seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 11:One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
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 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 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!”
It just occurred to me, maybe Satan gets in the way of our prayers too!Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive". He didn't say, "Ask and it might be given to you, if you are the one who asked at the right machine with the right numbers." I bought a billion-dollar ticket, and it was really worthless. Sure, I had some fun thinking of all the ways I could help people with my billion dollars. But, I asked God to let me have that money so I could help people. It's raining on the homeless in the Valley of the Sun, and a billion dollars would help a whole lot of homeless. So, "Ask and you will receive" has got to have at least one string that I did not address.
I know God doesn't need money to help the homeless, but I would if I were to start such a Mission. Humans like shiny baubles and folding green. If I want a human to give me something, I have to give them something. I know, that isn't true giving [it's purchasing] but that's how it goes.
Maybe the disciples had the same issue. Maybe they wanted to throw a 5,000-man dinner party like Jesus, but they couldn't get the first fish or the first loaf!
Look at verse 13, God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. He doesn't promise me a billion-dollar piece of paper. He promises to give me the Holy Spirit.
Give up.... Give up.... stop chasing the things here on earth, like billion-dollar lottery tickets no matter how honorable the mission.... a billion dollars will not buy anyone a place in Heaven. Feeding 5,000 men is useless if the food you give them is poisoned.
All anyone needs is God. Ask, and God will send His Holy Spirit! It's that simple.... just ask! No hoops required. Just ask and God will send the Holy Spirit to any of His children.
Just Ask!
