In today’s society, we think that we are self-sufficient and do not consider our need for faith in God for salvation and life. But we must not forget that we live in a fallen world where God is most needed. There are myriad challenges, sufferings, and calamities. What may seem impossible to solve, God can resolve as we put our trust in him for the forgiveness of our sins and navigate through life’s difficulties.

The characteristic of the faith stated in verse 29 can be understood by the faith that is explained in verse 28. The Israelites were sandwiched between two dangers. Pharaoh and his special forces on chariots were chasing them on one side and the big body of water known as the Red Sea blocked them from advancing and escaping the Egyptians. Our powerful faith always comes from our genuine saving faith based on repentance. This saving faith is effectual as we face challenges in our lives as the Israelites face their challenges. Faith always has its origin as our salvation is secure and it is biblically based on repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is often misunderstood is that everyone needs the blood of Jesus Christ; that is, the gospel. At the time when the Israelites were freed from Egypt, both the Israelites and Egyptians needed the blood of the lamb to be saved. Left to our own free will, we would only serve ourselves and continue on the path of destruction. Only by God’s intervention and election can we be rescued from our damned state and future judgment and death.

Only the biblically converted possess saving faith, which enables us to face and go through the daily challenges we inevitably face. Salvation is a supernatural miracle that is only possible by the grace of God (Jn. 5:24). It is the gift of God. And because we have faced the miracle of salvation, we are faithful to go through anything in this life because God has already done the impossible.

The Bible is the only source to work out our salvation and grow in sanctification. Faith is the only means to deal with our difficulties. God causes all things and the only thing we can show is our faith. In other words, God is providential as he causes all things to occur in the world. But because he is a good God, the Bible guides us to trust him and helps us understand God’s providence.

Anyone without faith will lead to death. The text describes the Egyptians attempting the same act as the Israelites but this led to their death. The key difference is that they did so without faith. The Egyptians illustrate the world as the world produces so many other false faiths. False faith is attractive but only temporarily. Just as God allowed them into the midst of the sea, they could not survive till the end.

In the end, all perish without saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But for those that have saving faith, we must practice and live out our faith as Jesus is always with us. And the Lord never disappoints those who obey him.

When we think about faith our mind races toward Abraham who is recognized as our father in faith. In Hebrews 11, Abraham has two major moments of faith highlighted, his pilgrimage and the sacrifice of his son Isaac. However, Moses has six cases of faith highlighted in the Hall of Fame. Moses truly was an example of faith and reveals how faith works in our lives.

The background of Moses’ life sets the stage for Moses’ faith. When Moses was born, Pharaoh was slaying all the newborn males by throwing them in the Nile river. However, Moses was saved and raised by Pharaoh’s family. Then Moses lived in the wilderness for forty years and God heard the cries of His people. God sends Moses as His messenger to confront Pharaoh and commands, “Let my people go”. After God executed His ten judgments on Egypt. Right before the final plague, while still under Pharaoh’s oppression, Hebrews 11:28 says “By faith he kept the Passover”. Moses’ faith is characterized by obedience. He kept the Passover in obedience to God.

Faith and obedience are inseparable. They are always intermingled, working together. True faith always acts in obedience. Faith without obedience is a farce. Faith manifests in our speech, behavior, and actions. The first thing faith understands is that God’s word is the truth that God’s truth is Jesus. Faith trusts in Jesus who is true. That is why knowing the truth is not the full extent of faith. Even the demons also know the truth but do not obey (James 2:19). The power of faith is in obedience. Every Christian must be obedient to God because Yahweh is their authority (Exodus 12:12).

There was a Korean man over 60 years old who decided to become a missionary and go to the Philippines. Many fellow Christians doubted he should be a missionary at that age. Yet he went and God blessed his ministry. Why? Because he was called and obeyed. Apostle Peter had toiled all night without catching a single fish, but Peter obeyed Jesus’ command to cast the net on the other side. Faith obeys Jesus’ word even though it makes no sense, even though it is unreasonable, even though it is improbable. Faith obeys because God says so.

There are some warnings to those who claim to have faith without obedience. James 2:26 says just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Apostle John also calls those who claim to know God but do not keep His commandments as liars (1 John 2:4). They are deceived and caught in the snare of Satan, the father of lies.

