As we walk with the Lord, we must seek to understand what He expects of us and our responsibilities. Otherwise we will misunderstand by thinking He’s supposed to do something in a particular situation when it’s our obligation.
In some circles, there is a misconception that because God is Sovereign, He will take care of everything automatically, and all we must do is go along for the ride. Of course, those who have this notion would never state it that way. But, when tragedy comes or the storms of life come along, they are quick to say, “Well, it must have been the will of the Lord.”
They think God will intervene in the earth without our agreement, involvement, or action, and if He doesn’t the outcome must be His will. For some reason, they’ve not clearly understood the responsibility God has placed upon us to see His will accomplished in the earth.
Let’s look at scriptural examples of what God expects from us.
The first one is found in the book of Matthew. Jesus is teaching His disciples during the sermon on the mount. He tells them the Father will give them good things, but He puts conditions on that promise that places a responsibility upon them.
"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
What a wonderful promise! Yet, the promise puts a responsibility upon the one desiring something from the Father. First, they must ask, seek, or knock. The Father is not obligated to arbitrarily pour out His blessings just because there is a need or desire in someone’s heart. He can and does do that at times, but here we see the prescription is for us to ask, seek, and knock.
The apostle James said, “…you do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2b
In the passage above, it is clear we have a part in receiving answers to prayer. We must take time to ask, seek, knock. Each level of this type of petition requires a different intensity of persistence and focus.
The first level, if I can use that term, requires only a simple request. The next level, seek, requires a stronger commitment of time and pursuit. The last level, knock, requires a steadfastness, and persistence that many people fail to maintain.
I do not understand all the reasons for these three levels or steps of prayer (except for spiritual warfare Paul alludes to in his letter to the Ephesians) but they are clearly our responsibility. We should not expect a response from the Father unless we have followed His instructions and protocol. (See Ephesians 6:10-20)
The first level of asking may be a simple request for daily provision or protection. The second level of seeking may be a desire to understand something that seems obscure, or a desire to know more about the Father’s plan for our life, or His ways. The last level of knocking may include a deep intercession for a lost relative or serious situation that can only be turned around through spiritual travail.
The apostle Paul understood this when sharing his concern for the spiritual growth of the church at Galatia.
“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you….” Galatians 4:19
Many times the Father will give His children something in seed form to allow them the privilege of nurturing it to full maturity. Without understanding this, several have just waited for Him to do it for them. They erroneously believe He is the one to cultivate it. No, that is our responsibility and one which will require us to ‘ask’, ‘seek’ and ‘knock’ before we see the development and fruition of His perfect will in our lives.
If you are a parent, you realize you have a responsibility to raise your children from infancy to their young adult years. That responsibility falls off once they become adults and are on their own. There is no falling off our need for prayer. Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not faint….” Luke 18:1 He makes it clear prayer is a key ingredient to withstand fainting and is the responsibility of every person. Therefore, prayerlessness will be one of the greatest reasons for a lack of fruitfulness in our lives. If we do not cultivate a prayer life, we will be barren, ashamed, and lack fruit when we stand before the Father and Christ to give an account. God will not be blamed for our slothfulness, indifference, lack of discipline, and neglect in that day.
We will look at another often overlooked biblical responsibility next time and how the church has been less effective as a result. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father richly bless and keep you.
James Brown 07/01/2023