Sunday Morning Podcast Aug 19, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: MATTHEW 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
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?
Hide and Seek. As children, many remember playing this delightful game. The game consists of “the counter,” counting up to 100 with eyes closed. Then when finished counting, to opening their eyes and seeking “the hiders.” Meanwhile, the hiders would have looked for the best place they thought would keep them from being discovered. If you were a fast runner when found, you could potentially beat the counter back to the “base” which you then became safe from being caught. Meanwhile the seeker often knows where to look, and is determined to locate you, …to tag you “it.” You have to have a good and determined desire to seek out those well hidden spots, to “flush” them out!
To seek out the truth of the old paths of God’s Word, will also take a motive and passion to find it. Why? Because Truth is a rare jewel that has been hidden from those who don’t truly value it above life. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16 The old paths and ways, go past, and beyond, …our memory. Unfortunately Israel here, declared they would not, but instead walked in their own ways. We need to desire, ask, and seek God’s answers to lead us eternally. The three points to “touch on;”
1 Asking
2 Seeking
3 Finding
Are you coming to church, asking for something, i.e. encouragement, to overcome doubt, etc? Are you asking God with a certainty and expectation to get the answer to your request?
45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Matthew 13
When we seek and value hidden treasure and truth from God, we will sell all we have to possess it! But to have room in our heart for it, we have to have a “yard sale” of our own ways and ideas. Only then will we be able to “purchase” the pearl of God’s way instead. God hides it, so we will seek it. This is the way we must show that we treasure and value truth!
But how bad do you still want truth? If you want it, you will seek it no matter how well hidden it is! Many may question why you live and do the things you do. Many distractions will come. But God will help you stay focused and strong in spite of the opposition and those around us that don’t understand. If you really want truth, God will lead you! The moment you seek a lesser way though, than the pearl of holiness, you will lose that rare treasure you formerly possessed. You will then return and backslide to a life of being bound to self and sin. What you ask for, you will get! 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7,8 Once you find it, never sell it!!
Hide and Seek….