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Ask, Seek, Knock. | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes/2819/Ask, Seek, Knock.

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Ask, Seek, Knock.

Philip Anthony Mitchell·2819

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Part of Journey Through Matthew

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Summary

Human relationships are the source of both our greatest joys and our deepest pains, making spiritual discernment essential for navigating life well. In Matthew 7:7-12, Jesus shows us that gaining discernment and spiritual maturity begins by actively asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer. As we prioritize intimacy with God over self-reliance, He transforms our hearts, deepens our discernment, and enables us to love and treat others as we wish to be treated.

Key Scriptures

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Matthew 5-7↗Matthew 7:7-12↗Matthew 7:1-6↗

Themes

Spiritual DiscernmentPrayer & Intimacy with GodWisdom in RelationshipsPersistence in Prayer

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These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.

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Ask, Seek, Knock.

Philip Anthony Mitchell · 2819

Mar 31, 2026

The Golden Rule

Pastor's Points

1.Ask
2.Seek
3.Knock

Key Points

1.Human relationships are the catalyst for our highest joys and our greatest heartaches, requiring spiritual skills to navigate effectively.
2.Discernment is the Holy Spirit-aided ability to judge correctly and distinguish between truth and error, guided by a deep knowledge of God's Word.
3.Misjudging or condemning others acts as a boomerang—the harshness and wrong judgment we put into the world will eventually return to us.
4.We must accurately discern and address the issues within our own hearts before we are equipped to help someone else with theirs.
5.God's truth is precious, and believers must discern whether someone's heart is open to wisdom or hostile toward it before offering spiritual counsel.
6.Asking in prayer provides access to God; prayer is meant to be a sanctuary for the soul rather than a buffet for the flesh.
7.Seeking reflects spiritual hunger that directs our natural curiosity toward God, while knocking demonstrates desperate, persistent faith that refuses to quit.
8.If imperfect earthly parents willingly give good gifts to their children, our perfect heavenly Father is infinitely more eager to respond to those who ask Him.
9.The Golden Rule requires proactive obedience—we are called to intentionally sow respect, forgiveness, and love into others' lives as we wish to receive them.

Sermon Moments

“Your greatest joy in this life and your greatest pains in this life, they both flow from the same place: your human relationships.”

“Discernment is one's ability to sense or decide between what is truth and what is error... aided by the Holy Spirit, not your flesh.”

“Before you can properly discern the issues in somebody else's life, you need to discern what's going on in your life first.”

“The secret place is not a buffet for the flesh. The secret place is a sanctuary for the soul.”

“Seeking involves hunger... your life will radically change when the apex of your curiosity terminates on God.”

“Knocking means persist and don't give up. Keep pounding the doors of heaven until something changes.”

“It's not enough to just not do... He wants His children to be proactive, constantly sewing into the lives of others the things you want to see come into your own life.”

“Discernment first protects from spreading harm and being harmed, and discernment also promotes help and healing.”

This Week

Spend dedicated time in prayer this week prioritizing intimacy with God over bringing a list of demands.
Before offering correction or criticism to a family member or friend, examine your own heart and motives first.
Pray specifically for Holy Spirit-led discernment before making major decisions regarding relationships, career, or commitments.
Practice spiritual restraint by not forcing biblical advice onto people whose hearts are currently hardened against God's truth.
Channel your daily curiosity toward God by reading Matthew 5 through 7 and meditating on Jesus' teaching.
Identify one situation or relationship where you feel discouraged and commit to persistently 'knocking' in prayer.
Pick one specific virtue you desire—such as respect, patience, or forgiveness—and intentionally offer it to someone else this week.

Remember This

As we persistently ask, seek, and knock in prayer, God grants us spiritual discernment for our relationships and empowers us to love others as we desire to be loved.

A Challenge for You

So don't try to figure this out on your own and stop judging people wrongly. Ask, seek, knock. For everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And for the ones who knock, things will open for you.

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