LUKE LESSON 29

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 11:1 "And it came to pass, that,
as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his
disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught
his disciples."

    The request in  Matthew 6 seems to have happened much earlier in
Jesus' ministry than this request here. This is possibly one of the
disciples who was not present when Jesus taught the 12. There is no
formal record of the prayer John the Baptist taught his disciples. In
Matthew, Jesus says after this manner pray ye (Matthew 6:9). He did
not mean for them to pray the exact prayer, but rather that it was the
type of prayer they should pray.

    Luke 11:2 "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done, as in heaven, so in earth." Luke 11:3 "Give us day by day our
daily bread." Luke 11:4 "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive
every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but
deliver us from evil."

    You see, Jesus here is showing them a pattern of prayer. The first
thing is to pray to the Father. Second, praise Him before going on.
Third, desire His kingdom to come. Fourth, line our will up with his
will. Fifth, we are taught to live one day at a time.  Sixth, take no
thought for tomorrow.  Seventh, we are told if we are to be forgiven,
we must forgive. Then keep us from the desire to sin, Keep us away
from evil.  Then, we must ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  In
the 14th chapter of John, Jesus tells us to ask in His name. John
14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:14 "If ye shall ask
any thing in my name, I will do [it]." You see, Jesus was not saying
to say this prayer. He was saying pray in this manner.  The three most
important things in prayer is pray to the Father, in the name of
Jesus, then have faith that it will happen.

    Luke 11:5 "And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a
friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend,
lend me three loaves;"  Luke 11:6 "For a friend of mine in his journey
is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?"  Luke 11:7 "And
he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now
shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give
thee."  Luke 11:8 "I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give
him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will
rise and give him as many as he needeth."

    God is the greatest friend that any of us can have. Midnight is a
very late hour. Time is running out. We see, here, the bread (Jesus)
that we all need. This poor soul has waited late to receive. These 3
loaves could indicate that he doesn't have the Father, Son , or Holy
Spirit.  This middle friend is like a minister who has run out of the
Spirit himself. He has no bread, either, He goes to God, but he has
waited a long time to ask; and God says it's too late. God's children
(the Christians) have already come home and are resting with Him.
These prayers, if they are consistent enough, will cause God to
finally hear and answer and give him the Spirit he desires. Could this
possibly mean that after the rapture and the Holy Spirit is gone. the
nominal Christians who were left behind, could by continuous prayer,
still receive Jesus (bread)?

    Luke 11:9 "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

    There is no question at all in this. You have not, because you ask
not, Jesus, in this one verse, tells these disciples and us how to get
our prayers answered. The first step is to ask. If we seek God. He is
not in hiding. God will answer our prayer when we ask. Jesus, Himself,
has opened the door to heaven for us.

    Luke 11:10 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

    You see, there is no question about it. God answers prayers. He
will open the door to you, if you just keep on knocking.

    Luke 11:11 "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a
father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a
fish give him a serpent?"  Luke 11:12 "Or if he shall ask an egg, will
he offer him a scorpion?"

    A father is concerned with his children and wants only the best
for them, just as the Father God wants the best for all believers.
When we pray to Him, He gives us good things. James 1:17 "Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning." These things asked for here are good gifts that any father
would give. The bread is symbolic of Jesus, the fish symbolizes new
life. On the other hand, the serpent and the scorpion symbolize Satan.

    Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

    In Matthew, it promises good things. here, the Holy Spirit is
promised to those who ask and seek. The best gift, aside from
salvation, that a Christian can receive is the Holy Spirit. It gives
us power to live this life victoriously. Evil people do give good
gifts to their children. They are not always careful to make sure
these gifts are for the best interest of the receiver. Here, God gives
the things that will help in our Christian walk. The greatest gift
being Himself. The next verse is a total change of scene.

    Luke 11:14  "And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And
it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the
people wondered."

    In this crowd of those who wondered were those from the synagogue
who were trying to trap Him. They knew that evil spirits existed. They
undoubtedly knew that this dumb person had not been delivered by any
of their Holy men. This "man" had such power over evil spirits, that
they could not explain it. Not only did the people wonder, but these
men from the synagogue, as well.

    Luke 11:15 "But some of them said, He casteth out devils through
Beelzebub the chief of the devils."

    Since they could not explain this, they assume that this is
demonic. They could not deliver this dumb person, so they
automatically assume that this is not of God.

    Luke 11:16 "And others, tempting [him], sought of him a sign from
heaven."

    Here, again, they have already had a sign from heaven in the dumb
speaking, but they are too blind to see. No more sign will be given.

    Luke 11:17 "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house
[divided] against a house falleth."

    Jesus is saying Satan would not come against Satan. He would not
be against himself. Satan would not want the man delivered. Satan is a
destroyer, not a deliver.

    Luke 11:18 "If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall
his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through
Beelzebub." Luke 11:19 "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom
do your sons cast [them] out? therefore shall they be your judges."

    Let your own sons be judged with the same measure you are judging
Me, Jesus says. Jesus tells them here, "Your own religious people
practice deliverance. Are they also working with Satan as you accuse
me?" You see, Jesus proves to them where there is no chance of
argument that He is not working with Satan, but against him.

    Luke 11:20 "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no
doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."

    Jesus, here, is telling them, I have proven by your own sons that
deliverance is of God.  This dumb who came for deliverance, your sons
with all their power could not deliver. A greater power has come
before you. The very finger of God has cast out this demon of dumbness
from this person. There is one among you, mightier that your holy men.
In other words, He is telling them He is Messiah.

    Luke 11:21 "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods
are in peace:"  Luke 11:22 "But when a stronger than he shall come
upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein
he trusted, and divideth his spoils."

    This first strong man here is Satan, but when one greater than
Satan comes. He destroys Satan and tears his armour down and casts him
out. Then Jesus takes over this man for His own. the stronger man
(Jesus) is now ruler.

    Luke 11:23 "He that is not with me is against me: and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth."

    This is an affront to these supposedly religious men who have
opposed Jesus. He says not only is Satan's crowd against Me, but you
who proclaim to know God but are opposed to me every way I turn. There
are only two sides. Satan's side and God's side. Those who are not
with Jesus (whoever they are) are on Satan's side.










































                           Luke 29 Questions

1.  What did Jesus' disciples ask Jesus to teach them?
2.  Who should the prayer be addressed to?
3.  What is Jesus really showing them in this prayer He gave them?
4.  What is the second step in praying?
5.  What are we to line up our will with?
6.  Where does Jesus tell us to pray in His name?
7.  What are the 3 most important things to remember about prayer?
8.  Who is the greatest friend we can ever have?
9.  What does the midnight hour mean?
10. Who is symbolically the loaf of bread?
11. What is meant by the door is shut?
12. What is meant by the children being in bed with Him?
13. Ask and it shall _____ ______ _________.
14. Seek and ye shall _________.
15. Knock and it shall _______ ________ ____ _______.
16. If a son should ask bread, his father will not give him a _______.
17. What are the bread, fish, and egg symbolic of?
18. Who are the serpent and scorpion symbolic of?
19. All good gifts come from where?
20. In verse 13, what is the good thing God will give His children if
    they ask Him?
21. What was the devil spirit Jesus was casting out in verse 14?
22. These Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devils in whose
    power?
23. A house divided against itself ________ __________ ______.
24. By whom do your ________ cast them out?
25. If Jesus cast them out with the finger of God, what has come upon
    them?
26. In verse 2l, who is the strong man and who is the stronger man?
27. He that is not with me ___________ _____.