How do you know you are faithfully obedient? The intention is not to make you feel guilty but to clarify and convict. Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you”. Do you love the word of God and constantly meditate on it? Do you cherish the Word of God above all the other necessities in your life? Our worship must be regulated purely by the Word of God. It is our rule and guide for all things. How can we understand or handle our hardships or our difficulties? God’s word holds the answer. He never makes any mistakes, which is why we can rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Faithful obedience is a matter of life and death. Your obedience can affect the lives of many others. Obedience is a requirement for saving faith. It is not that obedience saves us, but without obedience, we cannot receive salvation. If we look at Hebrews 11:28 obedience is necessary for them to be passed over and avoid death. God had commanded the Israelites to take the blood of a lamb and put it on their doorposts. In the houses with blood on the doors, the firstborn son would be saved from death (Exodus 12:5,21-23). Unless they obeyed, they would have died. Salvation requires obedience.

It is the same for the Christian. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). The shedding of blood has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). John the Baptist proclaims about Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is the blood of Jesus that saves us from the hand of God’s judgment. In a way, by his obedience, Moses was like Jesus, saving many. On the night of Passover, every firstborn of the Egyptians died but none of the sons of Israel died. They were saved because Moses kept the Passover. The basis of salvation is Jesus Christ. Jesus alone saves us and we are saved by His grace through faith. We are not saved because of our obedience but the condition of salvation is obedience.

Saying “I believe” does not save you. Think how modern Americans in churches are saved these days. We hear, “I accepted Jesus into my heart”, “I believed in Jesus”.,“I prayed the sinner’s prayer”. These are mere words that have no power to save. Saying you know Jesus while neglecting obedience is not true salvation (Luke 13:25-27).

Obedience which leads to salvation begins with repentance (Mark 1:4,15). Repentance precedes faith. Jesus demands your repentance for forgiveness. When there is little obedience in one’s life, it means they lack repentance. Repentance is the turning away from sin out of sorrow and hatred of it, and turning towards Jesus in humility and love. Repentance is God’s grace. We are not saved by our giving but by God’s giving of repentance. In repentance, we forsake our sins and the world and consider Jesus our true Lord and Savior. Jesus must be Lord of all. This is a sure sign of faithful obedience. When you are free from sin, you know Jesus is the Lord.

We don’t know who is truly saved. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing. So outward obedience is not a guarantee of salvation. What we do know is that everyone needs the blood of Jesus Christ to be saved. Even Moses had to place the blood of the Lamb on his doorpost. This is why we must repent.

Faithful obedience powerfully loves others

“So that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.” The purpose of obedience is to protect others. By Moses’ obedience, many were protected and saved. Imagine what would have happened if Moses had disobeyed. By one man’s obedience, many sons and families were saved. In the call for obedience, God doesn’t ask for many. Remember Gideon’s small army. Remember Hudson Taylor who changed the nation of China. A few women in the state of Mizoram set aside a handful of rice for the church, and now that region is 90% Christian. Jesus chose twelve disciples and the whole world has been changed. It is through the faithful obedience of the few that God uses to save others.

Are we obedient to God in all matters and in all circumstances? Faithful obedience is not merely our duty but our forte. At the center of our faith is the risen Jesus. It is our privilege to obey Him and we pursue obedience with our best.

Christians will declare boldly that they stand with Jesus, but sometimes it is merely external. What the Lord desires from every believer is an internal love and standing with the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no middle ground when it comes to the allegiance of Christ. It is imperative in the eyes of the Lord that the Christian’s faith and love for him is wholehearted. It is either we serve the Lord Jesus or we serve the devil. There is no neutrality when it comes to lordship. In other words, it is impossible to love Jesus and the devil. 

The fight that continues to go on for every person is which kingdom they belong to; that is, the kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness. The devil (also known as Satan) rules the kingdom of darkness with power that must not be taken lightly. In the prior verse of 21 in Luke, Jesus demonstrates the power of God as demons can be cast out by the finger of God (v. 20). However, the subsequent verses also show that Satan is powerful when he attacks and produces destruction.

Satan demonstrates strength through the use of many weapons. At his disposal, he will utilize his weapons to lead as many as he can to sin and death. One of those weapons is the power of his lies. Without the power of God and his help, the sinner will succumb to the devil’s lies and deceptions. He also uses the weapon of temptation. He even attempted to tempt Jesus three times in the wilderness. Christians can discern whether or not they are being tempted by Satan when the fear of God is absent or diminished. Moreover, Satan weaponizes his ability to murder and bring death. He murders the spiritual life of a person more so than their physical life. Ultimately, the devil’s goal is to separate as many people from Jesus as possible. 

