Proverbs 17:27-28 (NIV) 27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,        and a man of understanding is even-tempered.  28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,        and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Kingdom LivingA Lifestyle of Seeking God

Matthew 7:7-12

• 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

• 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

INTRODUCTION

We can only live this kingdom lifestyle from the inside out empowered by God.

Therefore, we need to cultivate a lifestyle of seeking God earnestly and with

confidence to live out the Sermon on the Mount

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

8  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

1. Seeking God Earnestly

Matthew 7:7-8

Jeremiah 29:13(ESV)13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who (diligently) seek him.

STORY OF HANNAH

(1 Samuel 1)

1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD.4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.

6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD.10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman.14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you."15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.

16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him."18 And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."

Psalm 62:8Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

BUT prayer is more than just asking God to help us solve our problems and asking God for our needs and wants. Prayer is cultivating an intimate relationship with God until we know His will and submit to His will for our lives. In short, prayer is not about us. Prayer is all about God.

 Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)18 praying always with all prayer and

supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,18 in everything give thanks; for this is the

will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

2. Seeking God With Confidence

Matthew 7:9-11

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) 13 For you formed my inward parts;

    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;    my soul knows it very well.15 My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,    the days that were formed for me,    when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 (ESV)11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

To grow deep in prayer, we must grow deep in God. Our view of God radically influences the way we pray.

– Edmund Chan

We embrace an entirely wrong theology of a reluctant God, as a result of which we end up with an entirely wrong theology of prayer! – Edmund Chan

TESTIMONY

Romans 8:26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Prayer is not merely what we say to God but, what the Holy Spirit inspires in our hearts to lift up before Him

– Edmund Chan

Father Me (by Graham Kendrick)

O Father of the fatherlessIn whom all families are blessedI love the way You father meYou gave me life, forgave the pastNow in Your arms I'm safe at lastI love the way You father me

When bruised and broken I draw nearYou hold me close and dry my tearsI love the way You father meAt last my fearful heart is stillSurrendered to Your perfect willI love the way You father me

Father me, forever You'll father meAnd in Your embrace I'll be forever secureI love the way You father meI love the way You father me

If in my foolishness I strayReturning empty and ashamedI love the way You father meExchanging for my wretchednessYour radiant robes of righteousnessI love the way You father me

Father me, forever You'll father meAnd in Your embrace I'll be forever secureI love the way You father meI love the way You father me

And when I look into Your eyesFrom deep within my spirit criesI love the way You father meBefore such love I stand amazedAnd ever will through endless daysI love the way You father me

Father me, forever You'll father meAnd in Your embrace I'll be forever secureI love the way You father meI love the way You father me

CONCLUSION