Before You Ask God Again…Ask This | Jonathan Evans Sermon

Kenneka would be ready and she would say, "Okay, ((music playing)) Kenneka, we're ready. It's time to push." I was like, "Oh, that sounds so sweet." But it was hard. In order for me and Kenneka, I wasn't really that involved, but in order for us to experience a delivery, Kenneka had to push.

It wasn't easy and there was ((music playing)) some pain, but she couldn't give up pushing because if what's on the inside is going to come out, ((music playing)) it's going to come from a push. And Natalie would say, "Kenneka, you got to keep pushing. Keep on pushing, Kenneka. Keep on pushing." And Kenneka would push and she would push and she would push.

But then there WOULD ALWAYS COME THAT TIME AFTER a little while where you just fall faint. You're fatigued. You don't feel like pushing anymore. And Natalie was there to say, "No, no, no, no, no. Don't you give up on me, Kenneka. You gotta keep on pushing. You gotta KEEP ON PUSHING UNTIL THIS BABY COMES.

AND Kenneka would start pushing because she had the encouragement of Natalie to say, "This is the only way we going to get to experience this delivery is if you keep pushing." She would say, "Almost there. You're almost there. Keep on pushing." AND SUDDENLY THAT DELIVERY would come to bear.

And we would be able to celebrate what was on the inside come to the outside. But it came through a push. I'm here to be your OB today. And I'm telling the whole congregation in order for you to get your change. In order order for you to get your deliverance, YOU GOT TO PUSH.

YOU GOT TO KEEP ON ASKING, keep on seeking, keep on knocking because he says he will give it. You will find it. And he WILL OPEN THE DOOR. You got to push. And what that means is you're going to have to pray until something happens. ((cheering)) ((applause)) We give you glory, Lord.

We lift your name. Cuz you're worthy to be praised. You're worthy of all of our adoration. We are not here, Lord, to play church. We are here, Lord, as the embodied body of Christ to love ((music playing)) you, live for you, worship you, praise you, pray to you. It all belongs to you.

And we declare that today. Bless your word. The words from my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you and help the people to hear from Jesus. >> We give you the glory today in Jesus name. All God's people said, >> "Amen." Some of you already know the drill.

You might as well stand up. Stand up. We're going to stand up real quick because today I have one verse for you. This one verse is all that's needed. As we are in the house of prayer and we're talking about prayer, Jesus says this, you know it well.

So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you. >> Seek and you will find. >> Knock and it will be open to you. Hold on. I don't know if you got that cuz you just still standing there looking. Jesus said, "So I say to you, ask and it will be given you. >> Seek and you will find.

Knock and it will be open to you." >> Did he say might or did he say will? >> Will. >> He said will. Okay, you may be seated. Today I want to talk to you from the title push. >> Push. >> Because if you didn't know, today we're going to find out when you pray, you got to push.

He says in this one verse that we're going to talk about today in your prayer life, he is literally bolstering your faith because he says, "So I say to you, just ask >> and it will be given you. >> Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be open to you.

I just want to KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE THAT BELIEVES WHAT Jesus says. >> Okay, ((applause)) I want to DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FIRST word that says so. So means in light of that or therefore which means this is more of a concluding statement on a point that he was previously making.

So let me just TAKE YOU BACK JUST BY summary so that you can understand how Jesus ended based on what he was saying prior in Luke 11 56 7 and 8. He gives his disciples a hypothetical. He says you have a friend that you go to at midnight and you ask him for three loaves of bread.

This friend will then respond to you by saying, "I'm not going to give you anything. Do not bother me. My door is closed. MY ME AND MY CHILDREN are in bed." Basically, go away. Jesus concludes this hypothetical story by saying, "He didn't give to you even though he was a friend, but because of your persistence, he will give you all you need."