In verse 21, Jesus is implying that the one who is “guarding his own house” is Satan. Satan’s house includes the sinners who are enslaved to their heart’s desires. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness” (Mk. 7:21-22). Not only is the devil strong to guard his own house, but “his possessions are undisturbed”. This illustrates a peaceful home as it is protected by a powerful person, but Jesus quickly states there is someone stronger who will bring down his house and possessions. That person is Jesus Christ. 

Even though Satan is undeniably strong, he is no equal to God. Jesus is the Creator and Lord who alone can attack him and overpower him (v. 22). The Lord Jesus Christ is omnipotent and is on the offense. Jesus calls disciples to himself and casts out demons to demonstrate his strength. As the disciples witnessed the power of Jesus and were also given that same power in their ministry, today’s Christians are under the same powerful Lord.

Jesus alone “takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder” (v. 22). All of Satan’s ways to deceive and lead sinners to destruction can be taken away by the Lord. Jesus is also able to distribute the plunder of Satan and turn it around for his purpose and glory. The strength of the Lord Jesus Christ strengthens every believer and enables them to fight and resist the devil. 

In verse 23, Jesus differentiates the true followers of Christ versus the false followers. The false followers of Christ are “waverers, doubters, half-hearted, and excuse-making people” (J.C. Ryle). God cannot be deceived. Commitment to Christ is loving him in truth and obedience. Those who are with Jesus and follow him have truly repented and believe in him. Faith in the Lord is marked by their continual devotion to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers (Acts 2:42). And in Matthew 7:22-23. The Lord separates the believers and unbelievers not by their works, but by their hearts. 

Furthermore, Jesus also differentiates the true followers of Christ versus the false followers on whether or not they gather with him. Gathering with Christ involves proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, living righteously, fearing God more than man, loving God wholeheartedly, and loving the lost soul. Therefore, the believer must continue to gather with Jesus to advance his kingdom through the gospel. 

Unless a person loves Jesus, Satan will continue to overpower and destroy the sinner. There is no room for neutrality when it comes to faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Los Angeles, a man named Gerardo Cabanillas was falsely accused and wrongfully imprisoned for almost 30 years. Due to scientific advances applied to the DNA evidence, he was found to be innocent and freed. In this passage, Jesus casts out a demon from a man. Judaism couldn’t save this man but Jesus did. Yet they falsely accused Jesus of healing by the power of Beelzebub. No matter how many miraculous signs Jesus demonstrated, the Jews could not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Essentially, they’re saying what Jesus did is Satanic. Beelzebub is a reference to the idols of Babylon, the ruler of demons. The Pharisees and Sadducees were jealous of Jesus and hated Him. It wasn’t only these elite who doubted Jesus, but everyone else wanted to test Jesus and demanded signs. Jesus’ response to them was, “If you don’t trust what I say, at least trust the works that I do”. Jesus had done countless miracles all throughout His ministry yet they still did not believe. The Pharisees falsely accused Him while the people demanded more signs. Even though Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead some believed but many didn’t. It’s bewildering that they would be first-hand witnesses to such signs and not consider Jesus as the Messiah and believe.

Why should Jesus be the ultimate choice? Because of the way Jesus responds to their false accusations, we have no choice but to believe in Jesus. There is no excuse. Jesus uses this moment to prove that He is the Savior. Jesus presents them with an irrefutable argument where the choice is obvious, they must surrender to Him.

“Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls.” This is a universal and undeniable truth that is easily observed in life. No nation, no business, no family will survive if there is constant fighting within. Phillip II, who conquered much of Greece and was the father of Alexander the Great is attributed with implementing “Divide and Conquer”.  Throughout history, many politicians and military leaders have also used this tactic effectively. This universal principle would also apply to Satan’s kingdom. So Jesus presents their argument, that if he does this by the power of Satan but he is also against Satan, which would mean they are divided and would not be able to stand.

A counterargument could point out that Satan is inconsistent. He is not omniscient or truthful. Satan’s only goal is to harm the kingdom of God and in certain cases might allow self-harm to deceive us. He even disguises him as an angel of light and deceives ministers who do the same.

