father, which signifies His true relation to them and is music in His ears when spoken in sincerity, leading them to the throne by a new and living way. It sets out the far-reaching principles of God's law and the spirit that must be in the heart.
It belongs to instruction to be studied carefully for personal enlightenment and seeking of God, not to find faults in others. Every word of the seventh chapter of Matthew is to be studied as for life, together with James 2 and James 4:5-12 and James 5:13-20, by practicing the truth in daily life to know the work the Lord has given to do. Failing to walk in the light God gives separates from Him and brings darkness in proportion to the light rejected.
The threefold repetition of asking, seeking, and knocking repeats and strengthens the assurance that everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the way is opened. The repeated promise leaves no room for unbelief or misunderstanding and assures seekers that God is able to do all things. It makes assurance doubly sure that God answers everyone who prays in faith, so unbelief should be put away. Knocking means coming by special invitation, where God waits to welcome seekers into His audience chamber and admit them into closest intimacy and communion with Himself. Those who desire blessing are to knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, pleading the promise back to God as His own word.
Certainty of the Promise
Everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks the way is opened, so coming to God in prayer for help is never in vain. This assurance is spoken personally by Christ to be believed, and those who knock are welcomed into what He promises.
The verse states a sure and unfailing law of divine government that joins human seeking with divine giving, so those who truly seek receive and those who ask find. This applies especially to asking, seeking and knocking for the Holy Spirit and His guidance, by which Christ empowers witness, and God works out His plans through people who seek Him in faith and hope and willingly submit to His hand, even choosing the most unpromising to show His wisdom and power. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised, to use made of light and knowledge already given, to capacity to receive, and to ability to impart to others, and testing by individual experiment gives assurance of receiving. The promise stands not as a maxim or theory but as fact and law, because God does not deceive, God is true, and His order is perfect, so truly seeking the precious grace of Christ never ends in disappointment and hungering and thirsting after righteousness brings filling with light and truth shining according to the desire of the soul.
The promise is to be believed exactly as read and trusted rather than treated with indifference or doubted, putting away unbelief. The Lord's promises are verity and truth and His word cannot fail, being more sure and valuable than any human word, an infallible rich promise to be repeated in full confidence with thanksgiving, which barricades the needy soul so the wicked one shall not touch him because the Lord will reveal Himself for His own name's sake. Not receiving reflects weak faith that fails to use God's rich, glorious promises, for it is God's nature to bestow His gifts and, being all-wise and all-powerful, He gives liberally to all who ask in faith, more merciful, tender, patient and loving than any earthly parent, drawing sinners with endearing language and tenderest sympathy to give courage and confidence. Nothing God can give will be withheld, for in giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven, and the heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask far more than even sinful human parents give good gifts to their children.
The promise stands written above every cloud of discouragement, distress and apparent failure, and God will lead step by step those who will be led, giving an experience at every step. When prayer is made for more faith and peace in Christ, even the blackest cloud and sense of divine wrath is His way of answering, driving to earnest effort and persevering faith so that faith grows strong in conflict with doubt and is proved by sufficient testing. Faith must therefore press through the clouds instead of settling under them talking failure and unbelief, and then God lifts the cloud, reveals His clear light, and diffuses through the soul peace beyond understanding.
Christ's promise to answer prayer is yea and amen and gives all things pertaining to life and godliness, not a limited amount, placing before believers an open door which no man can shut to be entered at once instead of being slow to enter it. Christ remains with those who ask and seek so each step can be taken with confidence in His presence and help, and God never fails those who claim the promise in prayer. Angels are commissioned to assist those who seek and knock, but opportunity must be given them by seeking God for oneself. Believing the promise brings comfort, spiritual strengthening and renewed physical strength, keeping the one who believes and all who come with a humble and contrite heart who obey and serve with undivided affection, giving reason not to be gloomy or despondent even amid physical weakness but to be hopefully cheerful with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise, looking on the bright side, talking faith and hope and courage, and holding fast to the hand of divine power.