In other words, he's saying because of his persistence, he will at least give you what you need to get you off his doorstep. And then he says, "So ask and it will be given you. Seek and you WILL FIND AND KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL be open. Jesus is not drawing a comparison between God and the unwilling friend in the hypothetical story.

He's drawing a contrast. He's saying, "If an unwilling neighbor is willing to give you all you need because of your persistence, how much more will a loving father who is willing give to his children if they ask, seek, and knock?" >> He's saying, "I'M NOT LIKE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

I'M NOT LIKE THE FRIEND you go to THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BOTHERING THEM WHEN YOU ASK. I'M NOT LIKE WHAT YOU'RE USED TO. I'M YOUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER who is totally willing and is looking for you to ask and to seek and to knock. SO BE CAREFUL THAT WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU DON'T COMPARE GOD TO THE PERSON THAT'S unwilling in your life. >> That's not who he is.

Amen. >> AND JESUS SAYS, "SO I say to you," the I say to you is a big deal BECAUSE HOW HE USES THE PERSONAL pronoun in the first tense usage of the verb adds emphasis to who is speaking. He's saying, "SO I THE CHRIST AM TELLING YOU, THE one who has authority to answer prayer, the one who can take full responsibility for what I'm about to say."

Jesus is speaking. He says, "I say to you, in other words, listen to me. >> Believe in me now when I talk to you." Really, when you pray, you need to have MAXIMUM FAITH BECAUSE THE POWER OF JESUS' name is proclaiming these words in your prayer life. He's saying, "Listen to me.

Believe in me now." SO, I REALLY WANT YOU TO believe in what WE'RE ABOUT TO DISCUSS. WHY? NOT because Pastor Jay said it, but because Jesus said it. >> And Jesus is saying, "Ask, seek, knock." He gives you in your prayer life three imperative present tense verbs. He gives you three imperative present tense verbs for your prayer life.

An imperative, watch, is a command. >> A present tense verb is something you do with no end to it. That means in EVERY PRESENT MOMENT THAT you pray, THIS MINUTE IS PRESENT for me. The next minute will be present FOR YOU AND I. THE NEXT MINUTE AFTER that will be present again.

He's saying, "Ask, watch, and keep on asking. >> I'm commanding you to seek and keep on seeking. >> I'm commanding you to knock and keep on knocking." He's saying, not only last week, whenever you pray, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE FULL LATITUDE TO COME into the throne room whenever you decide.

The King of Kings GIVES YOU FULL LATITUDE to pray to him. Remember, WE CAN'T EVEN GET ON EACH OTHER'S SCHEDULE AS OFTEN AS WE WANT TO. But the supreme being of the universe says whenever you want, you can come in and pray and as often as you want, you need to be asking, seeking, and knocking.

You are not BOTHERING ME. YOU ARE NOT GETTING on my nerves. I am not like your cousin them. I'm not like your neighbor. I'm not like the person YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BOTHERING BECAUSE you're asking too much. You know that feeling you get when you've asked somebody something twice, but you know you need to ask it again, but you're trying to wait some distance, put some distance in between it because you're trying to make sure that you don't ask too much or too often because you want to get YOU DON'T WANT TO GET on their nerves or drive THEM AWAY.

GOD IS SAYING, "I'M NOT LIKE THAT. I am commanding you to ask and keep on asking. I'm commanding you to seek and keep on seeking. I'm commanding you to knock. AND JUST KEEP ON KNOCKING. NOW, FOR YOU AND I, IF SOMEBODY COMES TO YOUR door or THEY RING THE DOORBELL SIX, SEVEN TIMES, WE COME INTO the door with a STRAIGHT UP ATTITUDE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? That's what you and I are used to. Jesus says, "Oh, I'm nothing like that unwilling friend. I'm in total contrast to it. I'm telling you and commanding you, you ask and you come in and I'm commanding you to ask and don't give up asking.