Jesus continues to solidify His case and position. “If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?”. Jesus was referring to Jewish exorcists who practiced casting out demons in the name of God. Jesus uses the name of God just as they do. However, Jesus never failed to cast out demons while the Jewish exorcists had a poor success rate (Acts 19:11-16). Because of His complete and overwhelming demonstration of miracles, massive crowds would come to Jesus presenting their sick. Judaism had failed to heal them but Jesus healed them all. So if those so-called exorcists poorly cast out demons by the power of God then what about Jesus who was clearly the greater. Jesus is just being honest and asking them to use common sense and admit their dishonesty. Every work of Jesus is the power of God in the Holy Spirit. Miracles are an act of the Triune God. It is irrefutable.

Then Jesus moves from the general principle to a specific reality they must face. “But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon”. This is the crucial statement we must understand. Jesus is bringing a colossal truth that has an impact on everyone. This is the point that Jesus wants to make. “The kingdom of God has come up you” does not refer to a realm but to His rule. If Jesus is who he proves Himself to be, then God must rule in your heart.

“Finger of God’. This refers to the power of God that only God can do. In the book Exodus, God told Moses to turn the staff into a snake or the river into blood and Pharaoh’s magicians were able to do the same thing. However, when the magicians could not reproduce the plague of gnats, they exclaimed “This is the finger of God”. The miracle was a true divine power that only God could do. It is God’s unlimited power that intervenes in the world of man. The finger of God is unmistakable and cannot be imitated.

The finger of God is also the Word of God. God’s miracles are always in conjunction with His word. In Matthew 12:28 it does not say the finger of God but the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth who reveals God’s word in the hearts of men. The power of God is the truth of God which is the word of God (John 17:7).

The kingdom is the King’s power over the King’s people in the King’s place. These three realities (power, people, place) interrelate, and although they can be distinguished, they never can be separated. They are like strands of a rope tightly twisted together.” – Patrick Schreiner

The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:5) If the kingdom of God is at hand then Jesus must rule in your heart through repentance and belief in the gospel. To enter the kingdom of God you must be born again. You cannot be a coward and enter the kingdom of heaven. Cowardice is a sign of the old life. Being born again means you have a new life, a spiritual life, which is the gift of God. It is a sanctifying life, a struggling life that fights for obedience and holiness. It is not a life that seeks worldly comforts. A new life cannot be complacent with no change. Have you experienced this new life? If you have not, then cry out to Jesus. 

How do you check if you are in the kingdom of God? Do you love Jesus more than anything? (John 14:15) Do you love others? For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who is born again lives righteously in obedience to God and righteously towards others. They have peace because they have been forgiven and saved from the wrath of God. Finally, they have joy in the Holy Spirit. A Christian that is not happy is not worthy of the name. The Christian has joy in God Himself in all circumstances (Hebrews 13:5).

The Kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20). Be wary of those who talk a lot but have no power. The kingdom of God is evident and produces fruit because of its power (Luke 1:35, Romans 1:16). Where there is power, there is an effect upon life. Examine your life and your sins. Do you still struggle with the same sins? Either you are not a Christian or you have no power. The kingdom of God is here, Jesus offers Himself, His kingdom, and His power as salvation to you.

The U.S. Constitution is not being interpreted according to the author’s intended meaning in the name of modernity. In other words, the U.S. Constitution is antiquated and needs to be interpreted based on changes taking place in the form of modern ideology. In the same manner, the Bible, and in particular, Easter, is being misinterpreted by many so-called Christians today. The resurrection of the Lord cannot be merely a memory but a constant reality personally and relationally for every believer.

Unfortunately, there are Christians who agree and understand the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in theory and doctrine but not in practice. When it comes to Easter, the resurrection has no place and function in their hearts. Even though the resurrection of Jesus Christ is of utmost importance to salvation and the Christian’s walk, it is sadly forfeited in people’s daily lives.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead two thousand years ago and sits on the right hand of the Father today. However, some doubters did not believe that Jesus had really risen from the dead at that time and it goes the same today. Scripture states that there were more than five hundred eyewitnesses who saw the risen Lord. There are countless pieces of evidence to affirm the resurrection of Jesus historically occurred.

In today’s text, Marth demonstrates how she was wrong in her thinking in the following ways:

• Martha limits Jesus to the physical when she says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v 21a).
• Martha limits Jesus as her view of his deity as subordinate to God the Father (v 21b).

