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“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
— Matthew 7:7
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
— John 14:13
These are some of the most powerful and yet most misunderstood promises in the New Testament. They deal with one of the central themes of the Christian life: our approach to God and God’s response to us.
The lyrics you have before you are essentially a sung meditation on these two vital passages. They echo and reinforce what Jesus Himself taught about prayer, faith, persistence, and the Father’s willingness to respond.
We are dealing here with spiritual laws. Just as there are physical laws in the natural realm, there are spiritual laws in the kingdom of God. “Ask, seek, knock” describes a divinely appointed sequence for obtaining what God has promised.
Let us look at what the Word of God says, then align the lyrics with the clear teaching of Scripture.
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### a. Matthew 7:7–11 – The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 7:7–11 occurs near the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), where Jesus is teaching His disciples the principles of the kingdom of heaven.
He is speaking primarily to His disciples (Matthew 5:1–2), but within the hearing of the crowds. He is not addressing unbelievers in general, but those who have chosen to follow Him. These promises are for the children of the Father, not for those outside the covenant.
In Matthew 7, Jesus is dealing with practical righteousness—how the kingdom of God is lived out. Just before this passage, He speaks about judgment and discernment (Matthew 7:1–6). Immediately after this, He speaks about the narrow gate and the narrow way (Matthew 7:13–14). In the middle of this, He gives the promise:
> “Ask… seek… knock…” (Matthew 7:7)
He is teaching His disciples that they cannot live the Christian life in their own strength. They need ongoing help, and that help is obtained by asking, seeking, and knocking. The Christian life is not self-sufficient. It is dependent.
He then uses a simple human analogy:
> “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!”
> — Matthew 7:11
He contrasts earthly fathers with the heavenly Father, emphasizing that if even fallen men still manage to give good things to their children, then God—who is perfectly good—can be trusted infinitely more.
Luke’s parallel passage adds another vital detail:
> “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
> — Luke 11:13
So the “good gifts” in Matthew 7:11 are centered in, and expressed through, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
### b. John 14:13–14 – In the Upper Room
John 14:13–14 occurs in an entirely different setting. Jesus is in the upper room with His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion (John 13–17). He is preparing them for His physical departure and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
He tells them:
> “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
> You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
> — John 14:13–14
This is a covenant promise given to those who belong to Him, who will soon receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17). It is not a blank cheque for carnal desires. It is prayer offered in His name, for the glory of the Father through the Son.
So Matthew 7 emphasizes the Father’s generosity and the reality of asking, seeking, knocking. John 14 emphasizes the authority of the name of Jesus and the purpose of answered prayer: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
The lyrics combine both dimensions: the Father’s heart and the Son’s name.
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Let us now look briefly at some key Greek words Jesus used. This will sharpen our understanding of both the Scriptures and the lyrics.
### a. “Ask” – *aiteō* (αἰτέω)
In Matthew 7:7:
> “Ask (*aiteite*) and it will be given to you…”
The verb is *aiteō*. It means to ask, to request, to petition, often used of an inferior making a request from a superior. It is used frequently in the New Testament for prayer requests to God.
Important nuance: the form used here is present imperative. Literally: “Keep on asking.” It implies habitual, continuing action, not a single, casual request. The same applies to “seek” and “knock.”
So Jesus is not endorsing a quick, half-hearted prayer. He is describing a persistent, ongoing posture of dependence on God.
### b. “Seek” – *zēteō* (ζητέω)
“Seek (*zēteite*) and you will find…”
*Zēteō* means to seek, to search for, to desire, to strive after. It often indicates an active, energetic pursuit, not a passive wish.
The same verb appears in:
> “But seek (*zēteite*) first his kingdom and his righteousness…”
> — Matthew 6:33
“Seek” is not just intellectual inquiry. It is the orientation of the heart and life toward God and His purposes.
### c. “Knock” – *krouō* (κρούω)
“Knock (*krouete*) and the door will be opened…”
*Krouō* is the ordinary word for knocking at a door, requiring a response from within. Again, present imperative: “keep on knocking.”
It implies perseverance. You do not knock once and walk away. You remain at the door until it is opened.
### d. “In My Name” – *en tō onomati mou* (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου)
In John 14:13:
> “Whatever you ask in my name…”
In biblical thought, a name (*onoma*) is not just a label. It represents the person, their authority, character, and reputation.
To pray “in Jesus’ name” is not a mere formula added at the end of a prayer. It means:
So when the lyrics say, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it,” the key is that “in my name” limits and defines the “anything.” It must be within the boundaries of His person and His purpose.
These word insights deepen the lyrics. “Ask, seek, knock” is not passive. It is persistent, active, faith-filled approach to God, in the name of Jesus, aligned with the glory of the Father.
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We will now walk through the themes of the lyrics in light of Scripture.
### 4.1 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
This stanza is a direct quotation of Matthew 7:7.
Here we see three progressive levels of approach to God:
1. Ask – verbal request. You bring your need or desire into the presence of God.
2. Seek – active pursuit. You do not just speak; you rearrange your life toward God’s answer.
3. Knock – insistent appeal. You come to a point where a barrier (a “door”) stands between you and what God has promised, and you refuse to turn back.
Notice: Jesus attaches promises to each step:
There is no uncertainty in His language. He states spiritual cause and effect.
This does not mean God grants every carnal or foolish request. Scripture interprets Scripture:
So the scope of “ask” is defined by God’s will and God’s glory. But within those boundaries, the promises are absolute.
### 4.2 “For everyone who asks receives… Ask, seek, knock—God answers those who come.”
Here Jesus moves from the command to the universal principle:
> “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
> — Matthew 7:8
Note: “everyone who asks…” That means the barrier is not on God’s side, but on ours. The limit is not with God’s willingness, but with our obedience, our persistence, and our alignment with His will.
