https://youtu.be/9qDBcfPlUpA

Matthew 7:7-10 God is so good to us. I am living a life that I don’t deserve and I’m not living the life that I deserve. God has been so gracious. Can you say that God has been gracious?Key verse-  11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!“how much more” is what the heart of God is- he’s not a somewhat God- he’s a I will do it GodHe can, he will, he wants to . how much more. 

1. How much more should we Stay dependent on God“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.Jesus is getting to the end of the sermon on the mount and using this time once again to encourage people to become people of prayerThe point that Jesus is making, and has made is that the disciples of Jesus should be completely dependent on God for everything that they want spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and for any and all wants and needs they aspire to haveMatthew 21:22  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”Individualism, self reliance, self aggrandizing is not the ethos of the kingdom- the ethos of the kingdom is dependence on God. We don’t save ourselves, forgive ourselves, praise ourselves, accomplish our own Goals outside the help of God’s sovereign hand. Psalm 10:4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.I get it- America is a ‘up by your boots straps get it done make it happen” kind of placeBut that’s a American thought not a Godly thought- Kingdom thoughts are without God I can accomplish nothing- I can do nothing- its all on him- not on meThere’s a balance here- bible says if a man doesn’t work he wont eat- but it also says we can’t trust in our own fleshJeremiah 17:5-9 READSelf accomplishment and glory gives God no glory which is the point of our life. 5 Thus says the Lord:“Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength,Whose heart departs from the Lord.This is very important distinction- Miss Ranger- food, walk, sleep, run- this what we’re doing?That’s how we should be- God- can I, should I, will I, can we, im not moving until you doWhens the last time you prayed and asked God about something that you could do?We must ABIDE- we must rest in HIM and HIS power and purpose and HE will do it if we ASKJohn 15:7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.Now some have taken this to mean that whatever I ask for God has to give me and if he doesn’t its because I’m not having enough faith, praying right, remembering the right scriptures etc. like it some cosmic spell we must cast to get God to move- its not- The decision and the outcome are in GOD’s hands- not ours- we just keep asking- Forgiveness is always assured- Psalm 86:5  For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.Don’t get it twisted- don’t think that you’re not forgiven if you’ve asked- forgiveness is instantaneous- you don’t have to work for it at all- its assured1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Connection to God is always assured-  Jeremiah 29:12-13  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.James 4:8 draw near to God and he will draw near to you- It’s the OTHER stuff that we’re like- is this going to happen? Healing, promotion, moves, stuff, cars, house, relationships,  we ask- cause we want- but its in God’s hands if we get itWe can’t get discouraged tho- that’s where God’s sovereignty comes into play- his d...