Jesus responds by saying, “Your brother will rise again” (v 22). By this simple statement, Jesus manifests his power and ability. However, Martha’s problem still is that she limits Jesus again by saying the resurrection is in the future on the last day (v 23).

But the ultimate reality Jesus reveals to Martha is that he is “I am”, the God who is unchanging and not limited to time. Jesus also shows that he is Yahweh, which is God’s personal name who is self-existent and self-sufficient or more concretely meaning “He who lives”.

Jesus also reveals that he is the resurrection and the life. In other words, Jesus is saying that he is the author, giver, and maintainer of life; and that life is himself (CH Spurgeon). Moreover, when people face physical death, it is just the beginning for the Christian as their spirit enters into eternity with God.

The reality of the resurrection of the Lord is not only applicable on Easter but every day. The reality of the resurrection life is promised to anyone who believes in Jesus (Jn. 11:26). Therefore, the Easter message is so powerful and Christians must never hold this truth to themselves but declare it to all.

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Believing in Jesus brings salvation and eternal life. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).

How can the Christian believe in the reality of Easter not as a memory but as a lifestyle? We must truly believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The disciples of Christ were transformed and relevant as they truly believed in the gospel and the risen Lord. They constantly thought about the risen Lord which resulted in active faith (Acts 4:20). We must seek to enter into the fellowship with Jesus and his risen life (CH Spurgeon). When the reality of the risen Lord is constantly at the forefront of our thoughts and lives, it will become a lifestyle.

Charles Templeton was a famous preacher and peer of Billy Graham from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was smart, handsome, and famous, speaking to large crowds all across the country. Yet this man is an example of Hebrews 6:4-6, someone who tasted the heavenly gift, but eventually fell away and died denying Jesus Christ. What caused such an exemplary evangelist to abandon the very faith he proclaimed? Charles Templeton said he saw a picture of a baby dying in Africa and questioned how Almighty God could allow this to happen. This led him to doubt and leave Jesus. He is like so many others who come up with excuses or believe Satan’s lies in their unbelief.

In this passage we see Jesus performing miracles in front of a large crowd and there are a few kinds of reactions. This passage is connected to the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer. The miracles that Jesus is performing are by the power of the Holy Spirit who is the gift of the Father. Yet, they accuse Jesus saying He is not of the Holy Spirit but of Beelzebub. The miracles affirm that Jesus is the true Messiah, sent by God. Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 35:4-5. There is no denying He is the Messiah.

The crowds marveled. They were amazed and astonished at Jesus. Being marveled is not faith. Many people respect and admire Jesus, but they have no saving faith. However, marveling at Jesus is the first step to becoming a seeker of salvation. Jesus is marvelous so naturally many have marveled at Jesus. Moses marveled at the burning bush that didn’t burn and sought to know more about the cause of the marvelous sight. Nicodemus also sought Jesus in the night because of the signs that Jesus performed. Marveling at Jesus is not faith but those who have faith also marvel at Jesus.

If the crowds marveled, then why didn’t they believe? We could come up with lots of reasons. They were busy, they thought they had more time, they had other priorities, etc. Verses 15 and 16 provide insight into the crowd’s hesitation to believe and follow Christ.

“But some of them said” This refers to the Pharisees and scribes, the religious and social elite. They have lots of power in the culture and reflect the thinking of the crowds. These two groups represent today’s celebrities, experts, and mainstream media. They lied about Jesus and accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (Satan). They accused Jesus of being satanic. Lies are powerful. They twist the truth and sound appealing. It is the same with heresies. They are not blatant and declare themselves a lie. They can be just a small deviation from the truth. The lie of the Pharisees was truly powerful because the crowd would believe it and accuse Jesus in the same way (John 10:20). Even now, people still believe the lie told at Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:3-4,15). Instead of believing Jesus was the Messiah, they believed the lies of Satan.

A common lie circulating today is that the cross is only God’s love and not His wrath. There’s no way God the Father would punish Jesus. They call it child abuse. They disregard God’s justice and wrath. The cross is only a loving sacrifice. This lie makes no sense because how would our sins be propitiated and forgiven if not for Jesus suffering God’s wrath in our place. In fact, Jesus rejected a painkilling drink so that He might fully experience and fulfill the suffering needed to appease God’s wrath (Matthew 27:34). The gospel is not the true gospel without God’s wrath being poured out on the cross and God’s love enduring His own wrath in our place.