Conditions for Receiving Answers
Faith is simply taking God at His word and believing He will do just as He has promised, without requiring strong emotion or joyful feeling as proof of acceptance. Feeling must not be made the criterion, for acceptance is proved by relying on the promise in faith and receiving its assurance as one's own, laying hold of Christ as strength with thanksgiving. Requests are to be brought in living, active faith with entire dependence as little children, presenting the case frequently and trusting He knows helplessness and want of righteousness and will fill the lack, lift out of difficulties and perplexities, cure by the blood of Christ and make His righteousness ours. Asking without faith is sin, and even if blessing were given it would not be recognized or appreciated.
Asking must be sincere, earnest, fervent, persevering and continual until God bestows what is needed to perfect Christian character. Languid, half-hearted, faithless prayers bring no answer, while asking in faith with perseverance and expectation, waiting and receiving in faith and rejoicing in hope, reaches the mercy seat. Pressing petitions to the throne in Jesus' name by the Holy Spirit's kindling, keeping in communion with God and grasping the promise and the God whose word is pledged, is a pledge He is about to answer exceedingly abundantly, able to make whole and to do all and more than is asked or anticipated. Victory depends on constantly asking and receiving and praying without ceasing even when prayers seem answered, for when God imparts soul-hunger His grace accompanies it, and by communing in prayer with trusting faith and thankfulness believers partake of the divine nature, constantly receiving grace to impart to others and going forth prepared for any duty or trial, whereas self-sufficiency makes character imperfect, flimsy and unreliable.
Receiving comes with humility, contrition, simplicity and childlike confidence as a child to a parent, admitting weakness, walking in simplicity with firm dependence, and possessing meekness and lowliness. Prayer for strength and grace to resist temptation is heard when offered earnestly in faith with a contrite heart, and God opens opportunities to those who seek in simple faith and works as each case requires when they yield fully to Him. All, even the most learned, noble and rich, are in His sight as little children, dust of the balance, babes in knowledge, and should come in simple words all can understand for eternal life, trusting without doubting His infinite sacrifice to bear sin and redeem for eternal life. Blessings are to be received with humble grateful hearts, for this unfaltering trust works through love and purifies the soul, and even the lowliest saint from a broken heart is heard.
The promise applies individually to those who feel spiritual need and hunger and thirst for righteousness. Asking God for the things of God with desire is met without hesitation, and those things are the Holy Spirit with His power, light, truth and grace, thirsting after godliness. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised, to capacity to receive, to use made of light and knowledge already given, and to ability to impart to others, and is found by individually testing the Word by experiment. A sense of need and desire for righteousness evidences Christ working on the heart to draw sinners to seek what only God can do through the Holy Spirit, and when God imparts soul-hunger His grace accompanies it.
God sets no conditions except hunger for mercy, desire for counsel and longing for love, and asking proves a sense of need. Asking in faith always receives because His pledged word cannot fail, and coming with true contrition for blessings needed to perfect character after Christ's likeness is never presumption but asking according to a promise that will be verified. Feeling and knowing oneself a sinner is sufficient ground without first being holy, for the condition is not being holy but desiring Him to cleanse from all sin and purify from all iniquity, and the plea to urge now and always is great need and utter helplessness which make Him and His redeeming power a necessity. Doing the allotted human part means believing in Christ, seeking so as to find and knocking so it is opened to make grace one's own, keeping the soul in Jesus' love, bearing fruit to God's glory fit for repentance, and keeping communion open without resisting the Spirit, since every provision is made and loss is one's own fault. Under this law of justification and sanctification good works will not save even one soul, yet none is saved without them, with forgiveness to the repentant, justification to the believer, and the crown of life and eternal life to the faithful.
Believers are to trust without waiting for special feelings and leave the timing and manner of the answer to the Father who gives what is good. An answer need not be accompanied by an immediate special feeling, for His word can be trusted, so they should continue asking and seeking with confidence that they will receive and find. They are to live out prayers, watch and keep moving forward humbly in living, active faith rather than unbelief and despair, even in affliction.
