Ask, Seek, Knock- Expect Positive Living!

 

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Mat 7:9  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Mat 7:10  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

What are you asking for? 
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

What are you seeking? What do expect to see happen.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Do you expect to see God's hand in everything?  If you do, that's what you will see.  Do you expect to see the evils of the world surrounding you... overcoming you?  If you do, that's what you will see.  Jesus understood our human condition, having been born in the flesh! 

That's why he said, Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The world is corrupted, fallen.  You are in the world, but not of the world.

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

We are to remain unspotted by the world, but the world may touch you... affect you, but it shouldn't change your outcome!

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 :3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell         in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Knock,  Knock...

What does it mean, "knock, and it shall be opened unto you"?  Knock, knock, knock... is just walking out your faith!  You asked, you expect to see the results of your request.... but how long do I look?  How long did Abraham have to walk out his faith?  How long do you have to walk out your faith?  Until you get the results you are seeking!  Keep walking by faith. 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Abraham, just kept on knocking, walking out his faith...

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 :21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

:24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

:25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Finally:

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.