Matthew chapter 7. Matthew 7, and starting in verse 7, and we're going to go through 11. Matthew 7 and verse 7 ask. And it shall be given you. Seek. You shall find knock. And it shall be open unto you for everyone that asks. And the context is. Asks in faith, this is not. You know, this is not just ask what you want to and you're going to get everything. That's as a child. I know that's what I wish for, but that's not what he's talking about. For everyone that asked receives. And he that seeks finds into him that knocks. It shall be opened. Oh, or what man is there of you whom if his son asks bread, will give him a stone, or if he asks a fish, will give him a serpent. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?

Now, what's good things? Salvation. But you're without salvation this morning? ask this this is kind of this is one of those messages that if you're you know hyper calvinist this isn't going to sit this isn't going to sit like tim always says we can't preach man too high a man too low and god too high ask ask now obviously scriptures interpret scripture And we take it in context. So we're going to be viewing verses 7 through 11, which seem to me almost to be out of place here in this seventh chapter. It just seems to be out of place. But it's exactly in context that we need to receive this.

Because in chapter six, if you look at chapter six before the latter part of chapter six, it's talking about do not worry about don't be about anxious about things. The Lord closed the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is not. Will he not clothe you, O ye of little faith? Don't take no thought. What shall I eat? What shall I drink? What shall I wear? This anxious care. So he's just finished talking about that. And then you go into chapter seven, and he's speaking about don't be overly critical or judgmental to the brethren or to others. who are as weak as we most certainly are. We think we're stronger than them. But, you know, he's talking about, take the mold out of your eye. So he's talking about being too critical.

So looking at it in context, in order to not be worried, worrisome, anxious, in order not to be critical, and we all are, one of another, and of unbelievers, pray, ask. You know, if the Lord has revealed himself to you, you know what you're capable of. I know what I'm capable of in the flesh. So ask. Ask. Lord, I'm concerned that I don't have enough money for the end of this month. Lord, I'm concerned that I'm raising these children, and am I doing it correctly? I know my neighbor's not doing it, but Lord, I'm concerned that I'm too critical. I'm too mean spirited. Ask. Seek. And knock. Everybody, believer, unbeliever.

So if we look at this contextually, we're prone to worry and it's in our flesh to be critical of others. We see our need and necessity and obligation to pray or to be in prayer. So. With God-given Holy Spirit enablings, we ask of our God to supply our lack of mercy to others, of grace to others, our concern about tomorrow in times of need. And we know that how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask? He, our Lord, by his sovereign free grace, makes us willing to do this. This is not optional. If you're a believer, he makes us willing to ask and to seek and to knock. He makes us willing in the day of his power, Psalms 110 verse three.

And this asking by us, it's not natural. The natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God. Neither can he know them, their foolishness. I'm not asking, I've got everything. I'm not seeking, I'm okay. I'm not knocking, I'm not gonna bother anybody. Just leave me alone.

This asking by us is not natural, but when grace comes through the mercy of Christ, by the declaration of his gospel truth, faith is created by him, repentance is created by him, Jeremiah 31.9, and you don't have to turn there, but if you remember in Acts, when the Lord gave the Gentiles' ability to believe, the disciples said, He's given them repentance. That's Acts 11 verse 18. So all these faith is a gift of God. Repentance is a gift of God. Belief is a gift of God.

When He gives us these things, all things scriptural, to petition or to ask of Him, we ask great and wonderful things. And there's, I don't see any bounds in that. The bounds in verse 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ask. And again, he says in another place, ask in faith, not wavering. And so when we observe our great God condescending to us, to our level, to our sinfulness, actually becoming sin, that he didn't know any sin, that we might be made the very righteousness of God in him. When we observe that, We observe this.

Therefore also now saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. Joel chapter 2, verse 12 and 13.

So we know these things. So we know these things. Now let's look at our text. Verses 7 through 11. Ask, it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Verse nine, of what man is there of you whom if his son asks in need, in want, in poverty, bread will give him a stone. If he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? There is a place, and I love this, in Winchester, England. It's the oldest charitable institution on that island. founded in 1132. That's, I think, after the Norms came in in 1132. It's an almshouse. It's called St. Cross Hospital. And it's still open. It's still open.

Which, the purpose of that being there, one of the purposes, if anybody would come by and knock on that door, a needy, hungry, starving person, he had to knock and ask at the door for sustenance. And he would receive a loaf, or they said they would, a dole or a portion of bread. And it's still done today. Oh, let's go see it historically. Well, we don't have a need. But if you had a need, you're hungry, You had to just knock on that door and ask, you had to ask, and you would receive it. 1132 this was instituted, and it's still there. Whatever, whoever the weary traveler may be, if he but knocked, if he asked, that's the thing, ask, if he asked, they would receive.

Now let's look at this in a spiritual aspect. Our Lord Jesus Christ is this almshouse. He most certainly is. He is this hospital for the weak and wounded and weary. Ask, seek, and knock. These are the words from our Lord in our text. This is, if you have a Bible, I think in red, but it's the scriptures. It's the Holy Spirit inspired. It's without air. Ask and it shall be given you. Seek, you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Our majestic, omnipotent, gracious redeemer of sinners' souls, their need will be met. But you must ask. There must be, like Bruce said this morning, the acknowledgment of sin. I'm hungry. Why else am I here? And he places that heart in us. He places that heart, that cry in us.