Seek, listen, and don't give up seeking. Knock and you do not give up knocking. This is why we cannot be jealous over somebody else's testimony or experience with God. Because you're looking at the end result, not knowing how long they've been in there asking. You don't KNOW HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE SEEKING.

GRANDMAMA has calluses on her knees because she would not stop knocking. And you're looking at the END RESULT OF SOMEONE WHO IS PRAYING and believe that God WOULD COME THROUGH. BECAUSE IN order to keep doing something, you have to believe that his promises are real. >> He says, "So, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, >> Jesus is talking.

I need you to believe in me now in your prayer life when you come into the throne room. >> You're not bothering me. I'm commanding you to ask. >> Matter of fact, Matthew 6:8 says, "I already know what you need before you ask. So stop playing games with me. >> Come on in and ask." >> Number one, let's talk about them.

One, two, three. He says, "Ask." This is not a problem that you and I should really have >> BECAUSE IN AMERICAN CONTEXT, we be asking for some crazy stuff already. We shouldn't have a problem with Jesus commanding you and I to come into the throne room and ask him because we just be kind of asking stuff.

And let me give you an example. I was leaving work on Friday, getting some extra studying in, coming out of the building. Y'all do know I work beyond Sunday. It's Monday through Friday and Sunday. We just want to make sure you know that this pastor thing real. It's a real thing.

I'm leaving on Friday and nobody's really here. Just getting getting out of here late. It's about 4:30 and I'm walking out and I look to the right and I see a a man there. He's kind of there by himself, kind of looking lost. and he sees me and HE SAID, "OH, PASTOR JAY."

I WAS LIKE, "OH, YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME?" You know, I didn't know I didn't know you was looking for me. He just said, "OH, PASTOR JAY." AND I said, "How can I help you, man? What's going on? How you doing?" I said, he said, "Man, I'm doing okay.

I just, you know what I'm saying? My car broke down, man. I kind of need some help." I said, "Oh, do you He I said, "What you need help with, man?" He said, "Man, the show would be nice if the old pastor can give me a ride. And at that point, I was still kind of willing, but I had a follow-up question.

Where, too? He said, "Oh, man. I I just really need a I need a favor. I need to get to the other side of town. You mind carrying me to Plano?" I said, "Say, bro. My whole counting has changed." I said, "Say, man. Don't you know it's 4 and some 30?

I can't carry YOU TO PLANO. YOU JUST ASKED ME FOR 3 HOURS, A HALF TANK OF GAS, AND MY MENTAL HEALTH. How you going to ASK BOLDLY FOR ME TO CARRY YOU ALL THE WAY TO PLANO? I mean, he asked bold, too. I'm like, "Yeah, now we going to have to find out."

Now, I'm not going to tell you what he got there. It just wasn't me. I got kids. We found a way. We Some of y'all laughing, but we be asking for some crazy stuff. You'll see SOME CLOTHES YOU FORGOT TO TAKE BACK A YEAR LATER, and it's still got the tag on it, and you got the nerve to call the retailer and ask them if THEY'LL TAKE IT BACK, and you see the 30-day return clause on the tag.

Well, all they can say is, some of y'all will take five bites of a burger and ask them to take it back cuz it don't look like the picture on the menu. Y'all be tripping. But then when it comes TO A HOLY GOD COMMANDING IT, we come into the throne room sheepish as if he doesn't want TO HEAR IT.

IT'S ALMOST as if we feel ungrateful or ungodly by having a request. >> We come into the throne room skittish and a little skeptical that we should be asking anything. And I want to let you know today that Jesus Christ commands you in the present tense verb to ask and keep on asking and don't give UP ASKING BECAUSE YOUR FATHER actually loves his children and knows what you need even before you ask. >> He's commanding you to come on in and to ask.

And the Bible teaches us this all over. Mark 11:24 says, "Ask and believe and you will receive." the same thing in John 16:24, in Matthew 21:22. IT'S OVER AND over again. And your favorite scripture, I already know what it is, is James 4:2. You have not because you >> Oh, so these reiterations in the text must be real. that he's commanding you.

