THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT: The Role of Prayer In Experiencing the Spirit

Memorial Drive 3/31/19 THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT: The Role of Prayer In Experiencing the Spirit Luke 11:1-13 Note: Luke is deeply interested both in PRAYER and in the HOLY SPIRIT … THE PRAYER: Teach Us to Pray (1-4) “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” The Setting … A Request for Instruction Concerning Prayer … THE PARABLE: Pray With Perseverance (5-10) The Use of Parables … A parable is a short, simple story drawn from everyday life that was used to teach or explain a religious truth or moral principle. The Parable of the Needy Host … “Then He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’” (Luke 11:5-7) The Point of the Parable … (vs. 8) “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” (Vs. 8) To compare the Father to the disgruntled neighbor? Or to push for persistence? Christ’s Parallel Parable … Luke 18:1-5 The Application of the Parable … How is the Christian to APPLY the principle of persevering in prayer? “SO I SAY TO YOU … 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 he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10) How Do We Honor the Father With Persistent Prayer That Won’t Stop? • ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN … An Invitation to Pray Hebrews 4:16 Let us DRAW NEAR with confidence! James 4:2 Don’t be like those who “have not because they ask not!” • SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND … An Invitation to PURSUE GOD and HIS WILL Christ addresses the problem of praying merely out of self-interest! Pursue God first simply for the sake of enjoying and experiencing God! See Isaiah 55:6, Psalms 27:8, Jeremiah 29:17 “Seeking” as it relates to prayer is also “seeking” His will not only for our lives but for our place and role in God’s kingdom work in our world! “When you pray, say, ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come!” “What will exalt the name and the reputation of the Father and extend the influence and power of His kingdom?” See Luke 12:29-31 • KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED TO YOU … An Invitation to Enter His Presence … THE CHARACTER OF THE FATHER: Giving Gifts Elevated! (Vs. 11-13) “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:11-13) Not Disinclined Nor Hesitant … Nor Malevolent … But Focused … Notice the focus! … THE GIFT OF THE FATHER: He Delights In the Giving of His Spirit Matthew says the Father will give “what is good” … Luke says the Father “gives the Spirit” 2 Possibilities … Unbeliever, the Spirit as given in salvation (Acts 2:38ff) Believer, the Spirit as repeatedly given in “filling” (Acts 4:8ff, 31) “Luke’s readers, living in the post-Pentecost situation, would readily have understood the gift of the Spirit. For an unbeliever it would have involved the Spirit’s coming in the experience of salvation (as in Acts 2:38h) and for Christians it would involve experiences such as are found in Acts 4:8–13, 31; 6:3–5, 8–10; 7:54–60.” (Luke, Prof. Robert Stein) Application – • Positioning ourselves for the Spirit’s “filling” should include bold, persistent, even desperate prayer relative to the work of God’s Spirit in US and in our FELLOWSHIP! • The Father will not be hesitant or disinclined, and will certainly not give a snake or a scorpion! • So are we “asking, seeking, knocking” in prayer relative to the work of the Spirit of God among us and in our fellowship? Or will we “have not because we ask not?”