30th August 2026 : Matthew ch 7 v 7 - 12

Matthew ch 7 v 7 - 12

hat I'd like to do first of all is to read the Word of God to you and then we'll pray and then we'll have a look at it.

The Word today is in Matthew 7 verses 7 to 12 and here we're finding ourselves moving towards the end but still within the bounds of the Sermon on the Mount. So it's Matthew 7 verse 7 to 12.

And the word of God says: Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. But 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? Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Praise the Lord. Amen. Let's pray.

Lord, this is your sermon. This is your preach. It's called the Sermon on the Mount, Lord, for that reason you preached it first. Lord, in Jesus' name. In these times of confusion, and in these times when we hear lots of voices, ay it be that we hear your voice again, your voice afresh, Lord. Preach it to us, Lord, though you're not physically present with us, Lord, let your spirit speak. Cascade all that you want to say, all that you feel, all that you intend towards us today. Let it come to us with a richness and a flavour that we have not seen before because you are still speaking. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. You are the minister. Amen.

And he is the minister as well. Just praying there. Yeah, the Sermon on the Mount is exactly where we find this passage. And it's found altogether, if you want to reread it, in Matthew chapter 5 and right through to Matthew chapter 7. So that's 5, 6 and 7. And that is a sermon. It is a preach or a time of teaching as it's known.

And how did it begin? Chapter 5, verse 1, I'll read it to you. And you can see exactly how this began. And Jesus seeing the multitudes, this is from verse 1, seeing the crowds, he went up on a mountain. So he got away from the crowds. And why? Well, because when he was seated with his disciples, they came to him, verse 1. And then he opened his mouth and he taught them. And then what he taught them was the Sermon on the Mount.

So we know that Jesus gave this message as a whole package really at that time and in that place. And we know also that he gave that word and that teaching to his disciples. Now beloved, we know anybody can read this stuff. Anybody can come under the sound of the gospel, but that is no guarantee for them. The Holy Spirit must have it for them and take it to them and let it go into them. Otherwise, all they will have done is hear but not understand.

You understand from Matthew 5 verse 1 and 2, Jesus took his disciples and he taught this material to them. And you know what that means? It means that if anybody ever wants to know what the teachings of Jesus are, and you might be surprised at me asking that question, but it's true that a lot of people go over what Jesus did, the miracles, the places he went, or the things he said to the Pharisees or something else, and the crucifixion, of course. But if you want to know what the teaching of Jesus is, go to the Sermon on the Mount and it's there in one package. And it's for his disciples.

All right, so that's where we find ourselves. And it means also that when we read this little bit of scripture that I read to you, it's only part of the whole thing. All right? So the context of it and the background to it is wrapped, if you like, in the whole message from chapter 5 through chapter 7 inclusive. And you can't just isolate one bit from the rest. some of the meaning and the understanding can be taken from seeing where everything fits together and how. All right, so that's just the background.

And we'll go into that a bit more near the end perhaps, but for now, what did it actually say? It's interesting, isn't it? I mean, Jesus, these are very bold things to say. And people will ask questions of them. Jesus said three things, but it's really the same thing he's teaching. In verse seven, he said, ask. And then he said, seek. And then he said, knock. Ask, seek, knock. Ask, seek, knock. Say it to yourself. Ask, seek, knock. Say it to yourself often. Say it especially when you're tempted and your head goes down and you're asking questions and you don't understand your circumstances.

And these words come back to you of Jesus that says, ask, seek, knock, don't stop, don't give up. Don't be disillusioned, don't be dejected. Have faith from first to last and in between. But on the back of those three things, he gives 3 guarantees. Do you notice that? So he says, ask and it will be given to you. And then he said, seek and you will find, you will, knock and it will be opened. So he says those three very challenging things to embolden his disciples.

Remember they're sat there, he's gone up a mountain to do this. And then he teaches them how bold they need to be in their prayerfulness and their worship. He's talking about asking, seeking, knocking, boldness with faith, bold praising, bold praying, bold fellowshipping, bold loving, ask, seek, knock. And the three guarantees, it will be given, you will find, and it will be opened. And that's the teaching of his disciples.

Are there any disciples in the room at the moment? We don't have to go up a mountain, do we? But if you're as a disciple of Jesus, this teaching is as rich and flavoursome and valid now as ever it was at any time in history, even when he first said it. But then go into verse 8 and he gives reassurance. He's already given guarantees of these great things but then he goes into verse 8, for everyone who asks receives. And further to that, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. So he's got three challenges, 3 guarantees, and then he reiterates the challenges with further assurance.

