Keep Asking, Keep Searching, Keep Knocking

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7–11

This teaching from Jesus tackles a common and uncomfortable truth about prayer: many of us don’t pray regularly, not because we don’t know how, but because deep down, we’re unsure it makes a difference. We may say we believe in prayer, but our lack of consistency reveals doubts. Jesus speaks directly to this in Matthew 7:7–11, offering encouragement and correction in how we approach God in prayer.

The passage contains a powerful promise: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened." This seems straightforward, but the promise is often misunderstood. It’s not saying that persistent prayer guarantees you’ll get whatever you want. Instead, it reveals important truths about the nature of prayer and the God to whom we pray. First, we must understand that this promise is specifically for believers who have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of all, but He is only a Father to those who are born again.

From this foundation, the passage explores three key qualities of effective prayer: confidence, persistence, and boldness.

1. We Should Pray with Confidence

Jesus compares God to a loving parent. If earthly parents, despite their flaws, give good things to their children, how much more will God, who is perfect, give good gifts to His children? This means we can approach Him confidently, knowing three things: First, His Love: Just as children trust their parents’ desire to provide for them, we can trust God's heart. He wants to meet our needs—not because we’ve earned it, but because He loves us. Second, His Ability: Nothing is too hard for God. Whether we need healing, guidance, strength to overcome sin, or help in hardship, He is more than capable of answering. He is the right one to turn to. Thirdly, His Kindness: God will not give us something harmful, even if we ask for it sincerely. Just as a parent wouldn’t give their child a snake when they ask for a fish, God filters our requests through His perfect wisdom. Sometimes His answer is “no” because what we want would hurt us. James 4:2–3 reminds us that selfish motives can hinder our prayers.

2. We Should Pray Persistently

Jesus’ command to keep asking, seeking, and knocking emphasizes persistence. But persistence is not repetition. It’s not about saying the same thing over and over as if God needs convincing or can be manipulated. Persistent prayer reflects a sincere heart continually turning to God, submitting requests while trusting His will.

So, what should we be seeking, asking, and knocking for? The Westminster Shorter Catechism offers a definition: “Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to His will...” True prayer is not about pushing our will onto God but aligning our desires with His. It’s saying, “Here is what I want, Lord, but I trust Your wisdom more than my own. If this is not good for me, help me want what You want.”

This kind of prayer is powerful—it is honest, humble, and God-centered.

3. We Should Pray with Boldness

The passage reminds us that: We don’t pray extra because we don’t believe it will change anything. But that’s a foolish conclusion. Scripture shows us that God listens, cares, and responds. Still, the question remains: Why do so many prayers seem unanswered? There are several reasons: First, God has said “no,” not “nothing.” Sometimes, He answers differently than we hoped. Second, the timing isn’t right. God’s plans unfold in ways we cannot always see immediately.

Thirdly, God is waiting on us. We might be the answer to our own prayer—God has placed us in situations where He wants to work *through* us. Fourthly, we’re not praying for anything specific. Vague prayers like “bless my marriage” or “help our church” lack clarity. Specific prayers—like asking for better communication, deeper connection, or effective outreach—allow us to see God’s hand more clearly.

Conclusion: Growing in Prayer

Jesus presents prayer as simple: ask, seek, knock. But behind that simplicity lies a deep truth. Effective prayer requires knowledge of God’s will (through Scripture), faith in His power, and a sincere desire for His way above our own.

To deepen our prayer life, this passage encourages setting aside focused time, being specific in requests, maintaining the right attitude, and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and correct our prayers. We’re reminded that God is more willing to respond than we are to ask.

Finally, imagine what God could do through us—through our church, our relationships, our mission—*if only we would ask*.

May God bless you, and keep you, and may these words help you renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

The Way to the Cross

 

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:31-34

Clear and concise communication is often a challenge for us. When we use the wrong word, the wrong verb, or the words are cut, often the results are funny or disastrous. Even Jesus' disciples themselves often had problems understanding what Jesus wanted to communicate to them. In this passage today, Jesus is speaking clearly. He's not using a parable. If we can paraphrase this passage, Jesus is telling his disciples; "Read my lips, I'm going to Jerusalem to die." And yet the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. I am inviting you to walk with Jesus on this road and reflect on four key spiritual principles that shape our faith and discipleship.

