[1] #283, Call Home, Sunday, 07-22-2007, Pastor Mark Boucher

Text: Matthew 7:7-12
Theme: Your Father invites you to call on Him.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Praying in the cemetery …
   1. Either prayer is the most ridiculous act …
   2. Or prayer is our greatest and highest honor …
2. Prayer filled and overflowed the life of Jesus.
   1. He loved to pray.
   2. He loved to speak about prayer to the disciples.
3. In the “sermon on the mount,” Jesus came back to prayer. Why?
   1. He spoke about storing treasure in heaven, not worrying, not judging others, trusting God …
   2. He knew we could live this way only by God’s power.
   3. So what is our main problem concerning prayer? We think we can get be with little or no prayer.
   4. Prayer is not a “religious obligation” to get over with – it is God’s invitation into a life with Him.

What does Jesus teach us here about the Father and prayer?

1. The Father wants us to pray. (v 7)
   1. There’s a presumption here. Jesus is talking to those who are following him.
   2. How do we become children of God?
   3. “Yet to all those who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
   4. He wants us to ask.
   5. “We have not because we ask not” (James 4:2)
   6. What are we to ask for? … forgiveness, strength, wisdom
   7. He wants us to seek.
   8. Seeking is asking plus action.
   9. Example: “eagerly desire spiritual gifts.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
   10. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)
   11. We seek after guidance, direction.
   12. He wants us to knock.
   13. Knocking is asking plus action plus right attitude.
   14. Knocking implies something is between you and what you need.
   15. An obstacle requires the attitude of persistence. (and discernment to know if this closed door is from God)
   16. “So much of life requires courage in the face of barriers and delays.”
   17. “Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
2. The Father promises us answers to prayer. (v 8 )
   1. “Ask and it will be given to you” … “For everyone who asks receives.”
   2. Jesus told us to “ask and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24)
   3. Let’s not forget all His answers to our prayers.
   4. Let’s be thankful and grow in faith.
   5. What happens if we don’t see the answer?
   6. I check my heart.
   7. I must accept God’s no or not yet.
   8. “He who seeks finds”
   9. If we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found. (Jeremiah 29:13)
   10. We seek Him for our needs.
   11. We seek the growth of His Kingdom.
   12. “To him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
   13. Knocking is not to overcome God’s reluctance.

CONCLUSION:

It’s your call … call home.
One day we will see Him face to face.
In this life in the body we are “away from the Lord.” (2Corinthians 5:6)

1. If you are not a believer – it’s free long distance – He already paid for it.
   1. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
2. If you are a believer – it’s a local call.
   1. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)