Ask, Seek and Knock

I Love Central - Week #2

Ask, Seek and Knock

Luke 11:5-10

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18

• The Holy Spirit fills us with joy
• The Holy Spirit enables us to love other people
• The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak the truth
• Prayer #1- I want to see God’s Spirit poured out in this church
• Prayer #2- I want to see God’s Spirit poured out in me
• Resurrection is greater than healing

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:39-43

• When the Word of God is spoken, things happen

And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:44

• People that don't know Jesus are always going to live like they don't know Jesus

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!  Acts 16:25-26

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:5-10

• What are you asking Jesus for?
• Seek means participate in the process
• Knock and keep on knocking

...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13(b)