All of us have knocked on God's door at one time or another and asked something of Him. Many times He does not answer right away, and it is only natural that we then ask ourselves the question, "Should I keep knocking?"
And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. "So I say to you, 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.
(Luk 11:5-10)
If you have lost your keys, how long should you search for them? If you are at the doorstep to visit someone, how long should you knock? I guess it all depends. How badly do you need your keys? How important is it that you visit with that person?
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Mat 15:21-28)
God expects us to ask Him for His blessing, and God is GREATLY PLEASED WITH FAITH. Remember Jesus' sigh, "O ye of little faith"? God is grieved by lack of faith, and delighted when we act in faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6)
And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. "So I say to you, 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.
(Luk 11:5-10)
If you have lost your keys, how long should you search for them? If you are at the doorstep to visit someone, how long should you knock? I guess it all depends. How badly do you need your keys? How important is it that you visit with that person?
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Mat 15:21-28)
God expects us to ask Him for His blessing, and God is GREATLY PLEASED WITH FAITH. Remember Jesus' sigh, "O ye of little faith"? God is grieved by lack of faith, and delighted when we act in faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6)
Just how many times should you knock? However many times it takes to exercise your faith. For some, it may be a great expression of faith to make your request and leave it as His feet. For others, it may be a great expression of faith to persistently petition Him. The key is not how often to knock, but how to step out in faith as you knock. He delights in His own. Believe it!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.
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