Our kinsman, our fellow, our elder brother has, as it were, built an almshouse. And it's still in operation for sinners poor and needy. Hungry? hungry this morning, weak this morning, heavy laden. Oh, brethren, he and he alone can relieve such crippling transgressions. He is the bread of life. He's the bread of life. In him is sufficiency, ample sustenance and true satisfaction.

God is satisfied with his son and those who are in his son. But there's more. There's more to that place in the scriptures than is at that place over in Winchester, England. More still, our substitute has done more and infinitely better. How so? Well, he has attached to this hospital, as it were, a bath. A fountain for sin and uncleanness. Zechariah 13. Whenever the heart is cold, stony or black because of corruptions, guilt, and self-condemnation, just ask for a washing.

Saved? Not saved. If you know you have a need, you'll ask. If the Lord is tugging, is drawing you, is drawing with the cords of love, you'll ask. But I don't feel, no, I need to feel worse about it? No. I don't understand election. So? Ask. Seek. Knock. And you'll have it.

Titus chapter 2. Titus chapter 2 verse 13 and 14. Look for that blessed hope. and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus chapter three, turn page over, chapter three, verse five, 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.

You see, there's this St. Cross, but in that geographical spot over in England, it only offered bread. Here, our Savior, there's cleanliness. He cleans, he washes away. This fountain is always full. It's ever powerful, it's always effectual. And if he has put in our hearts to ask, he will supply always and without exception. We go in crimson and we come out forth whiter than snow without fail.

But there's more. If that were not enough, also is attached to this almshouse a wardrobe or a place where new clothes are given out. Free, without money, without price. We are robed, says Isaiah 61 10, in the righteousness of Christ our Lord. Let's look at that, Isaiah 61. Are you telling me straight, preacher? Let's look at it. Isaiah 61, verse 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom directeth himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. That's what he does.

Well, there's a whole bunch more passages, but let's just look at one more. Revelations chapter 7. If you don't believe me, believe the Word for the Word's sake. Revelation 7 verse 14. Revelation 7 verse 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest, and he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

That's the only place where this full cleansing will happen, will take place. Not in any other man on this earth, in the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, if you remember back in your mind's eye, those insufficient fig leaves, Adam and Eve, that tried to cover themselves with those insufficient fig leaves, they were taken away by God and fitted with the covering of a lamb of purity. He's promised to do that.

Or how about those pure, white, clean wedding garments, without which we will never feast at the marriage supper. and Matthew. Got to have those marriage robes. Got to have them. They got to be clean. Don't come in some other way.

Do we wish to be a soldier occupying until he returns? How about that? We'll turn to Ephesians chapter 6. There's another attachment to this St. Cross Hospital. Do we need, do we wish to be a soldier occupying until he returns? Ask, seek, knock, and we will have a solid, sturdy clothing of armor shall be supplied for the fight. We'll also be given a crown, a sword, a shield, et cetera.

Ephesians chapter six and start in verse 11. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Verse 13, wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in that evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt. about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparations of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

What's he say to do next? It's very interesting. Praying always. Praying always. Ask, seek, and knock. Ask, seek, and knock.

In addition to this, We shall have a glorious treasure laid up in heaven for each one of his elect, each one of us. Salvation, wisdom, more grace, keeping mercies, daily helps, grace in the daytime or in the night seasons, when things are good and when things are bad, as we say, ask, seek, knock.

Do we understand this? Do we know this? Do we see this? It's gotta be, I know, I tell you to seek and you can't seek. I tell you to ask and you can't ask. I tell you to knock and you can't knock. Well, the Lord uses the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. All of a sudden, you're commanded, I don't know how long, some of us have been here 30 something years, same thing, I command, I command, I know you can't do it. But then one day, get a phone call, Now I see. I was blind, but now I see. I wasn't quickened, now I'm quickened. Whatever phrase you want to use, God has done the work.

But these words are not my words. Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. You see, your greatest need is in your need of Christ. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then everything else. will be added. Everything needful.

In closing, all these things are to be had by the asking, knocking on mercy's door. Seek hard this morning. Continue at this house of alms. Plead daily at the master's table until he feeds you with food convenient for your soul. We get done with this message, and we go out. Oh, I pray for you this morning that this would linger. You wouldn't just, okay, now we gotta do this, or now we're done with that. No, just the Lord would keep these, that's called meditation. The old timers called chewing the cud. Trust Him wholly. By faith, beg for truthful sights of sin and recovery under his everlasting arms. Do not stop until you have your desired end. Ask, seek, and knock. How much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, Give good things to them, to you, to me, that ask Him. Do not stop until we have the desired end.

Matthew 8 And behold, there came a leper, and worshipped Christ, Saying, Lord, asking, seeking, knocking, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him and saying, I will be thou clean. And immediately, his leprosy was cleansed.

Ask, seek, and knock. Get alone. Get by yourself. Just implore the Lord to show you mercy and grace in the time of need.

Saved, unsaved. I thought about this. I thought, how little I ask. I try to do things on my own. You know, Bruce has always said, unless you tell somebody, they don't know you have a need. Let's just take that and let's amplify that. He knows, yes he knows, but he desires to hear from his children. And you can look and see that in Songs of Solomon.

My beloved knocked and I ignored him and then he wasn't there. And then what did he do? He gets up and he starts looking for his beloved. He can't stand to be without the presence of his beloved. May that be us this morning.

Bruce, would you close this?