Earthly fathers are important figures for their families. One of the reasons a society might be broken is because of fatherlessness or fathers who are not fulfilling their God-given roles. For Christians, even though they might not have fathers who are present in their lives or fathers who are neglecting them, they have a heavenly Father who is present and answers prayers.
The Father gives believers prayer as a gift and weapon to navigate through this fallen world. Unceasing prayer, through the good and bad times, will certainly bring strength to the believer.
Earthly fathers also give to their children what they ask for out of their love for them. They are able to be faithful in giving because God is the one who grants fatherhood. And although earthly fathers are imperfect and lacking as sinners, they still know how to give good gifts to their children (v 13a).
Joseph Stalin is known as one of the most evil men to have existed in history. He was the most notorious leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953. He is responsible for killing over 6 million people. But even this kind of man loved his daughter and referred to her as his “Little Sparrow” and “Little Hostess”. He is known to have said he would immediately grant whatever she requested to him.
Knowing how earthly fathers are able to give good gifts even though they might be evil, Jesus says, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (v 13b)? God is good and ready and able to those who sincerely ask in prayer. Our heavenly Father is incomparable and unparalleled to our earthly fathers.
How can we know if we belong to the Heavenly Father? If we have confessed and repented of our sins and put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we are adopted by the Father as his child (Rom. 8:14-16). And those that have denied themselves, take up their cross, follow him, and love him, the God dwells in our hearts (Jn. 14:23).
When God gives the Holy Spirit to us, one of the ways we know he dwells in us is the act of pruning so that we can bear more fruit (Jn. 15:1-2). The Spirit is involved in the believer’s life and he either blesses or disciplines out of his love for us. The God who gave up his only Son to save and love us, he is faithful to hear and answer our prayers.
Christians know who the Father is through faith and prayer. The Father hears our prayers and answers thoughtfully in his perfect time. Even though we might not understand in the moment of his answering, we are able to understand his love and will in retrospect by his grace and word. At the same time, God provides the best answer to our prayers. And what is more important than giving us the Holy Spirit?
To those who are saved, we are sure of God’s love through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Everything else is secondary.
“No Spirit, no resurrection. No Spirit, no new birth. No Spirit, no confession of the lordship of Jesus. No Spirit, no victory over sin. No Spirit, no progress in sanctification. No Spirit, no spiritual wisdom. No Spirit, no spiritual gifts, and no resurrection” (John Piper).
Believers must be encouraged through prayer knowing that we have the Holy Spirit in all circumstances. The Father is ready to give to those who pray because he has already given his best.
Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer because prayer works and the Father is ready to answer our prayers. We must not hesitate to pray unceasingly.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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