Feel free to the saints to come on in in prayer. Whenever you decide and don't be sheepish in front of a holy God, I'm not like your unwilling friend. Just go ahead and ask. >> Some of us are so skeptical. >> And I have been myself >> about asking God. >> Yes. >> That we would rather revert to our own sin nature as the mechanism to receive.

We will go to the human trinity, me, myself, and I, >> in order to get done what we want to get done because we truly don't believe that he will get it done or it's worth an ask. >> So what happens is we end up hating, undercutting, manipulating, lying by omission to try to get things.

And Jesus is saying, "You could have just asked." I don't know if you've had anybody ever sneak around you to try to take something from you that they needed, make up justifications in their mind to skip you so that they can get it. THEN YOU FOUND OUT THEY took it and in the back of your mind you're thinking, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE just asked. >> This is what he's saying in James 4:2.

That is the end of THE VERSE. YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT. THE BEGINNING OF THE verse says, "You lust and you do not have, so you murder. >> You envy and you do not have, SO YOU FIGHT AND you quarrel." And then it ends BY SAYING, "YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT."

JESUS IS REITERATING THE SAME POINT ALL THROUGH SCRIPTURE. YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST ASK. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ROUNDABOUT WAYS BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE communicating to Jesus, what you're communicating to God is that I don't trust you and your power. I'll rely on me to get it done. >> Asking is the petition.

That ask is a verbal dependence and acknowledgment that God is the answer. To not ask, that's why confession is so important. To not ask or confess is to rely on self-sufficiency and pride to be able to get done WHAT THE PROVIDER JEHOVAH GYRA is able to do for you. >> He's telling you, hey, uh you could have just asked and ask and keep on asking me >> in your prayer life.

Let Jesus set you free. Do not come into the throne room sheepish or skeptical because then your skepticism will cancel your ask >> because he says ask believing in Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22. HAVE FAITH. AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE FAITH ENOUGH because the verse says if you ask, I'll give it to you.

But because even myself at times we come into the throne room lacking belief in what Jesus says. You say, "Pastor Jake, um, I've been asking, man, ain't nothing happen." Okay, let me give you two reasons. Number one, motives. After James 4:2, you just go to James 4:3 and it tells you you ask and you do not receive because God knows your motives and he knows that you just want to get a payment for your own pleasures. >> So, you're asking and leaving God out of your request.

Why would he donate to that? >> I don't know if you know anything about donor relations. Know if any of you do donor relations. uh when you're asking people to give to your 501c3s and all that, one of the things you have to do is figure out what their interest is. >> You can't just go with your interest.

You got to figure out their interest and see how you can combine those interest. Because if they know what they're interested in is what you're interested in, then it makes it more viable of a project for them to donate to because it carries out the vision they have, not just the vision you have.

A lot of us go to God with an ask that he's not interested in. The Bible tells you how to pray in the Lord's prayer. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So God, the consmate donor of the universe, wants an ask that has something to do with his glory and your good. >> There needs to be a combination with not just my come up and using prayer as a step stool so God can be a genie IN A BOTTLE.

HE IS NOT YOUR GENIE. HE IS THE creator of the universe who says I will give to you. But it's my kingdom come. My will be done on earth as it is in heaven. >> Not your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth. Period. >> The motives of my ask.

Is it for God's glory and my good >> or is it just for me myself and I and Jean and God? I just need to rub on this bottle and he'll pop out and he'll become Santa Claus. >> He is not your Santa. He is not your pet. >> He says ask, but check your heart, your motives.

You know that inner room that we talked about last night? I mean last week, he's in there >> and he knows the heart and the motives of people. I remember when I was praying one day when I was u uh younger. I was praying in the room u and I that sounds spiritual.