 1. The Way to the Cross Was Foretold by the Prophets

Jesus declares that everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. This includes over 300 Old Testament prophecies, many of which detail the events surrounding His suffering and death. Let me give you ten specific prophecies—ranging from Jesus’ betrayal by a friend, being sold for thirty pieces of silver, remaining silent under accusation, being spat on and beaten, crucified with pierced hands and feet, mocked and insulted, having lots cast for His clothing, not having His bones broken, being buried in a rich man’s tomb, and ultimately, rising from the dead. These prophecies, written centuries before Jesus' birth, were fulfilled with remarkable precision. Their fulfillment confirms not only the divine inspiration of Scripture but also that Jesus’ suffering was not accidental—it was part of God’s redemptive plan from the very beginning.

2. The Way to the Cross Promises Rejection and Pain

Jesus knew that the road ahead would be filled with suffering and rejection. Although the Jewish people expected a victorious, kingly Messiah like David, they overlooked the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53. Jesus wasn’t surprised by what awaited Him—betrayal, denial, public humiliation, and excruciating physical pain. Yet, He still moved forward with unwavering purpose. Scripture reminds us that Jesus chose the path of suffering out of love for humanity. The same crowd that praised Him would later shout for His crucifixion. Still, Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, determined to complete His mission.

3. The Way to the Cross Leads to Resurrection

Jesus’ death, while deeply significant, is not the end of the story. Resurrection is what gives the cross its meaning and power. Without the resurrection, the story of Jesus would be no different from any other religious leader. But Jesus did what no one else could—He rose from the grave. The sermon explains that Christmas and the cross only have significance because of Easter. Through the resurrection, Jesus validated everything He said and did. His victory over death assures us that He is alive today and offers hope, salvation, and eternal life to all who believe.

4. The Way to the Cross Is the Pattern for Every Disciple

Finally, The Way to the Cross Is the Pattern for Every Disciple. Just as Jesus walked the road to the cross, every follower of Christ must also take up their cross daily. This is not just about historical remembrance but a present-day calling. Luke 9:23 says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” and Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  These two verses highlight that being a disciple means dying to self and living by faith in Christ. It’s not easy—it means surrendering our desires and enduring hardships for the sake of the Gospel. But it is through this path that we experience the power of resurrection in our own lives.

5. Conclusion

In closing, the passage urges all of us to reflect on our relationship with the risen Christ. The evidence of Jesus’ death and resurrection is overwhelming, but more importantly, it reveals God’s immense love. By putting your faith in Jesus, you receive forgiveness and the greatest gift of all—eternal life. The road to the cross is not just Jesus’ story; it is the journey we’re all invited to walk as His followers. The road to the cross is the road to life. Will you walk it with Jesus?

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

Three Marks of Genuine Faith

 

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (ESV).

In James 1:26–27, the Apostle James offers a powerful litmus test for authentic faith. In a world where outward religiosity can easily mask inner spiritual emptiness, James strips faith down to its core, revealing three essential marks that distinguish genuine Christianity from superficial religion: control of speech, compassionate service, and moral purity.

1. A Controlled Tongue (v. 26)

James begins with a strong warning: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. He uses the metaphor of a horse and bridle—just as a horse must be guided by reins, so must our tongues be governed with intentionality. Words are powerful; they can build up or destroy, bless or curse. Jesus echoed this in Matthew 12, saying that our speech reveals the condition of our hearts. It’s not just overtly offensive language that matters, but the subtler sins of gossip, sarcasm, and harshness. James isn’t calling for perfection but for active self-awareness and a desire to grow in speech that reflects a heart transformed by Christ.

2. Active Compassion (v.27a)

True faith, according to James, must be more than personal piety, it must overflow into practical love. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” In the context of James' time, orphans and widows represented the most vulnerable members of society. Helping them wasn’t just charity—it reflected a heart aligned with God’s. Yet James goes deeper than the acts themselves. What matters is the motive. Good deeds done for show or self-satisfaction don’t count as genuine faith. True compassion stems from a transformed heart that desires to serve others as an act of worship. It's love that often costs us something—time, comfort, convenience—and that’s the kind of love God values.

3. Pursuit of Purity (v. 27b)

The final mark of genuine faith is a commitment to remain unpolluted by the world “and to keep oneself unstained from the world”. James calls believers to live distinct lives, not isolated from the world, but not shaped by its values either. Sin, he argues, is like a contagious disease. To remain pure, Christians must guard their hearts, be selective about their influences, and immerse themselves in God’s Word—which acts like a vaccine, building spiritual immunity. This isn’t a call to legalism but to active resistance against compromise and moral decay. Purity isn’t about outward appearances; it’s about aligning our lives with God’s standards in every area, from thought to behavior.

