In our house when there is something important happening we make lists. The lists include times, what jobs to do and when. Sometimes the lists are added to with further lists.

David must have had lists (only joking). On the top of the paper written “what needs to be done to become king” yet he did not rush.

Thomas Scott  (1747–1821) wrote this:

“If we would possess temporal things with a blessing, we must not eagerly seize upon them, nor be determined by favourable events or carnal counsel; but we must observe the rules of God’s Word, and pray for direction; using those means, and those only, which he has appointed or allowed, and avoid all evil, or appearance of evil, in our pursuit of them; and then whatever else we fail in, we shall be directed in the way to the kingdom of heaven.”

Or put another way

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

We are in 2 Samuel 2. David needs to know what next. Don’t we all want to know that?

After this David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 Samuel 2:1

Previously David had left the cities of Judah to go to the land of the Philistines. He did not enquire then! This time he would only go back if God said so. Sadly this is a painful lesson we all need to go though, what does God want me to do? and to find that out, we have to put our list down and ask him.

It’s a wonderful question “shall I go?” God had promised him a kingship and a kingdom, he had been anointed by Samuel and Saul was dead. Surely the next steps are easy but even with every opportunity in front of him every door seemingly open to him, David desired to submit himself to the direction of God. He did not want to take things into his own hands, he did not want to rush blindly ahead hence, shall I go?

And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 Samuel 2:1

So the key to knowing is asking. Before a song is sung, a sermon preached, a spiritual gift given and received my plea for post lockdown is to put everything we know about church on the altar and ask God “shall I go?” I am confident he will answer. Jesus said,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are 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! Matthew 7:7-11

Jesus wants to imprint something on the minds of His listeners, something easy yet profound. They are like hammer blows or drum beats, ask, seek, knock. They are deliberately increasing in scale and urgency.

Asking implies humility and a consciousness of need, it’s a plea.

The asking presupposes a personal relationship with the one of whom you are asking. When one asks in a relationship one expects an answer.

So this implies faith in God, trust in God, knowledge of God, you ask because you know him and what he is like. You know he will answer.

It also demonstrates dependency and a desire to follow the will of God.

Like Moses, I will not go on without your presence. It is not bringing a list and asking God to bless it but an openness to hear.

Seeking is asking plus responding or acting on. It has the idea of looking for, discovering, digging, searching, examining. It has purpose and intention. It is deliberate and a task that you set yourself on. I will seek the Lord on ‘this’ implies the giving of more time and effort to discover the will of God.

Knocking is asking, plus responding plus persevering. One knocks again and again until the door is opened. It involves persistence. It has no time limit, it is not quick. It is banging on the door maybe more vigorously than the first time.

Ask and seek and knock are all set in the present tense meaning they mean continue to ask, continue to seek, continue to knock. Again meaning that what Jesus is instructing is a lifestyle.

The one who continues to ask, the one who continues to seek, the one who continues to knock, then the father will supply the need. I love the promise; given, find, opened.

What David was wanting and Jesus was asking us to do was find out what is the the will of God.

Paul often introduced himself as an apostle “by the will of God” (Colossians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1).

This was an expression of his entire life and service. He became a Christian “by the will of God.” His authority as an apostle was “by the will of God.” The power of his ministry, whether in teaching or healing the sick, was “by the will of God.” It is only “by God’s will” (Romans 15:32) that he will eventually visit Rome and whatever more he will achieve before he breathes his final breath is “by the will of God.”

I wonder if our greatest thing yet to be learned for each person and the church is the will of God. There is the sovereign will of God.

“He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand Daniel 4:35

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” Psalm 115:3

I am not speaking about that, but Gods specific will.

For the church we do so much because we have done it before, or some church does something wonderful and we copy it. We can make traditions without noticing it and get used to things.

What is the will of God for Gateway Church Wrexham? I believe it will be unique to us and very different to other churches.

We have a God given opportunity to discover God’s specific will for us.

We talk so much don’t we about a blank canvas, a blank sheet of paper. Let’s be brave and courageous and not have any preconceived ideas or expectations on what we will do next but ask, seek and knock regarding God’s specific will for us as a church. On everything ask “shall I go?”