I wasn't praying that often when I was younger. I just had a moment. You know, we suddenly get spiritual when we need something. And my dad came in with a black suit on. In our house, he would always randomly be wearing suits. He had somewhere to go, somewhere to preach.

Maybe it was to us, but he would put on a suit. So, he just came in with a black suit. That was normal for us. And he came in and he said, "Son, what you doing?" So I said, "I'm just praying. I'm just asking for God for a few things."

He said, "Oh, okay." Put his foot up. Um, and he said, "That's night, what are you asking for?" And I listed a few things I'm asking for. And then he asked a simple question. He said, "Yeah, what does God get out of that?" >> I said, "I mean, he get to help me."

What you mean? What does he get at? He get he says, "Son, anytime you ask, ask the question, what does God get out of what I'm asking?" Because then he's interested. >> And then he walked out the room. I was like, "What is this, Men in Black or something?"

He just like a ghost. What does God get out of what you're asking? Are you asking with selfish motives or are you asking because it's for his glory? That's why you live. And Lord, this is what I need to carry out what you've called me to do. This is what your word says.

The second reason is timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything to happen upon the earth." It's not that some of you in your prayer he's saying no. IT'S JUST NOT YET. THAT'S WHY he's giving you a present tense verb for you to keep on asking.

Don't give up asking because what he has comes in its appropriate season. Sometimes he'll say no because he knows it's not time. >> Don't you know that we need to learn to give thanks when God says no? Because sometimes if he gives it when you ask it, he'll mess your whole life up >> because we're not ready at the time.

And he tells you to keep on asking. It's not that I'm saying no. It's just a not yet. >> That's why the present tense verb is the way it is. He's saying when you pray, you need to ask. >> Matter of fact, I command you to ask. >> And then I command you to keep on asking.

Don't give up asking. This means I am discouraged. >> I've been asking. I've been praying. Jesus is saying keep asking. >> I'm not like your unwilling friends. I just need you to keep asking. Check your motives. I know I've got my timing, but keep asking. He's saying ultimately when it comes to prayer, you got to ask and keep on asking. >> You got to push and keep on pushing.

He's saying, "You've got to keep doing what I've called you to do because in time it will slide right in." And then you'll notice that the seek is bigger than the ask. Because while asking is the petition, seeking is the pursuit. He says ask. And now he says imperative present tense verb.

You need to seek. You need to be in pursuit and not just have a petition. Even though God can make mana come from the sky if he wants to just on an ask, but he follows it up with a seek. If I ask Kenneka, Kenneka, can you help?

Where are my keys? That's a good question. But if I then go just sit in my car, I still got a problem. I CAN'T JUST ASK for the keys. There has to be a pursuit that's in alignment with my ask. If my pursuit is not in alignment with my ask, I can have a good question and still be stuck in the same place. >> Okay?

You cannot ask for community and pursue isolation. You cannot ask for peace and pursue confrontation. >> You cannot ask for wisdom but you pursue mediums. >> Okay, you didn't get that. You cannot ask for change but you continue to pursue the status quo. You cannot ask for renewal while you're pursuing old habits.

You cannot ask for greatness while you're pursuing comfort. >> THAT DOESN'T WORK. YOU CANNOT ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, but you pursue revenge. >> That is called schizophrenic prayer life. WHERE YOU'RE ASKING GOD TO SHOW UP TO A PLACE YOU AIN'T AT. If what you're saying >> is not synced with what you're seeking, then what you're saying will be the only thing you get from praying. >> He's saying ask, but then you need to seek.

You need to have a life that is in alignment with your request. Because a lot of us will ask, but then have a contradictory action that cancels our request. Okay. So, Pastor Jay, should I seek pursue that which I'm asking about? No. Don't pursue the keys. You'll be looking for a long time. >> You don't know where they are.

You just know to make that request because you need them. >> Yeah. >> What I do is I go to Kenneka. Say, can where my keys at? Now, the reason why I do that is because she just she don't say nothing. She just pull out her phone cuz she got a locator on all my stuff cuz I lose all my stuff.