Many other lies circulate about Jesus that deceive the lost. They say ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ without ever defining love according to God’s word. Or they lie about the authorship and the authenticity of the Bible. They make up lies about the Bible so they don’t have to believe it. However, it is not the lie that causes their unbelief but because they don’t want to believe. The unregenerate loves the darkness rather than the light.

They also misunderstand sin and forgiveness. They claim “To err is man and to forgive is divine”. While true that man is a sinner and God forgives, however, it belittles sin’s seriousness and God’s hatred toward sin. God is not obligated to forgive. The Catholics claim that moral sin is only possible with awareness of sin. Ignorance is a free pass. But the Bible says all sin is wicked and deadly and the fruit of our sinful nature. We sin because we are sinners. We are born in sin and we die because of sin (Psalm 51:5, Roman 6:23).

Yes, we are sinners who deserve death and God’s wrath. Yet there is hope. Where sin abounds, grace abounds more (Romans 5:20-21). The law reveals our sin but where our sin is revealed, God’s grace is there to forgive us. Jesus died to forgive us our sins. If you believe in Jesus, then God’s grace is ready to forgive you.

People also lie about the gospel. They preach a partial gospel and leave out certain aspects of it such as sin, hell, or repentance. Other times they add to the gospel saying you must do this or that to be saved. We are not saved by obedience but by grace. We are saved by faith alone through grace alone for good works. Works don’t save you, God saves you. If you understand the full gospel then you will be changed. There is no such thing as a half-hearted Christian. Some believers may be weak, but they are always growing. The true Christian presses on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Are you still not believing? Then here is some encouragement. It is not too late. Seek Him today for today is the day of salvation. With God, it is possible to save the impossible. Even Apostle Paul was chosen and he tried to destroy the church. We are all sinners who hate God but by God’s grace, we can be saved and love Him. See how good God is. Do not believe the lies of Satan which lead you down a path of ritualistic religion or worldliness. Seek God’s grace and believe.

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.

Venezuela has the most oil reserves in the world. However, unlike Saudi Arabia or other countries we associate with oil, they do not have a lot of wealth. Over 90% of the people in Venezuela live in poverty. Oil is considered black gold and although it has all that oil, it does not utilize it to improve the plight of their nation.

In a similar way, Christians are like Venezuela. Prayer is the greatest gift and asset we have from God. James 5:17-18 says Elijah was a man like us and when he prayed earnestly it did not rain for over 3 years. Prayer has the power to change the world, yet so few of us pray. We fail to realize how amazing it is that God avails himself to prayer.

We are privileged to have prayer. In Luke 11:9-10 what does Jesus our Lord want us to take away from His parable? The attitude we should have towards prayer. Normally we are down and we doubt if our prayers are heard or answered. The Lord requires a specific attitude that we must have before we pray. The prerequisite to prayer is to believe that prayer works. God hears and answers prayer! If we grasp this, then we can pray on. Even though we have prayed and tried, we must not let go of prayer because God truly does hear and answer. This must be our conviction otherwise prayer will fail. Remember that prayer is a privilege. This parable is telling us God wants us to be tenacious. He wants you to fight on. He wants you to keep pressing on in prayer no matter what happens. We pray until God’s will be done. Sometimes the answer might be delayed or not the answer we expected but God does answer for His glory and our good.

In life, we have many challenges. We constantly face formidable enemies on all sides. We deal with them in constant prayer. In Psalm 3:4, King David is running from his son Absolom. “I was calling to Yahweh with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain”. The verb tense is present tense, “was calling”, showing that David was constantly praying. This is how we deal with our enemies.

God works all around us and in us. Prayer works. That’s the prerequisite. That’s where we start with prayer. How do you know prayer works? Because Jesus said it. He is trustworthy. Jesus has credibility, and He never changes, so His words can be trusted forever. As God’s representative, Jesus says to you that God answers your prayers. He was not just any teacher. He is God incarnate, sinless, and perfect. His word even saves you (Romans 10:17). So our prayers stand on the words of Jesus, the God-man. He said, “knock and it will be opened to you”. This is His promise to answer prayer. In a world where so many people are untrustworthy, politicians, CEOs, and professors, God is not like them and is completely trustworthy. Whatever He says, it will be done, according to His will. Sometimes God’s answers will bring challenges and difficulties (Genesis 15:13-14) but if we have confidence in salvation then we must have confidence in prayer. We pray because we are saved. It is silly to believe in Jesus’ words of salvation and doubt His words in prayer.

