“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
I recently heard a message that set my soul free, as I found myself believing what was taught, concerning this promise of Jesus. I was, and am, very encouraged by the fact that God will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Aware of my utter inability to accomplish anything spiritual, apart from the Spirit of God, this promise thrills me to the core. It prepares me to walk in the works that He has ordained for me. It quells my fears about how everything will play out. As I desire to faithfully glorify God with my life, and to maneuver in this world, as a helpful light to others, I've been brought to this wonderful conclusion: all I need is God's Spirit. And for this gift, I've been provided with very clear direction: ask, seek and knock.
James wrote: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)
"Ask God." Wow! It's very elementary. Why not just ask God for what I need? Why should my mind complicate the matter any further? Analysis paralysis is a real affliction, indeed. It's my unbelief that causes me to be so filled with anxiety, and slow to arrive at this eureka-ish discovery: I can simply go to God for that which I need, and which only He can give.
Paul wrote: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)
The unbelief, which causes anxiety, is also intermingled with pride, whereby I think that things are, somehow, within my own control. Such vain assumptions of self-sufficiency are remedied by these words that Peter wrote: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6)
All I need is the Spirit of God to show me Christ (John 14), and looking to Him will make me fruitful. This is His will and His good pleasure (John 15). What an appropriate and refreshing prescription for my ailments! The God, without whom, I can do nothing, is absolutely willing to be with me, and help me to do His will.
Let me close with a list of spiritual fruit that is the result of being granted the Spirit of God. To be Spirit-filled is not some intangibly nebulous concept, inexplicably euphoric feeling, or magically mystic trance. It's a very practical, albeit supernatural, operation.
Paul plainly tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)
These are the things that I need, in order to be functional as a Christian, and at my best, as a human being. These are things that God Almighty is willing to give freely. Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock. God will freely grant us this most urgent, all-important desire. If we need it, we'll search it out desperately, as Jacob sought the blessing (Genesis 32:26), as blind Bartimaeus sought sight (Mark 10:46-52), as the Canaanite woman sought mercy (Matthew 15:22-28), and as any sinner who needs to be saved, gets saved (Romans 10:13).
The God, unto whom belongs salvation, is the same God who will most assuredly give the fruits of His Spirit to His children. And what a blessing ,that we are pointed in this direction, by none other than the Father's preeminent Child: Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.
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