And what Kenneka will do will pull out her phone, go to tile or go to find my whatever it is, and she'll just push a button. All of a sudden, the keys will start making noise. Then I'm able to direct my pursuit based on the person because the person already had a locator on what I was asking about.

So now I'm not wasting all this time trying to find what I'm asking about. I can just seek the person that I'm asking because the person that I'm asking already has a locator on what I'm asking about. In other words, God is saying when he says seek, he's saying me and you will find me when you search for me with all of your heart.

And when you come to me, I ALREADY GOT a locator on what YOU ASKING ABOUT. ALL I GOT TO DO IS PUSH a cosmic Holy GHOST BUTTON AND YOU'LL BE ABLE to see clearly where I'm taking you because you came to the person. That's why the Bible says, ladies and gentlemen, seek ye first his kingdom, and then these things will be added unto you. >> The goal is the seeking OF THE PERSON, NOT the item.

Yeah. >> When you find God and you seek him in prayer, you have your ask, but you're going after him. He's got to locate. He's got the beat on everything you're asking for. >> Oh, okay. Pastor Jay, that sound good. How do I do that? Okay. How do I seek God based on what I'm asking?

When you pray, >> especially when you in your closet, When you decided, I'm just going to have some quiet time with the Lord, >> you're supposed to pray with the scriptures. >> Okay? The way that you seek the person who already has a locator on what you asking >> is right here.

So when you have your quiet time, think about what you're asking and what your request is. And then that's your devotions. >> You start going to God's word and praying over what he says about what you're asking about. >> You have to bring God's word into it. Many people study the Bible like this.

That's what the Holy Spirit wanted me to study right there. I'm doing that cuz that's the way I started. I was like, I see Tony Evans do that. So, it must be right there that I need to. Or you can think about what's on your heart that you're coming to God for. >> And then you open the scriptures.

And we have no excuse. You got all types of technology that will find the scriptures. If you just put in the right thing, it'll it'll all the scriptures will show up. And you can start feeding yourself what God says about what I'm asking. So, I can seek God.

And you will come to realize that if I line myself up with my ass, some of the answers are already in there. The scriptures are a part of your prayer life. It's how you seek the Lord. Whatever you're asking about can be your study for devotions and you can go find it in his word and pray over it.

Memorize it. If you're asking about money, you can go to Proverbs 3, Proverbs 28, Deuteronomy 28. If you're asking about strongholds, you can go to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 4 and 5. If you're asking about marriage, you can go to Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3. You can go to Titus 2.

You can go to Genesis 2. You can go to Matthew 19. I mean, in his word, you will start finding prescriptions for the healing that you're asking for. And you'll see that it's already in there. What we can't do is ask and have a seek that's counterintuitive to what we're asking.

He says, "Ask and I will give it to you. Seek. Come into alignment with what you're asking." The word gives blueprints on fatherhood. It gives blueprints on all this stuff. We pray and ignore God's word when the answer is already there. giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to illuminate something we were not thinking about >> to pull us in a direction we did not originally know.

That's why the seek is important. He says, "If you seek me," Jeremiah 29:13, "If you seek me and search for me with all of your heart, you will find me." And suddenly you'll hear a ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding. Oh, there it is. It's in the pursuit of God. >> Ask.

Oh, this is it's not Pastor Jay saying it. You're just looking at me. Jesus said it and it will be given you. >> Seek after God himself in alignment with my ask. >> Be in alignment with my ask. I cannot have a schizophrenic prayer life and ask God to answer straight up.

He's saying ask and keep on asking. >> Seek, ladies and gentlemen. Seek and keep on seeking. When it comes to prayer, you have to keep pushing. You have to keep pushing because he's telling you in the present tense verb, keep on doing it. Be steadfast, unmovable, ALWAYS ABOUND IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, and know that it will not go in vain.