Good Gifts God Gives
The heavenly Father gives good things to those who ask Him, as the promise of receiving, finding, and opening is explained by a father's gift to his child. Even flawed human parents know how to give good gifts, yet His fatherly care is more merciful, more tender, more patient and loving than that of any earthly parent. Being all-wise and all-powerful, He gives liberally to all who ask in faith, freely by His own glory and virtue, and it is His nature to bestow His gifts. He draws sinners with endearing language to give courage and confidence, winning them by the tenderest sympathy flowing from His heart of love and pleading with the erring more earnestly than any human parent could. Parents are to show children this relation by kindly refusing what would injure while still seeking to make them happy.
The good things are identified with the Holy Spirit and His guidance, grace, power, light, truth and wisdom. Asking God for the things of God with desire is met without hesitation, and those who thirst after godliness and ask in faith for the Spirit receive. The measure received corresponds to desire, to faith exercised for it, to capacity to receive, to the use made of light and knowledge already given, and to ability to impart to others. Assurance comes by individually testing the word by experiment, for light and truth shine forth according to the desire of the soul, so hungering and thirsting after righteousness brings filling. The gift comes through Christ's merit and intercession when sought not for self-advancement but to bless others, and the promise belongs to every single person and not to leaders alone.
God hears the prayer for pardon and grants it to the sinner who comes in faith without first making himself worthy. Jesus alone cleanses from sin and forgives, giving forgiveness to the repentant, cleansing from all sin and unrighteousness, transformation of character, and pardon and peace by trusting His mercy. Seeking the Lord includes confessing and forsaking sins, humbling the heart, and bringing petitions for His presence, pardon, grace and blessing. A person burdened by sin can ask simply for salvation, and when the burden is taken away the soul receives the peace of Christ and sacred joy. Release from bondage comes by personal consent, every contrite soul is received and in nowise cast out during probation, for God longs to forgive and gives needed blessings to perfect Christian character to those who continue with sincerity and earnestness.
God gives strength and grace to resist Satan's temptations, overcome sinful habits, and sustain hold on truth and growth in conversion. His help is available in every emergency and trial, especially where people cannot overcome in their own strength, and the blessing is theirs when the promise is grasped in faith so the weary and burdened need not remain anxious or spiritually weak. Prayer for strength to resist temptation is heard when offered earnestly, in faith and with a contrite heart, by admitting weakness, asking for His strength, and claiming the promise with active faith working through love. Believing brings comfort, spiritual strengthening, and renewed physical strength, keeping the one who believes and all who come with a humble and contrite heart because He loves all who obey Him with undivided affection. Prayer brings relief from spiritual anguish, and children and youth can bring burdens and perplexities to Jesus, trusting without waiting for special feelings and leaving timing and manner to the Father who gives what is good.
God gives wisdom, counsel, light, knowledge and understanding to those who present petitions for grace and counsel, plead for light to understand the Word, and pray for wisdom to communicate it for the encouragement of others. Those in need of wisdom are to ask God directly and find in Him, instead of looking to human wisdom and depending on human guidance, which is leaning on a broken reed and proves a snare. Christ is the mighty Counselor, so those needing advice and counsel can turn to Him in faith with trust rather than indifference or doubt. Those who seek God's truth receive clearer light and understanding, He enlightens their understanding and unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to hearts that long to know and are open to the Holy Spirit. Opposition and objections should lead to closer study of Scripture and more earnest seeking, strengthening faith and practical knowledge of truth.
God hears prayer for health and clearness of mind as the Great Physician. Bringing the case to Him and pleading promises with living faith for healing of eyes and brain, for freedom from pain and distress, and for clearness of thought brings peace of mind, assurance that prayer is heard, relief from affliction, and renewed strength of soul and body. The sick and suffering may come as helpless children for blessing and healing, believing He loves them and is abundantly able to make them whole and to do all and more than asked or anticipated, by continued persevering earnest asking without failing or discouragement. He also moves people to provide offerings and means needed to carry forward His work and bring people out of error, in answer to calling upon Him for special help. He loves to impart the bread of heaven and the rich treasure of His love with generous liberality and abundance to everyone who makes large calls upon Him.
