Luke 11:1-23.
Luke 11.1-23
Prayer
"When Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his followers to pray."
So Jesus told them, "Pray in this way: 'Father, help us to honor your
name. Come and set up your kingdom. Give us each day the food we need.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And
keep us from being tempted.'"
Then Jesus went on to say: Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the
middle of the night and says, "Let me borrow three loaves of bread. A
friend of mine has dropped in, and I don't have a thing for him to
eat." And suppose your friend answers, "Don't bother me! The door is
bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you
something."
He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his
friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply
because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. So I tell you to ask
and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door
will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who
searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who
knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake
if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child
a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you
still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly
Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Jesus and the Ruler of Demons
Jesus forced a demon out of a man who could not talk. And after the
demon had gone out, the man started speaking, and the crowds were
amazed. But some people said, "He forces out demons by the power of
Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!" Others wanted to put Jesus to the
test. So they asked him to show them a sign from God. Jesus knew what
they were thinking, and he said: A kingdom where people fight each
other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up. If
Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say
that I force out demons by the power of Beelzebul. If I use his power
to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force
them out? They are the ones who will judge you. But if I use God's
power to force out demons, it proves that God's kingdom has already
come to you.
When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns
is safe. But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he will carry
off the weapons in which the strong man trusted. Then he will divide
with others what he has taken. If you are not on my side, you are
against me. If you don't gather in the crop with me, you scatter it."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
Prayer
"When Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his followers to pray."
So Jesus told them, "Pray in this way: 'Father, help us to honor your
name. Come and set up your kingdom. Give us each day the food we need.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And
keep us from being tempted.'"
Then Jesus went on to say: Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the
middle of the night and says, "Let me borrow three loaves of bread. A
friend of mine has dropped in, and I don't have a thing for him to
eat." And suppose your friend answers, "Don't bother me! The door is
bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you
something."
He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his
friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply
because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. So I tell you to ask
and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door
will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who
searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who
knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake
if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child
a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you
still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly
Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Jesus and the Ruler of Demons
Jesus forced a demon out of a man who could not talk. And after the
demon had gone out, the man started speaking, and the crowds were
amazed. But some people said, "He forces out demons by the power of
Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!" Others wanted to put Jesus to the
test. So they asked him to show them a sign from God. Jesus knew what
they were thinking, and he said: A kingdom where people fight each
other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up. If
Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say
that I force out demons by the power of Beelzebul. If I use his power
to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force
them out? They are the ones who will judge you. But if I use God's
power to force out demons, it proves that God's kingdom has already
come to you.
When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns
is safe. But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he will carry
off the weapons in which the strong man trusted. Then he will divide
with others what he has taken. If you are not on my side, you are
against me. If you don't gather in the crop with me, you scatter it."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
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