There's a whole lot of wills in the Bible or shall not might. >> The question is, even though Jesus is talking, do we really believe it? >> If we do, >> we will be asking and keep on asking. We will be seeking and we'll continue to seek. >> And then finally he says what? >> Knock.

I like doing this. Knock. Okay. Y'all ready? Y'all ready? In ancient Israel, when people would wake up in the morning, they would open their door. They would not close it all day. Their towns and villages was were were just open. You would be walking down the street and the doors of the homes would just be open, windows open.

They just had an open atmosphere. Remember when we was growing up, not for you young young people, but when we was growing up, we weren't as concerned about security >> as they are now. I mean, we got bars on our windows. We got gates here. We we we shutting everybody out.

When we was growing up, you know, some people had an all access pass. People just come in, they would knock first, but the door be open. They just walk in. They had, if you extrapolate that out, centuries, they had an open concept when it came to their culture.

They would get up in the morning, they would open the door, and the door would just stay open all day. That's how they function. If you're walking down the street in Jerusalem or wherever and the door is closed, whether at night or during the day, that was a communication to not disturb me.

Everybody else would be open, but some doors would be closed because they were asleep, busy, didn't want to be disturbed. They're communicating to you there's no provision here and there is no access. Do not come this way. So when Jesus is telling the story of the unwilling friend who had his door closed that said don't bother me.

He was saying that the person knocking on the door was willing to knock on the obstacle that was in front of his provision. >> Meaning the door is the do not disturb sign in your life that is the obstacle that's blocking your provision. Jesus is saying knock on that.

Okay, you don't get it. >> Many of us have do not disturb signs in our life. Things you think you cannot overcome, things that are in the way that are blocking your provision, your next step, or the THING YOU BELIEVE GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO. HE'S SAYING FOCUS YOUR PRAYER THERE AND KNOCK ON THAT DOOR.

FOR SOME OF YOU, IT'S THE DOOR OF DEPRESSION. YOUR SOUL IS DARK. YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW to overcome it. And you're trying to get to to joy. And he's saying THAT DOOR OF DEPRESSION, YOU KEEP COMING TO ME and you keep knocking ON THAT DOOR. SOME OF YOU, IT'S MARRIAGE.

YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO get to THE NEXT STEP. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. JESUS is saying that door that is the obstacle. GO AHEAD AND KNOCK ON THAT DOOR. AND DON'T STOP KNOCKING.

KEEP ON KNOCKING on it. FOR SOME OF US, IT'S PAST SHAME. For others of us, it's an empty nursery. You've had miscarriage after miscarriage AFTER MISCARRIAGE. YOU CANNOT CONCEIVE. JESUS IS SAYING DO NOT GIVE UP KNOCKING ON THAT DOOR, that obstacle. That is the door that I WANT YOU TO KNOCK ON.

And he's SAYING KEEP KNOCKING ON DEPRESSION UNTIL IT becomes joy. Keep knocking on infertility until it becomes a birth. >> Keep knocking ON DEPRESSION UNTIL IT GETS BETTER. KEEP KNOCKING ON YOUR MARRIAGE UNTIL THERE'S RESTORATION. DON'T NOT BELIEVE in me. JUST KEEP KNOCKING ON THE DOOR. THAT'S WHAT HE'S CALLING US TO DO IN PRAYER.

HE'S SAYING, "ASK AND KEEP ON ASKING. Seek me and come into alignment and keep on seeking." And he says, "If you just keep knocking on THAT DOOR, KEEP KNOCKING ON IT BECAUSE EVENTUALLY that door WILL SWING OPEN BECAUSE YOUR BLESSING IS RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE." HE'S SAYING, "SAINTS, do not give up praying.

When you pray, YOU'VE GOT TO PUSH. OKAY? Ask for what you do not possess. seek right after God's will and knock on that obstacle until your change comes >> because he will do it. That's why the Bible says in Romans 12:12, it says, "Persevere through trial and devote yourselves to prayer."