How God Answers Prayer
God answers everyone who asks, seeks and knocks, yet He gives only what is for the best good and withholds what would injure. He may give what is good and healthful instead of what was asked, as a loving parent gives a child what is best rather than what is harmful. Parents are to set this relation before their children, telling them they are themselves God's children and desire to treat their children as God treats them, so that when a child asks for something harmful the parent kindly refuses with explanation and still seeks in every way to make the child happy. Sincere prayer receives an answer when people ask for humility, wisdom, courage and greater faith, and requests for spiritual blessing are made subject to God's will to be answered in the way and at the time that serve the asker's best good and bring glory to God.
The answer may come when the blessing is most needed and may exceed expectation, but it does not always come in the way desired or at the time expected. God may answer differently than expected, leading through trial, providence and the mystery of His workings, and He may not answer immediately yet He does not turn from His people indifferently. Diligent seeking is rewarded, and the experience gained through affliction is worth its cost, for hindrances and trials do not cancel the promise. Believers are therefore to wait without fretful anxiety, trusting God's faithfulness to fulfill His word rather than cherishing unbelief.
To find requires seeking, to receive requires asking, and to have the door opened requires knocking. Keeping open the channel of communication between God and the soul is the foundation of spiritual growth, and those who find heart and voice to pray will have God find answers to their prayers. Asking and receiving the bread of heaven is how growth in grace happens, giving strength for duty and filling the heart with peace as food sustains the body, including prayers offered in loneliness, weariness and trial. Those who share in the divine nature pray earnestly and receive, and diligently seek to understand God's commandments so they can obey them without error, for though sin deforms and Satan strives to control the passions, God knows human weakness and provides help through Christ who breaks every yoke and gives a perfect example.
Trials and grievances are permitted to come in order to lead people to seek the Lord, and seeking the Lord in that need proves the promise true. God may lead through trial to the good He intends, diligent seeking is rewarded, and the experience gained through affliction is worth its cost. Asking, seeking and knocking are not to be in vain, and the unjust judge's refusal to answer the widow stands in contrast to the response promised. The promise therefore calls for weeding out complaining and fault-finding and looking at defects in others, and turning instead to seek the Lord and behold the Father's love that makes sinners His children.
Asking must be done in faith with expectation of receiving, not asking and then going on as if nothing will come, and not asking to use for selfish pleasure. It means enquiring at every step whether Jesus would have that thing done, building a sober solid character in harmony with heaven, and receiving steadfastness against being swayed, for God is more willing to give power to remain steadfast than people are to ask. The heavenly Father's gift includes the Holy Spirit to those who ask, and under the Spirit's power understanding is enlarged and capabilities increase as responsibilities are carried. Asking, seeking and knocking describe urgent need for immediate help from God as the source of all grace and power, and seeking the Lord from the heart in this way is profitable, supporting a call to more earnest prayer and confidence while doing the work one can do.
Living Out the Promise
Troubles are to be taken to God in prayer rather than unloaded upon other people, for Christ supplies the grace and guidance needed and transforms the seeker into the divine likeness. Everything is to be brought to Him, little trials and large trials, heart difficulties opened before Him and just how one feels told to Him, instead of carrying them to anyone else. Heart-burnings against anyone for whom Christ died are to be cut away, and grace essential to be victors is to be asked for, and precious, rich, full, abundant victory comes by believing. Seeming silence does not mean He has not heard, for the adversary with evil angels works to cast a hellish shadow between soul and God so no ray of light comes, clouding mind and heart with trusting everything and everybody but God; to stop asking is to leave the fountain of living waters and the cool streams of Lebanon to drink the turbid waters of the valley. Prayer is to be sincere rather than empty or merely formal, growing faith, edifying gathered believers, strengthening and encouraging the weak, and turning the discouraged toward hope in God.
God gives spiritual and temporal gifts to be passed on to the needy and used in His work, so that His people minister to others and become like Him. Those who lack spiritual strength or light to help others may ask for the Holy Spirit, trusting that He stands behind His promises and answers earnest, Spirit-inspired prayer. The prayer of faith is the key unlocking heaven's treasury, for God holds Himself responsible to hear and answer supplications, loves to help, and bestows His best and choicest gifts that supply great need, bringing faith, peace and comfort, opening the heart to the Spirit, and working through the one who prays to bless his labors. Asking, believing and receiving are connected, and having received Christ by faith believers become channels carrying living truth to the world. Asking in faith brings the heavenly gift pictured as golden oil that keeps the lamps — the churches — burning to enlighten others, and believers are to keep seeking with humble hearts, with Jesus' name giving assurance and boldness.
