Knock, and It Shall Be Opened (Luke 11:9)

“Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” — Luke 11:9

 

Summary:

Jesus sums up prayer’s duty and privilege in one familiar word: knock. Through Christ, we may approach God at any time with every need, especially our need for spiritual blessings. Prayer must be sincere, earnest, and persistent. Though delay may test us, need and trembling hope should keep us at mercy’s door, trusting the promise that it will open. The needy sinner claims no former riches, innocence, or lack of need, but confesses lifelong poverty, guilt, and dependence on all God can give. Those who receive mercy should gladly direct other needy souls to the same inexhaustible store.

 

Outline:

• Christ is the door of prayer
  • We approach the Father through Jesus Christ, the only way, truth, and life.
• Prayer belongs to every time and need
  • Believers should pray continually, bringing every request to God and seeking spiritual blessings first.
• Knocking must be earnest and persevering
  • Sincere need and hope sustain prayer through delay, weakness, ridicule, and discouragement.
• The sinner pleads only for mercy
  • We cannot claim former riches, innocence, independence, or a merely trifling need before God.
• Received mercy should be proclaimed
  • God delights when grateful recipients tell others of his abundant grace and invite them to come.