Life Group Notes – March 6 2022

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All Nations Church

Life Group Study

Jesus Said – Matthew 7:7-29

Week of March 6^th,  2022

Study by Wayne Arcand

This is the final study in the seven week series of “Jesus Said”. The study will have a focus on Matthew 7:7,8. These verses can not be taken in isolation but must be considered in light of the teaching of scripture. Everything we will become on earth and our heavenly reward depends on our relationship with the Father through the saving power of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. I would remind us of Ephesians 2: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. We will explore some of the bible verses that teach us how we can have a rewarding relationship with the Father.

1. The first verses we will explore are John 15:5-8: ⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
   1. A single word can speak volumes to us as we read a passage of scripture. Consider the word “if”:
      1. How often is it used?
      2. What does the use of that word tell us about the message that follows?
   2. These verses contain a promise and a warning.
      1. What is the promise?
      2. What is the warning?
   3. What is bearing much fruit conditional upon?
      1. What does the phrase, “if you remain in me and I in you”, mean to you?
   4. As we consider verse 7, what is receiving what we ask for conditional upon?
   5. Summarize the points discussed.

2. 1 John 5: ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
   1. Who is this written to?
      1. Why is this important as we consider the topic of answered prayer?
   2. What is an important principle of prayer in these verses?
   3. What is the confidence we have?
   4. In summary, what is a condition of answered prayer outlined in these verses?

We have looked at two important principles when we ask the Lord for something. Summarize these so they are fresh in your mind and we will go on to look at Matthew 7:7-8.

3. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) ⁷“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
   1. Consider the verbs, “ask”, “seek” and “knock”.
      1. These verbs, as they are used, are in the present continuous tense. What does this suggest to you?
   2. Do you see a progression as you move from asking to seeking to knocking?
      1. What kind of action does each of these verbs suggest to you?

4. Consider James 4:2b-3: You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
   1. What two principles do these verses suggest to you?

5. Matthew 6:6 (NIV) 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
   1. Who is speaking these words?
   2. Who do we pray to?

6. John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you”. This verse is rich in meaning. Examine the verse considering the following questions:
   1. Who is speaking?
   2. Who is he speaking to?
   3. What is our purpose?
   4. What is the expected outcome?
   5. How do I bear fruit?

7. There is a principle of prayer in question 5 and another in questions 6. What is the connection between these two principles?

8. Matthew 7:21,” Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
   1. Summarize what you have learned from the verses studied today that will help guide you in doing the will of the Father?
   2. What is the reward of those who do the will of the Father?

Personal Reflection:

Depending on the version of the Bible you are reading, you will find pray, prayer, praying, etc., mentioned 400 to 500⁺ times. Jesus set the example for us as he would draw off into a quiet place and pray to the Father in the midst of busy and stressful times. Prayer is our connection to the Father and is key to our spiritual growth.  On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate my prayer life? We are constantly challenged by the word of God to put off old ways and live the transformed life. Commit to spending time with the Lord in prayer every day. You will be amazed at what