HOW MUCH MORE SHALL
Matthew 7: 7-11
Our Lord tells us to ask in faith and we shall receive (Mt. 21: 22.) Even sinful, fallen, depraved sinners are naturally predisposed to give good things to their children, simply because they are our children, how much more your Father (v11.) Here the Lord gives his children three great reasons for us to ask, believing, that we shall receive.
Your Father. First, if you are a believer this great assurance comes because God is your Father. Without us asking, he choose us in Christ and gave his Son to lay down his life for us. If you are a believer it is because Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is your Everlasting Father. Consider the assurance this gives us, brethren. First, the father of the family is the legal representative. In our first father Adam, all whom he represented sinned in him, in our Everlasting Father all whom he represented are righteous. Secondly, the father of the family is the one of whom you are born. If Christ Jesus is our Everlasting Father it is because we have been born a second time of his incorruptible seed by the Word (1 Jn 3:9.) Thirdly, it is from our Everlasting Father that we receive the inheritance: it is his to give; he reserves it for his children. "Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ is faithful as a son over his own house." I am my earthly father's son and I am a son over my own house. I am the father of my children even as my earthly father is the father-grand of my children. So it is with God and his Son, Christ our Everlasting Father, "whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Heb 3: 5, 6.) Do you see how much assurance you have that God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus is your Father and shall give to his children?
Which is in Heaven. Secondly, our Father in heaven is all knowing. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him" (Mt. 6:8.) Our Father in heaven is all-powerful. He is able to give, able to raise up, even from the dead. Is it an erring brother for whom we pray? God is able to make him stand (Ro14:4.) Is it personal provisions and a willing heart to aid in the work of the gospel? "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Cor 9:8.)
Give Good Things. Thirdly, we can not pass this word "give." We do not earn gifts. We do not bargain for gifts. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk 12:32.) And notice that our heavenly Father gives good things. Spurgeon said, "He will give the good which we did not ask, and withhold the ill which we so unwisely requested...We know not what we should pray for as we ought, but he knows how to give as becometh his perfection, and he will do so."
The chief--good thing--that our Father gives is the Holy Spirit, the Oil of gladness (Lk 11: 13.) Our heavenly Father will provide our earthly needs but "things" may or may not give us gladness. We may or may not recover from "sickness" and if we do we will eventually die. But even if we do not recover from sickness, even if we do not receive earthly things, through the gift of the Holy Spirit we are comforted because he guides us into Christ the Truth. The Holy Spirit whispers into the soul of the believer the word of our heavenly Father and our Savior, saying, "All things are yours; your brethren, the world, life, death, things present, things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (I Cor 3: 21-23.) Then whatever the mountain that stands in our way, in our own hearts, it is cast into the sea. This is how God raises up, and is able to make us stand. "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?...whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only" (Job 34:29.)
To Them That Ask Him. Now with these three reasons in mind, we end where we began--asking. Believer, do you see that you have no reason to doubt your heavenly Father? Believe him. "Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you, for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Mt 7: 7, 8.)