The lyrics summarize: “God answers those who come.”
This is fully consistent with Scripture:
There is a spiritual law: God has bound Himself to respond to those who come to Him in faith. This is not human presumption. It is divine promise.
### 4.3 “If you then, though you are evil… how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
This stanza is again a direct quotation of Matthew 7:11.
Here Jesus gives the moral foundation for our confidence in prayer: the goodness of the Father.
From this, He argues from the lesser to the greater: If fallen human fathers give good things, how much more a perfect heavenly Father.
Luke’s version makes the central “good gift” explicit:
> “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)
So at the heart of Jesus’ promise is this: the Father is ready to give Himself, by His Spirit, to His children who ask.
The lyrics speak of “good gifts.” These are not limited to material blessings. In fact, in the New Testament the greatest “gifts” are spiritual:
In spiritual warfare, one of Satan’s chief strategies is to misrepresent the character of God—to make Him appear distant, harsh, and reluctant. Jesus confronts that lie directly. Your Father is better than the best human father you could imagine.
Therefore, the lyrics rightly call us to confidence: Ask. Your Father delights to give.
### 4.4 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name… You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Now we move from the Father’s generosity to the Son’s authority.
John 14:13–14 is in the context of:
He says:
> “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
> — John 14:13–14
Key points:
1. “Whatever” and “anything” are not autonomous. They are governed by:
2. To ask “in His name” means:
3. The goal is not our comfort, but the Father’s glory in the Son.
When we pray for what brings glory to the Father through the Son, we are on absolutely solid ground. In that realm, Jesus says, “I will do it.”
The lyrics faithfully echo this: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” That is not meant to inflate human ego, but to equip the church for effective prayer and spiritual warfare.
### 4.5 “Ask in faith, seek with all your heart, knock and trust—your heavenly Father hears and gives.”
Now the lyrics draw together the biblical conditions.
1. Ask in faith.
Hebrews 11:6:
> “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
James 1:6–7 speaks of asking for wisdom:
> “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt… That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.”
Faith is essential. Faith is not positive thinking. It is trust in the reliability of God’s character and word.
2. Seek with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13:
> “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God does not promise Himself to the half-hearted.
3. Knock and trust.
Knocking implies persistence; trust guards the heart from discouragement when the answer tarries.
Jesus told a parable for this very reason:
> “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)
In that parable of the persistent widow, the unjust judge finally acts because of her persistence. Jesus argues: if persistence prevails even with an unjust judge, how much more with a righteous God?
The lyrics summarize the whole teaching in one sentence: “Your heavenly Father hears and gives.”
This aligns with 1 John 5:14–15:
> “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
> And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
The spiritual reality is: God hears. God responds. Our part is to meet His clearly stated conditions.
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We must not leave these truths as theory. Scripture is given to be obeyed. Here are four practical steps based on the Word.
### 1. First, we must approach God as Father, through Jesus.
Prayer begins with relationship.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9). These promises are for children, not strangers.
We cannot approach God on the basis of our own merit. We come only through the reconciling work of Christ.
Many believers live as if God were still a distant judge. You must renew your mind: He is your Father in heaven.
### 2. Second, we must align our asking with God’s will and God’s glory.
Prayer “in Jesus’ name” is not a magic charm. It is agreement with His will.
How do we align?
Many frustrations in prayer come from asking amiss (James 4:3). When we adjust our motives to God’s glory, we step into the realm of answered prayer.
### 3. Third, we must practice persistent asking, seeking, and knocking.
Do not treat prayer as a one-time experiment. Jesus spoke in the present continuous:
This is spiritual warfare. There are opposing forces that resist the will of God (Ephesians 6:12). Daniel prayed 21 days before the angel broke through the spiritual opposition (Daniel 10:12–13).
Practical steps:
Persistent prayer is often the difference between theory and experience.
### 4. Fourth, we must pray in faith, in the name of Jesus, expecting an answer.
Faith is expressed both in how we pray and how we live after we pray.
Unbelief cancels out much prayer. Israel saw the works of God, but “they were not able to enter because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). Unite your prayer with firm confidence in God’s faithfulness.
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### Proclamation (confess this aloud, thoughtfully and deliberately)
> I come to God as my Father in heaven,
> through the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.
>
> I believe that my Father is good,
> and that He delights to give good gifts to His children.
>
> Therefore, I choose to obey the words of Jesus:
> I will ask, and it will be given to me;
> I will seek, and I will find;
> I will knock, and the door will be opened.
>
> I renounce unbelief, doubt, and wrong motives.
> I ask according to the will of God,
> and for the glory of the Father in the Son.
>
> I pray in the name of Jesus—
> standing in His righteousness,
> trusting in His authority,
> and desiring His glory.
>
> Because I ask in faith and in His name,
> I declare that my Father hears me,
> and that I receive what I ask according to His will.
>
> I will not grow weary in asking, seeking, and knocking,
> for God answers those who come to Him.
>
> Amen.
### Prayer
Father in heaven,
I thank You for the clear promises of Your Word. You have commanded me to ask, to seek, and to knock. You have assured me that You hear and that You answer.
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as the only way to the Father. I thank You for Your blood, shed for my sins, and for the authority of Your name. Teach me, by Your Holy Spirit, to pray in a way that truly glorifies the Father through You.
Holy Spirit, search my heart. Expose wrong motives, unbelief, and passivity. Lead me into persistent, faith-filled prayer. Help me to seek God with all my heart, and to stand firm when answers seem delayed.
I choose today to take hold of these promises. I commit myself to a life of asking, seeking, and knocking, in line with Your Word. Father, I trust in Your goodness. I trust in the name of Jesus. And I thank You in advance for the answers You will give, for Your glory.
In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen.
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