Matthew 7:7-8
“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.

To seek and Knock includes much more than just praying and asking. We must not only ask but “seek.” When we pray it must be accompanied with actions; we must use the appointed means to seek that which we asked for. What is the point of asking for something without the means for obtaining it. It is like praying for an accountant’s job without the appropriate qualifications and experience to carry out the job.

James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

My pastor told us what good is it if we pray for the success of a church member’s business venture but refuse to patronise the business ourselves. What good does it do to tell a person who is in need of food and clothing to go and be warm and full when you have the needed things but do not give them to the person?
Can you come before the Lord and ask Him to feed a brother or sister while you send them off in the cold without giving them food when you have it? Your prayers must be accompanied by your deeds.

Luke 13:6-8
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’  8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”


LESSON

The keeper of the vineyard petition was backed with the pledge to do something about it.  He asked for mercy with a pledge of supplying the work and care needed to bring results with utmost endeavours. He is saying he will dig about it, fertilize it, water it, and do everything he can, then if it bears fruit, well; if it doesn't bear, let it go. Our prayers must be accompanied by our utmost endeavours

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and grace to those who wait at wisdom's gate. Where is that gate? We have it in our lap, on our table, in our hands; it is the Word of God!
Those who wait at wisdom’s gate are those who search the Scriptures, which reveal God and His holy, will. We must pray as we seek God in His Holy Word, as we seek His will; while searching His revealed will, we must also be seeking and begging for wisdom and light to understand it.

CONCLUSION

How can we come before the Lord asking for wisdom and understanding as to how we must exhort or reprove a fellow man without prayerfully searching the Word of God? It is the gate to wisdom in His revealed will.

Amen.

God bless.