Pray and Receive.

Luke 11:1-13

 

Intro:How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, give us You Holy Spirit now, that Your Word might be taught in truth and in purity; that You, by means of this Word, might be believed.  Grant us Your Spirit that every evil plan and purpose of the Devil, the world and our sinful nature, might be broken and hindered, to the glory of Your Name, Amen.

 

Intro:  Haven’t most of us been like the disciples at some point or another?  Haven’t you wished that someone would teach you “how to pray” – or at least “how to do it better”?  And Christ gladly gives us a “blueprint” with this prayer, of not only “how to pray” but even “what to pray”. The thing is though...you really need to be mindful of the catechism if you’re going to use this it.  The Lord’s Prayer is a particular kind of prayer. It’s not a prayer of praise or thanksgiving.  There are other prayers in the scriptures for that.  For example, “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good”, is a prayer of thanksgiving.  Likewise, the entirety of Psalm 118, with its constant refrain of “For His steadfast love endures forever” is a prayer of praise.  But the Lord’s prayer, from its first petition of “hallowed be Thy Name” to its last petition of “and lead us not into temptation” is a calling out for help.

WHEN YOU PRAY AS JESUS TAUGHT, YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, IN WHICH HE SENDS YOU THE HELPER (or HOLY SPIRIT), THAT YOU LIVE OUT YOUR LIFE IN FAITH ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.

I. TheCatechism reflects this understanding

               For instance, how is God’s Word taught in it’s “truth and purity” and how is it that God’s people are to “live holy lives according to it”?  That’s what we’re taught in the catechism’s explanation of the first petition. Is it simply because we quote the bible?  Is that what makes it “pure” and “true”?  A lot of people seem to think so, but think about Christ’s temptations.  The Devil came quoting scripture.  He said, “Through yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will send His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, lest you strike your foot against a stone’”.  The Devil was quoting the bible.  But he wasn’t quoting it in truth and in purity.  Lots of people do the same thing today.  So, how is it that God’s Word is taught in its truth and purity?  Ultimately, it’s by the help of God.                In the same way, how is it that we teach God’s Kingdom comes?  God’s Kingdom comes when our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit so that we believe His holy Word!  This is God’s will by which He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose the Devil, the world and our sinful nature which do not want us to hallow His Name, or let His Kingdom come (and of course when He keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die).  Who is “He” that “breaks and hinders” besides the “HELPER” (or the Holy Spirit)?  I hope you can see that the catechism reflects very well what Jesus teaches in this text when, after teaching this prayer, He says, “If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more with the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?”.

II.  Prayer is an indispensable part of your relationship with God.
               If you’re not praying, you probably don’t have much of a relationship.  Because the scriptures say, “Pray unceasingly”.  It’s not really an option.  If you are trying to live your life according to the 10 Commandments or if you are examining yourself in light of the 10 Commandments, then you should know that the Second Commandment implies that you “pray, praise and give thanks”.  In the same way that you should not “misuse the Name of the Lord, your God”, you should “Use His Name”.  God commands you to pray in response to His Word, in response to the gifts He so faithfully gives; He commands you to pray in every kind of trouble. “Pray unceasingly”.  There’s no greater disrespect of God than to not respond to Him.
               Luther used to say that “If we were only half aware of how persistently against us the Devil, the world and our own nature are”, we would be like this man who troubles his neighbor for three loaves in the middle of the night.  We would be like Jesus, who would continually go off by Himself to spend the whole night in prayer. We would be as Jesus says, “Impudent”, even relentless in asking for help in light of all our needs.

 

III.  So we should take note of what Jesus teaches in this prayer.

            Part of the problem with our relationship is that, we are the same with God as we are with a lot of people we are in a relationship with:  We only hear what we want.  For example, how many of us can honestly say that we value the first three petitions as much as we value the last four?

            The first three petitions have to do with how God’s Word is taught, believed and enforced.  The very first petition...in other words, the “bottom line up front” is what?  We should desire that God’s Word be taught in its truth and purity and that we, as the people of God, would lead holy lives according to it.  Do you think that there is such a thing as “truth and purity” and that God’s people should be expected to “live holy lives”?  If not, you probably have a problem in your relationship with God.

            The Second petition depends on the First.  God’s Kingdom comes when God gives us His Holy Spirit that we might believe His holy Word and, just like the First petition, “live godly lives according to it”.  In the Words of the scriptures, “do you seek the Lord while He may be found?”.  Do you “call upon Him while He is near”?  Are you asking for the Holy Spirit?  Are you constantly aware that the Lord has called you to a holy life and a godly life as defined by the 10 Commandments?  If not, there’s probably something wrong with your relationship with God.

            The Third petition depends on both the First and the Second because “How is God’s will done?”.  The Catechism teaches that God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan of the Devil, the world and our sinful nature which do not want us to “hallow God’s name” (by preaching His Word in its truth and purity and by living holy lives) and which do not want God’s Kingdom to come.  In other words, they don’t want people to believe what God really says.  They want to be able to say, “Well, but everybody these days lives together before they’re married” (therefore, you shouldn’t say that this isn’t “holy” or “godly”).  And they have many other such things and when I say this, I’m including some people that call themselves “Christians”.  If you have a problem with wanting God’s Kingdom among you, then you’ve got a problem with your relationship with God.

 

Conclusion:  Repent.  A holy life has a lot more to do with the will of God than making sure everyone in the world has a loaf of bread before they turn in for the night (as compassionate as that may be...and I’m not knocking anyone whose gift may be compassion).  In the same way, it has a lot more to do with God’s Kingdom coming than simply “delivering us from evil” (or as a lot of folks think when they hear this phrase: “not letting anything bad happen to us as we eat our fill of bread”).  A holy and godly life is only comes by the help of God who lavishly forgives you your many trespasses and sins; your disdain for His thoughts and your contempt of His kingdom.  When Christ shed His blood, all these offenses were removed from before the sight of God.  What more should you want then than for God to send you His Helper...His Holy Spirit, that you might believe this Holy Word?  You are forgiven.  Christ has satisfied the full requirements of the law on your behalf.  How much more than any gift you could possibly give the ones you love will God now come and make His abode with you by means of His Holy Spirit if you simply ask?  In Christ, you have been reconciled with God.  Your relationship is restored.  Call out unceasingly in any kind of trouble.  He is your Helper and your sure defense.  In the Name of Jesus +