Conclusion

James doesn’t mince words. He challenges us to examine our lives and determine whether our faith is genuine or just for show. Is our speech controlled? Are our hands busy serving others? Are our hearts pursuing holiness? These aren’t boxes to check—they’re signs of a life truly surrendered to Christ. At the end of the day, we can fool others and even ourselves, but we can’t fool God. James invites us to move beyond appearances and into a faith that transforms every part of who we are.

May God bless you and keep you, and may God use these words to renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas

He Redeemed Us

 

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7) 

Redemption is a word that we don’t often use in English, so it may not be clear to us exactly what Paul is saying. But to Paul’s original audience, the word redemption would have given them a vivid understanding of what Christ had done. The word redemption describes the act of purchasing from bondage or imprisonment by paying a price. In the first century, slavery was commonplace in this part of the world. People could be born into slavery, they could become slaves after being defeated in battle, or they could sell themselves into slavery in order to satisfy a debt. Regardless of how they became slaves, the effect was that they became the property of the one who owned them. So, a slave could be traded or sold the same as property would be. But a slave could be set free if someone paid the “redemption price” required by their owner. Once that price was paid the one who had paid it could set the slave free.

And the Apostle Paul is saying ‘Christians, you who trust in Jesus for your salvation, you need to understand this: that God has bought you with a price. He is the one who has bought you out of slavery, out of the bondage, of sin. He is the one who has brought you into a marvelous freedom. He has brought you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. He is the one who has paid the price.’ And what is the price? Not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of His own Son: “In Him we have redemption….”

Our redemption is spoken of as an event that has already taken place: “In Him we have redemption.” It is not that we hope to have redemption: we have it. In Colossians 1:13-14, Paul writes, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”.

God has done the work of rescuing us, transferring us into the kingdom of the Beloved in whom redemption and forgiveness is given. It is the Beloved in whom we have redemption. “Through His blood” we have deliverance. It is in the beloved Son of God, the Father’s only begotten is the One by whom He has paid the price, and He is the price that the Father has paid in order to redeem you out of iniquity, out of slavery, out of the bondage of sin, and bring you into the fullness of freedom from sin and guilt, from its condemnation, from its penalty, and one day, from its power. It is the cost to the Father of the Son which has given you your freedom.

God’s gift is out of all proportion, and He is drawing attention to us here the costliness of this gift. For us to be redeemed, for us to enjoy communion with God, for us to enjoy everlasting life, to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” — the only way that this could be; is through the shedding of the blood of God’s own beloved Son.

The shedding of blood is a figure speech for death, which is the penalty and the price of sin. Christ's death by the shedding of His blood was the substitute for our death. That which we deserved and could not save ourselves from, the beloved Savior, though He did not deserve it, took upon Himself. He made payment for what otherwise would have condemned us to death and hell. Our freedom cause Jesus His blood. Don’t you ever go to Him thinking, ‘Well, will the Lord give me what I need?’ He’s given you, His Son! The cost of your redemption was His Son, and everything else, all of it rolled up together doesn’t equal the value of His Son. And He’s given that for you.

The Bible tells us that each of us has incurred a tremendous debt because of our sins. It is a debt that we cannot pay off. The Bible also teaches that we are in slavery to our sinful natures. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us that our slavery to sin is so severe that no one will choose to follow God, because our natural instincts are to go our own way. In many ways, it is like being in prison—we are condemned with no hope of parole unless someone else intervenes on our behalf.

Romans 6, Paul explains that the wages of sin is death. The reason for this is that sin is a capital offense. We think of sin as being no big deal, but it is a rebellious act against God. As people under a death sentence, we can only be set free if the blood of an innocent person is spilled. That is exactly what happened at the cross. Jesus has not only paid the debt that we owe, but he has set us free from the prison of sin. As a result, we are free to respond to God’s call to follow Him.

We sometimes miss the point of the cross. Sometimes we think that Jesus was crucified to demonstrate God’s love for us. We sometimes think that the spread arms of Jesus on the cross were to demonstrate that He loved us “this much.” The cross should indeed remind us of God’s love, but that was not its primary purpose. The primary purpose of the cross was for Jesus to spill his blood as payment to redeem us from sin. For us to be redeemed and set free, justice had to be served, and payment had to be made. It is only because of the blood of Jesus Christ that we can have redemption. But because of the blood of Christ, we are free! And so, we praise God for our redemption.

May God bless you and keep you, and may these words help you renew your spirit.

Pastor Dimas