To find requires seeking, to receive requires asking, and to have the door opened requires knocking, and keeping open the channel between God and the soul is the foundation of spiritual growth. This is to be testified and practiced in the home before family and workmen and in the church with brethren, praying three times a day without neglecting religious duties, and even when only a few are assembled the promises may be claimed with Father, Son and holy angels present to behold faith and steadfast principle and give the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that those who ask, seek and knock walk in the light and triumph in God. Heaven is full of blessings waiting to be claimed by asking in faith, so no one should be negligent but must press petitions to the throne for wisdom and rich grace, for Jesus to preside in councils and deliberations, and for the Holy Spirit for those bearing responsibilities in publishing and school work, with at least one special season of prayer each day for wisdom from heaven and counsel from One who never mistakes. Every member of the family circle has reason to come humbly in faith and present petitions. Meeting together for special seasons of prayer is acting on the promise, for God gives the special blessings so much needed, breaking through the enemy's clouds of darkness and giving refreshing as in olden days when believers met for prayer. Asking must let Jesus preside and prepare the way for the Holy Spirit, for the work is for eternity and the churches must not be found at Christ's coming as they now are. United prayers of the church offered for success in beseeching men to be reconciled to God are heard with power from on high greater than that answering private prayer, proportionate to unity and love for God and one another.
Laborers together with God must never neglect the promise but present petitions for grace and counsel, plead for light to understand the Word, and pray for wisdom to communicate it for the encouragement of others. Each worker in a publishing house is to seek the Lord through prayer and study of the Word in order to know duty. This instruction is essential study for ministers and physicians as part of the genuine science of higher education, joined to the assurance that the Father gives good things to those who ask. All who serve to the full extent of ability, praying for the Spirit's guidance and believing, receive light and knowledge and an answer, and that received light is revealed in daily association by introducing the leaven of truth into heart and character and conversation and declaring the transforming grace of the Word. All grace and efficiency for sanitarium work comes through united persevering prayer, with workers feeling dependence on God and receiving the Spirit working with every effort to impel and direct, making consecrated workers with Christlikeness channels of light to many souls.
Doing the faithful human part means making grace one's own by seeking so as to find and knocking so it is opened, keeping the soul in Jesus' love and bringing forth fruit fit for repentance. Every provision has been made and responsibility rests on us, so loss is one's own fault; coming to Christ at once without resisting the Spirit lays hold on eternal life, with forgiveness to him who repents and believes and the crown of life to him who is faithful. Jesus as representative and as Author and Finisher of faith carries believers through, giving this lesson of simplicity as part of the whole sum of Christian experience to be carried out, requiring more time for prayer and less for useless conversation. Asking brought relief from spiritual anguish and the blessing of God, encouraging continued desire for the fullness of God.
The promise is for everyone whatever nationality, color, strength or wealth, for God is Father and Jesus is Saviour to all who come and ask for what they need. Asking, seeking and knocking express urgent need for immediate help from God the source of all grace and power, and seeking from the heart in this way is profitable. Those who ask for peace and blessing receive them. Heavenly grace sought in faith nourishes and consoles the soul with gospel truth found. God's promises are fulfilled in those who place themselves in right relation to Him. As when prayer for wives' conversion was rewarded, experience confirms God's promises are sure in Christ.
God welcomes earnest confident prayer and does not weary of His children, who may bring all needs and plead for blessing and power to live as His children. Those desiring blessing may approach with firm assurance as repentant sinners through Jesus, trusting Him to keep His word on the ground of His goodness, as the heavenly Father gives good things including the Holy Spirit even as human parents give good gifts. Asking, seeking and knocking in faith are not in vain, for God answers, grants what is sought and opens the way, encouraging continual fervent supplication grounded in trust and presented in Christ's name, through whose merit and intercession the petitioner receives access to God's gifts, especially the Holy Spirit. Those who seek in earnest prayer and living faith are heard and helped with strength to resist temptation and overcome sinful habits, and continued prayer sustains hold on truth and growth in conversion.