Jesus told

us to ask. He promised that if we asked God, we would receive. He made

the promise in the context of daily needs, assuring us that the Heavenly

Father knew of our needs. He said that if the Heavenly Father provided

for the birds of the air, surely he would provide more abundantly for

us, the crowing star of his creation.

Jesus told

us to seek. He promised that if we sought from God for what we needed,

we would find it. He made the promise in the context of urging his followers

to "seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness" and

everything else will be taken care of (JHH paraphrase of Matthew 6:33).

Why should not God take care of us who were created in his image?

Jesus told

us to knock. He promised that if we knocked on a door we needed open for

the cause of the Kingdom of God, then the door would be opened. Somewhere

else in the Bible, Jesus referred to himself as the "door."

He made the promise in the context of the implicit understanding that

God wants us to live a life of abundance and peace. By the way, it is

hard to experience peace when they threaten to turn off the power, the

water, the gas, and the sheriff is around the corner to evict you.

Ask, seek,

and knock. That's what Jesus told us to do. In fact, the Greek language

tells us that Jesus was really saying, ask and keep on asking, seek and

keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. It's not a faith breakdown

when Jesus encourages us to keep on asking. When my daughter keeps on

asking for something, it sinks into my skull that she is really serious.

Often, I think

we are insincere when we ask God for something, because the very next

day we have forgotten what we asked. But what really stirs me to a thrill

is that Jesus promised that God would respond to us. We don't have to

live as orphans. We don't have to stay just in a survival mode. We don't

always have to be the beggars in society. No! No! No! Indeed, our Heavenly

Father owns cattle on a thousand hills (have you checked the price of

the best steak in the gourmet counter?) Indeed, my Father is a wealthy

father.

It may take

a little repenting, but many Christians need to understand that our God

is a God of all provision. There's nothing he won't provide for us to

make his kingdom stronger. The truth is that many Christians need more

financial resources in order that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can go forward

and never lack for money. I'm praying that Christians will be the next

Donald Trumps, the next Ted Turners, the next Bill Gates.

Just think:

what could Donald and Ted could have done for the cause of Christ. I'm

praying that many Christians who are just making it, will experience a

total burst in their businesses and even start businesses of their own.

What will it

take? Asking, seeking, and knocking in the context of absolute obedience.

Want some?

Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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