Luke Ch 11
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Welcome to Luke Chapter 11 in our Certainty of Faith series through the Gospel of Luke.
In today’s chapter, we begin by meditating on Scripture as it relates to prayer. I then will summarize the rest of the chapter so we can continue to see where the writer, Luke, is taking us in his account of the Gospel of Jesus
(transition)
In the beginning of chapter 11, Jesus was in a CERTAIN place praying with His disciples. The emphasis on a CERTAIN place alludes to some place Jesus might have frequented for the purpose of prayer.
In this certain place of prayer, Jesus’ diciples asked him to teach them pray.
Jesus responds with a version of the Lord’s prayer that includes adoration, request for provision, and confession—to name a few.
Then we come to the passage we will read and mediate on today that continues the focus of prayer.
First, let’s focus our hearts and minds on God’s Word
By taking two deep breaths and laying aside all other thoughts.
AS I read, listen for what Jesus told His disciples to DO. And what Jesus said the Father would DO when we they ask Him.
Luke 1: 5–13
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
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What stood out to you from this passage? Dwell on this for a moment.
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Jesus invites us into persistency on our prayer lives, but getting everything we want is not what He says He will do. Rather, verse 13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask him”
The greatest thing we receive from the Lord when we are persistent in our prayer — Is more of himself.
The more we pray. The more we practice silence. The more we bring ALL our desires to him in transparent honesty like a nagging friend, knocking on the door—the more we dwell WITH Him.
And the more His desires become our desires.
And like the psalmist says in Psalm 37:4 . . . delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
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What are the desires of your heart these days?
Take a moment to talk to God about these.
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The rest of the chapter, Jesus is encountering those who oppose His message—and Him. He is accused of being from the Devil and casting out demons by the power of the Devil. People are demanding proof that He is who He says He is (as if casting out demons, healing diseases, raising the dead, and teaching with power and authority was not enough proof).
And Jesus responds that —as Jonah was a sign to Nineveh, so Jesus is a sign to that generation. He was preaching the Kingdom of God and repentance just like Jonah did to Ninevah—but only those WILLING to hear—could hear.
Jesus then declares woes to the pharisees and teachers of the Law—accusing them of even killing the prophets.
Indeed, the religious leaders could not see the light of God in jesus Christ. Their eyes were not filled with light, as Jesus suggested. And they still lived in darkness.
Because of Jesus’ declarations against the leaders, they sought a way to catch him and destroy him.
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The flow of this chapter is like a contrast. On one end, there are those who pray and seek the Lord and are so persistent that they receive the Holy Spirit.
And then those unwilling to see the truth of who Jesus is. And who continue to live in darkness.
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Take a moment to pray for those you know who do not yet have eyes to see the light of Christ. Who do you long to receive the Holy Spirit?
Let’s pray.
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