Maybe the Lord needs to speak to us twice, or maybe more than that. He spoke to them twice. And they were sat there listening to him and looking at him. Do you know how many times we might need to hear the word of God spoken in the spirit to the heart? You need it every day to remind you of his love and his purpose in the gospel and the way and the extent to which he involves all of you, if you're his disciples.

Remember, I said anybody can read this. Anybody can come under the sound and have no doubt that after his first few sentences, the crowds had made their way up the mountain as well. Don't blame them, do you? But then Jesus backed this stuff up with a powerful illustration. And that's from verse 9 into verse 11, isn't it? And he said, what man is it, what father, if his son has for bread, would give him a stone, or if he asked for fish, will they give him a serpent?

You know, you've got this picture there, this illustration that Jesus presents to them. He gives them the plain teaching and then he illustrates it for them. And he illustrated it with the love of a father. What father who loves his children would refuse them? Well, your Father in heaven has covenanted with you and will not refuse you. This is the point. And then on the back of that, he gets to this powerful conclusion, which is difficult to understand if you just take it with this passage instead of applying it to the whole sermon. And that's in verse 12, where he says, therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

A lot of people think the law is a stretch of instructions and commands and stuff like that. Jesus said actually it's more than that. It can be summed up in this, what you want other people to do to you, do to them. You know, you want people to reach out with the love of God to you, to fellowship with you, to be the gospel around you when you need it. Well of course you teach each other to do that, don't you? By being available for each other. What you do for others, they do to you. That's fellowship, isn't it? Well that's just one rendering of it. We'll come to the conclusion at the end.

This is for his disciples and it's important to understand that. Being a disciple is not just somebody who puts their hand up and says yes. Being a disciple is someone who's made a commitment to Christ and to kingdom of God and of Christ and is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ in everything that he leads them and prompts them and inspires them to do and to be. What's the Lord prompting you into today? Where's the inspiration? You know, how many prayer meetings do we have to go to? And I'm not saying they happen here, by the way, but I've been in tons over the years where there's gasping and sighing and long pauses and mobile devices going off that people have forgotten to switch off, you know.

And it's so funny because you've got this word of God to his disciples saying, ask, seek, knock. Don't start gasping, saying, yawning and going off on your own, I wonder if the Muppets are on the television or something like that. One is powerless and the other is power packed. And it depends on one thing, that relationship between Jesus and his disciples.

What do we understand by disciples? 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19 says this firm foundation remains or stands in that the Lord is the Lord of all things, heaven and earth, Jesus. And it goes on to say and the Lord knows those who are his. He knows those who are his. that reading I began the service with, when Judas came to him in the garden, he knew what Judas was like. He knew he was two-faced. He knew what he was going to do, but he was only allowed to do that because God allowed him to.

But he knows those who are his. And those who are his, or those who name the name of Jesus, that means take authority in his name. 2 Timothy 2.19, check it, says they must depart from iniquity. And so when you become the disciple of Jesus, there's a step from the old things, isn't there, into new things? Sinful things were the old things, sinful habits, the world's customs, its whole way of thinking. And you step, you are transformed by the love of God into a role of his disciple in which things are holy. And you revere the name of Jesus and he becomes your life and you become his disciples. And he knows those who are his. That says there in scripture.

And, there's so much naming of the name of the Lord. And I sometimes wonder, just to what extent, that those who name that name, to what extent and what degree do you own that name? Are you his disciple? People talk a lot about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You'll hear me teaching on it. And I wouldn't take away any emphasis from it. It's important that you know the Lord has empowered you, but you know the power behind the gifts is the fruit. And you very seldomly hear anyone teaching about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Do you know where to find it, beloved? I won't embarrass anybody. It's in Galatians chapter 5, isn't it, from verse 22?

What are the fruits of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, self-control, stuff like that. There's your homework. Go and read the whole list and read the whole passage. You can do that in a tea break. The fruit of the Holy Spirit show the character of a disciple because they have become like Jesus. And that's the power behind the gifts. The gifts are not cheap. And anyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from that past, that iniquity, step into the ???.

Come back now into chapter 7 of Matthew and we'll put some bits and pieces together because you know in this very challenging passage where we get these guarantees and a real challenge to step out in faith, we have to understand it in context and we have to understand also that there are certain exceptions. If you look down in verse 21, just down the page from where you are, Jesus follows this bit on with another bit of his sermon where he identifies other conditions. And from verse 21, he says, at the end of the day, that means in the last day, when it's too late, not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, not every one of those shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does the will of my Father in heaven, many will say to me in that day, not just a few, not just a couple, many, there'll be many on that day, who say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? Didn't you hear us? Everybody else did. Did we not cast out demons in your name? Didn't you see it? Haven't we done many wonders in your name? Didn't you notice?

And then in verse 23, Jesus said, I will declare to them, I never knew you. But Jesus said something devastating. He didn't say, oh, you slackened off, you were my disciples for a bit, and then you know, oh, dear me, you let me down there, didn't you? Let me down there, and then you beat yourself up like you all do, and then it came to the end, and I think I'll, I think I'll dump you. No, God forbid, no, doesn't depend on your performance. That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about people who are either his or not. And Jesus said, you weren't mine. I never knew you. Never mind anything else. I don't know you.

And yet you've got people there who claim to prophesied, cast out demons, done wonders. You know it's possible to do false miracles. If not, what was Jesus talking about? What's right, what's wrong? Look in there and identify it. How did the apostles minister the grace of God. What did Jesus do? What would Jesus say? Some people have a bracelet on their wrist, don't they, with all the initials. What would Jesus do? Well, what would he do? Find out. Have a look. One of the good places to look first of all is at the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Does my character correspond? Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to so identify me and do a work of grace in me? I can confidently say I'm his and he is mine. And the resounding answer should be yes.

But look at the difference in these two instances of what Jesus said. He's emboldening his disciples. But he's warning against those who are self-deluded. Quite deluded. They even believe it themselves. Like Judas. But then if we step back, well, how do you know the difference? How do you know the difference? We're still in the sermon. Back in chapter 7, verse 19. Have a look. That's where you'll find it. There's the answer. And Jesus said every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. I never knew you. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.

It's by the fruit that you know the disciples. It's by the fruit you know the genuine article. It's by the fruit you know whether it's real with them or not, or are they just fluffing the way through? You know the reality when you meet it. And if you're his disciple, you'll find a kindred spirit. You'll know by the fruit and you'll recognize this woman, this man, this boy or girl. I know I can see the anointing of God on them. They are his disciples.

All right, so we come back to the end at the beginning. And the beginning and the end is verse 12. It's about working these things out, doing what you would want people to do for you. And what would you want? I'm sick, I want people to pray. I've got questions, I need answers. I might trust the body of Christ first, as well as going straight to God. I might have an important decision to make. I'll share it with somebody, another Christian who'll know or pray for me. All right, I want people to do those things, don't you? And for you to be available to do those things, you need to be empowered.

Ask, seek, knock. Ask, seek, knock. That's where you come into this. And it explains verse 12, really. But there is an outworking. There has to be that outworking. Our faith is not just for decoration. It's for the purpose of God in the gospel. Out there. Out there. And in here. And that's where the Lord wants you to be bold. That word is for you. You know, John 15, verse 15, Jesus said, I no longer call you servants. I call you my friends. What do friends do? I wouldn't ask someone a favour I didn't know, would you? If I needed a favour, I'd ask somebody I knew. So I'd ask and it would be given me because he's my friend. And if I seek someone who's a friend, I know where to find them, don't I? You know, I know what shops they go to. It's true. I thought I'd find you in here.

How many times have we said that or somebody said that to us? And that's because they're your friends. And when you knock on the door, whose doors do you knock on? They're either cold callers or scammers. I know you get those as well. And it's good to open the door and say, I never knew you. But you know, most of the time when you knock on the door, there's a knock on your door, it's a friend. I've come to see you, get the kettle on. You know, it's your friends that do that, ask and seek. You don't look for people you don't know, you look for friends. You knock on a friend's door. And Jesus said, you're not my servants, you're my friends if you're my disciples.

Ask, seek, knock. This is a relationship that's more than discipleship. Jesus was teaching them about friendship with God. Are you his friends? And he takes you up a mountain sometimes and you feel like you're on a high where he speaks to you. But remember, you'll have to come back down. Okay? But you're still his friends.

Let's pray together.

Oh Lord, we are friends. And Lord, because we are your friends, we are friends one with another and we have this precious fellowship. Oh Lord, remind us powerfully of how glorious and wonderful that friendship is. Who else has ever had or ever will have a God like you, makes yourself available to the extent you become our friend? Lord, in Jesus' name, we want to worship you in the beauty of holiness. We know our own weaknesses, Lord, but we reach out to you because we know that you are faithful and you will keep your covenant to the very end. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Embolden your people, Lord. Enrich them. Let the anointing of your Holy Spirit come upon them with freshness and with life and return to them the word of God in moments when they don't expect and remind them of these precious things that they might be enriched, equipped and able. In Jesus' name. Amen.