Ask for (Earnestly)

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.

And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.

I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.

Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”

Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.

Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men, to plead before the LORD

and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’

And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.”

“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him,

So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.

Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.

So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.

and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.

Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,

And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,

The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,

Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.

Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.

But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.

But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house,

If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:

And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.

So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days.

When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.

“Who is this man who told you to pick it up and walk?” they asked.

When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

So the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. The man answered, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”

and asked, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?”

But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.”

They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—

Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.

Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”

I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.

I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”

It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.

Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.

With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.

strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.

After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,

And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.

When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.

So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.

So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.

So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.

when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.

And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.

So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,

and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.

On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.

encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers,

As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.

He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.

I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.

Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:

Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.

And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints.