Luke 11 (2)

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:1–4 (ESV) The Lord’s Prayer

11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And 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 and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

Jesus was praying at a specific place,i.e., a location apart from the group. And the disciples waited for him to finish in prayer. They respected his need to have a time alone with the Father.

,,,, hallowed be your name. Hallowed means to be revered, to be honored. The name is not just what a person his called. But the name addresses all that a person is- his characteristics, what makes his reputation.,So with God’s name - all his attributes, omnipotence, eternal, love, omniscience, etc all come together to form his name which is comprised of the contents of his characteristics and attributes.

Luke is providing the bare bones of the prayer instruction. Rmember that as as one of his resources it was very likely that he had read Matthew which was written some 5 yrs or so earlier, .......Matthew 6:9–13 (ESV)9 Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

In Luke there are 11 references about Jesus praying and 9 references regarding Jesus teaching about prayer.

God communicates with us through His word, through prayer, and hearing the word proclaimed in truth. God’s communications are manifest to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Whether through the mechanism of prayer, reading the Word, or hearing Truth, the Holy Spirit is the living, active power of interpreting the words, receiving our needs from prayer, and the discernment of hearing of truth. We can understand God’s intent or guidance for every situation, past or present. By the engagement of the Holy Spirit into these types of communications, then the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead is energizing this moment of communion. The power that God uses to intimately commune with each of us in ways that are specific to our condition, in ways that are customized for each of us according to our situation or state. God wants us to be in constant prayer with him, to abide in his will, and the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to understand God’s will whether by his response to our prayer, to our reading the word , or to our hearing of truth from other saints.

Understand this- in our communication with God, He already knows your heart, your concern. We pray not to let God know something He already knows. We pray to understand what God wants for us. We pray to involve God in our successes and in or valleys. We may pray for help, blessing, protection, etc. , while God’s intention coming from His greater wisdom, his ultimate love for you is very different from what we wanted for ourselves. Your reward for your prayer may be for you to learn repentance, or humility, or faith though endurance, or dependence on Him, and so on. Remember God’s response is always for our benefit and God is good.

With regard to His word, in Christianity, the words [regardless of language, or culture] are one of the means for the communication by The Holy One. The letters and words which have been preserved and left for us are not magical, nor holy. In other religions, the actual words are considered holy so the book/scrolls containing the words are considered holy. In effect this means that the words or books are holy and therefore worthy of worship. This can mean that the words or books themselves can become idols. It is our inclination to focus on the visible, the physical. So we are drawn to physical things, idols, amulets, tokens, charms, bones of saints, statues, a person, a holy site, etc. We do not need a talisman, a man a rabbit’s foot to enter into the presence of God.We must remember to focus on spiritual, the invisible. We can approach directly to God- we don’t need any intermediary thing to help us. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Remember, remember, there is none worthy, there is no thing worthy of worship other than God.

In His word becomes alive, addressing different situations with how God acts with ou by showing providing the right understanding of his word for the specif need or incident. This a The living and action of communication with God is made possible through the Holy Spirit. In much the way, when we pray, when we are quiet and looking for God’s response to our prayer, the Holy Spirit acts within our prayer to be able to hear God’s communication. Whether in the Word or in prayer God is actively participating and communicating with us. All These communications are empowered through the Holy Spriti. s.

In are enacted through the power of the Holy Spirit. The

You can look at this prayer in in two ways, each divided in 3 parts.

Who does it address? The prayer first addresses god, then the person praying, and then other people [ debtors]

Another viewpoint is the time that it addresses. This approach speaks to current time [daily bread], past [have forgiven], and future [lead us and deliver us].

....10 Your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. The gospel that Jesus and His disciples had been teaching. The kingdom has been initiated, the inauguration began with Jesus being baptized and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The message was going out to repent and that the kingdom is now near and coming closer. The kingdom is approaching with the coming of Jesus and his disciples. Earth is now experiencing some of heaven. This new phase in God’s plan has been launched with power for healing and understanding of God. But this will reach a whole other level when not only is earth being more actively being seen on earth -= there is transparency of things that were hidden before- but now a level of intimacy that was beyond all expectation will soon occur- God himself will come to dwell in each believer in the form of the Holy Spirit.

So our willful obedience will be enforced or strengthened by the Holy Spirit. the same power that will raise Jesus from the dead, will empower us to carry the gospel to the entire world. God will provide, protect them from evil, and lead his people.

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:5–13 (ESV) 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus has given them a n example of prayer, but now he adds an attitude. He uses a parable. A parable means to lay aside- so a parable lays along side of a teaching. The parable sometimes provides a similar situation using worldly examples to increase understanding; other times a parable increases understanding by empasizing the difference between a worldly example and the principle to be grasped. This parable shows a difference between God and man’s reaction.

Jesus teaches the difference in how you as a person would react to an obnoxious, persistent friend who wakes you up late at night. It was common that the doors of small homes were usually open in the daytime, but at night for privacy, for security the doors were closed. Often even some of the animals were brought into the home at night for warmth and possibly security for your wealth[animals, beast of burden]. So a person does not start banging on a friend's door at night. But even in this instance you would possibly wake your family and get up to help your friend just to stop him from continuing in his impertinent, inappropriate behaviour [ he may not remain as a friend the next day].

Yet if a ticked off man will get up an serve a neighbor, how will God act. This is not done to condone pestering, but to explain that God’s response is “always’ to request- God’s door is never shut to his beloved, there is never a closed sign on the door. The father always want’ to hear from you.- He is our 24/7 provider- come to him. Everyone will be received.

Jesus then shows another small parable. Where the first stated that God is always awaiting your needs, but God he will provide much more than is asked. God is without limit. Would a earthly father give a dangerous gift to his son when he asks for something. No a father would never do this. Then how much greater a response will God give when asked for something. God doesn’t just meet the current need, but thee are always other seeds, other benefits that could shape ones destiny, increase faith or provide benefits for future generations. . But the message is that God is always available to hear your need and to respond in remarkable ways to your prayers.

And God gives the Holy Spirit, his indwelling presence to those who asked.

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:14–23 (ESV) 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus over the next 20 verses is being challenged or doubted about the source of his power. The first teaching addresses are in these verses. He proceeds to give a total of four teachings.

This first teaching may have been precluded by other teachings earlier. So they were already accusations, lies building previously Mark 3:20–23 (ESV)20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” Keep in mind that the nature of lies is that lies will grow stronger as they are repeated. Adolph Hitler The original description of the big lie appeared in Mein Kampf. Adolf Hitler applied it to the behavior of Jews rather than as a tactic he advocated. Specifically, he accused Viennese Jews of trying to discredit the Germans’ activities during World War I. Hitler wrote of the Jews’ “unqualified capacity for falsehood” and “that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation…. From time immemorial, however, the Jews have known better than any others how falsehood and calumny can be exploited.”

As a lie is accepted because it is so pervasive, it is everywhere and every one belies it, so it must be true. As a lie metastasizes then other lies can begin to grow with their roots withing the original lie. The sheer number of lies begin to intersect and strengthen the each other. You saw this occur with the recent Big Lie of Russian collusion of the Trump presidency.

The OSS psychological profile of Hitler described his use of the big lie:

His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.

So in the fairly recent history millions [almost 200 million people] of people were slaughtered because of the Big Lies of the Nazis, coupled with the serious errors from Darwin [survival of the fittest] and the philosophy of Nietzsche [God is dead]that fed Communism. So are lies deadly? REmember who So in the fairly recent history millions [almost 200 million people] of people were slaughtered because of the Big Lies of the Nazis, coupled with the serious errors from Darwin [survival of the fittest] and the philosophy of Nietzsche [God is dead]that fed Communism. Are lies deadly? What is the source of lies John 8:44 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

We teach our children not to lie. But this childhood training can be overcome from worldly teachings in school and up through our universities. Lawyers are taught that their function, or purpose is not to expose the truth but to win. The defence of our clients are paramount and supersede the truth. Truth is discarded or bent for the benefit of our client. This philosophy is carried into the political arena since much of our political leaders are taught to communicate well for the benefit of what outcome our politicians want. In their case there is no shame because the truth is irrelevant if it does not support their cause.

Return to the incident of the mute demon --- Now, people were amazed when Jesus cast out a demon which prevented a man froms peaking- he was mute. But some within the group [Matt said Pharisees; Mark said Scribes] said that Jesus cast ability and authority came from Beelzebub [it seems likely that Baalzebub (“lord of the flies” or some commemorators call this “the dung god”) is a caconym of Baalzebul (“prince of Baal”), the actual Canaanite deity worshiped at Ekron.

In high school reading The Lord of the Flies was mandatory- it was about the inherent sin of man and if sin is not addressed, this sin self glorification would win out with violence, deceit , etc. against virtues . The natural bent of mankind is for sin if not held in check will result in destruction and hell on earth [war]... Matthew 10:22 (ESV)22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.......Matthew 10:25 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

They didn't want to admit that he is who he says he is but he obviously has power so he must be a demon master under the head demon Satan.But Jesu knew what those people were thinking and he said that a kingdom, a household divided, [think of congress] will eventually fall. If Satan is throwing out , casing out, his own then it will fall. And if you accuse me then how do your followers [ the sons] cast out. So your followers according to your reasoning will be your judges.

It is ironic that Jesus came to overthrow the works of Satan and he is accused to be a cohort , an implement of Satan.

But Jesus continues and says that very strong man takes over a weaker strong man then the weak man’s defences are also overtaken. And all the goods or lands or capitol or people are taken as spoils of war. Jesus is the stronger than any other strong ones. It is Jesus who is the victor, the one who easily overpowers any other that stand against Him. His truth is greater than any lie.

Jesus also states that there is no neutral ground- there is no Switzerland. As Georg Bush said after 9/11 “ you are either for us or against us”. No fence sitting allowed. If you don’t gather with Him scatters.

Jesus counters the lies that would prevent his message. We also cannot ignore the lies, or be complacent and not ruffle any feathers. Jesus set the standards and tactics- the word. For the solution or cure, we are commanded in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, Destroy lies against the truth and transform every thought to obey the truth of Christ. We are to be on the offensive; not in hiding, not in compromise, mot in defensive alliances with the lies.

As we are now in the midst of a great unseen battle, supported in disguise from much of the media, academia, young deceived, and political powers. This battle is greater than any that we have seen before, but the victory of truth will also be greater than any that we have witnessed in our lifetime.

Now Jesus provides the next teaching about the habit or nature of the demonic.

OOOOOOOOOOLuke 11:24–26 (ESV) Return of an Unclean Spirit 24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

OOOOOOOOOOLuke 11:27–28 (ESV) 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:29–32 (ESV) The Sign of Jonah

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:33–36 (ESV) The Light in You

33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

OOOOOOOOOO Luke 11:37–52 (ESV) Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

45 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. 48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

OOOOOOOOOOLuke 11:53–54 (ESV) 53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.