That's why it says in Galatians 6:9, "Do not grow weary of doing good because in due season you will reap if you DO NOT FAINT." HE'S SAYING, "TAKE TO THAT DOOR AND KNOCK ON it >> and don't stop knocking on it." And we've got to understand the Christian life just isn't easy.

Even in our prayer life, we have to have the faith enough to keep on going, to keep on praying, to keep on asking, to keep on seeking, and to keep on knocking. Because when it comes to prayer, >> ultimately what Jesus is saying, ladies and gentlemen, you going to have to push >> and you going to have to push until your change comes. >> Okay, let me close with this.

You've been looking at me, keep saying push. Well, the reason why I titled this message push is because I got five kids. And every experience, the typical experience is you go to the hospital when the labor pains come. And every doctor I know say the same thing. Our doctor's name is Natalie.

She's a member of this church. To me, the best OB in the state of Texas, right here at Oakliff Bible Fellowship. That's right. Natalie is a sweet, sweet lady. Kenneka would be ready and she would say, "Okay, Kenneka, we're ready. It's time to push." I was like, "Oh, that sounds so sweet."

But it was hard in order for me and Kenneka. I wasn't really that involved, but in order for us to experience a delivery, Kenneka had to push. It wasn't easy and there was some pain, but she couldn't give up pushing because if what's on the inside is going to come out, it's going to come from a push.

And Natalie would say, "Kenneka, you got to keep pushing. Keep on pushing, Kenneka, keep on pushing." And Kenneka would push and she would push and she would push, BUT THEN THERE WOULD ALWAYS COME THAT TIME AFTER A LITTLE WHILE WHERE YOU JUST fall faint. You're fatigued. YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE PUSHING ANYMORE.

And Natalie was there to say, "No, no, no, no, no. Don't you give up on me, Kenneka. You gotta KEEP ON PUSHING. YOU GOTTA KEEP ON PUSHING UNTIL THIS BABY COMES. AND KENNEKA would start pushing because she had the encouragement of Natalie to say, "THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE GOING TO GET TO EXPERIENCE this delivery is if you keep pushing."

She would SAY, "ALMOST THERE. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE. KEEP ON PUSHING." AND SUDDENLY THAT DELIVERY would come to bear. And we would be able to celebrate what was on the inside come to the outside. But it came through a push. I'm here to be your OB TODAY. AND I'M TELLING THE WHOLE CONGREGATION, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GET YOUR CHANGE in order FOR YOU TO GET YOUR DELIVERANCE, YOU GOT TO PUSH.

YOU GOT TO KEEP ON ASKING, KEEP ON SEEKING, keep on knocking because he says he will give it. You will FIND IT. AND HE WILL OPEN THE DOOR. YOU GOT TO PUSH. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS you're going to have to pray until something happens. >> ((applause)) >> You're going to have to pray until something happens.

God has called us to push. Watch. And he's commanding it. Kenneka had no choice. Natalie said, "Push. You have to push." I'm telling you, as your OB today, you got to push. You have to push. And if you just keep pushing, there will be a delivery. There will be a baby.

((cheering)) There will be an answered prayer. There will be a transformation. There will be a SETTLING OF YOUR MIND. THERE WILL be a CHANGING OF YOUR HEART. There will be some healing. There will be some kids coming back. There will be some marriages being restored. There will be some people being changed.

It will happen if you push. [applause and cheering] >> ((applause)) ((cheering)) >> We have to in the Christian life >> maintain the faith. >> Be you willing to ask and keep asking. Don't get tired. Don't say, "Well, he ain't going to do nothing." >> Oh, no. He's not like your unwilling friend. >> Just keep pushing because when you push, >> there's deliveries >> all the time.

Stand to your feet. >> ((applause)) ((applause))