Another takeaway is to pray unceasingly. Prayer is like breathing. Jesus prayed continually through His life and ministry on earth. Consider how powerful Jesus is. He is almighty sovereign God (John 2:19, Colossians 1:16-17). He is the Creator. Nothing happens in this universe without his permission. Every breath we take is allowed by His sovereignty. Jesus promised He would answer when we seek Him. John 15:7 Does this verse excite you and draw you to prayer based on the promise made? Ask and it will be done for you. King David is an example of praying according to Jesus’ promise. David had sinned severely and knew his child was born out of wedlock. (2 Samuel 12:15-16). Yet David prayed boldly for his son because God is full of mercy and grace. We can always go to the Lord because of His promise and power.

However in reality we know we hear many no’s from God. Life can be like that. We only remember the no’s so we get discouraged and disheartened. Or we ask why our prayers are not effective even though God commands us to pray. James 4:2 says you do not have because you do not ask. This shows we do not truly pray faithfully. Prayer is not going up to a vending machine, it is communion with God. Relationships take time and investment. A quick meal prayer or random cries do not constitute a relationship with God. The purpose of prayer is to know God. Knowing God requires your time and persistence. So hear Jesus when He says to keep praying.

We also pray with wrong motives. Sometimes God answers prayers with wrong motives for His glory such as when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking and water still came out. However, God says there are hindrances to prayer. For example, God does not answer the prayers of an unforgiving spirit (Matthew 6:15, Matthew 27:46). As a believer it is unacceptable and tragic to hold an unforgiving spirit. How can we who are forgiven so wonderfully hold on to wrongs against us and use our hurt as an excuse. Shame on you if you live in that past. God desires you to forgive others before coming before Him (Mark 11:25-26, Matthew 5:23-24).

Therefore Habitually repent and habitually forgive. This opens the channels that have been clogged. The stream of prayer can flow with repentance and forgiving others. Prayer will be your hope and confidence in both good times and bad. Prayer is the promise of God. May we taste the goodness of God now on earth through prayer.

Jesus is the source and author of all prayers. He is the one who answers. In the Lord’s Prayer (vv. 1-4), Jesus showed us how to pray. Then, Jesus begins to show us how we can apply prayer in our lives beginning in verse 5. Through prayer, he shows the importance of prayer and why we ought to pray in his name. He exemplified a prayerful life as he always sought every opportunity to be in prayer and put himself in the hands of God. He practiced his faith by trusting in the Father’s power to answer his prayer. Praying in his name is to pray according to the Father’s will and Jesus desired so in his prayers. Failing to learn what prayer is from Jesus, we will not know experience what prayer truly is and the power of it.

Prayer is a command and edict. Prayer begins at every believer’s conversion and God mandates a prayerful life. We are called to pray without ceasing. Praying without ceasing is a life of constant prayer. So, prayerlessness is a life that is not demonstrated by constant prayer. Jesus shows us three different ways Christians ought to pray. The three ways are to ask, seek, and knock.

Asking generally means to pray. But it can imply that someone inferior would ask another who might be superior. The word ask implies humility. It is often illustrated by the Christian who kneels and sincerely prays. In the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, we see Jesus saying those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who are humble will be exalted.

Seeking involves asking combined with actively looking around for God’s answer. Even though God will answer regardless of our actions or inaction following our asking, God calls us to seek him and ways to grow in our holiness and give him glory. For example, after praying for the lost to be saved, we are to seek out the lost and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Knocking includes asking, seeking, and persevering. This is the most intense form of prayer. It is with a determined spirit that we pray even through difficulty. This kind of prayer is always hand in hand with faith. In other words, prayerlessness is faithlessness.

As Jesus commands us to pray, prayer then becomes the chief means of obedience. The Christian’s desire to glorify God and grow in sanctification will lead them to a growing prayer life.

We obey God in prayer because the Holy Spirit dwells in us and thereby enables us after our conversion as the Apostle Paul also did (Acts 9:11). Becoming born of God leads us to stop loving the world and begin to live a prayer-filled life.

Prayer is more than merely asking for things because as adopted children of God, we are to love the Lord and seek him to be more like Jesus Christ. As part of being more like the Lord, we are to unceasingly pray. The Lord is not asking us to pray. For those who are genuinely saved, we know we ought to pray because our spiritual life depends on it.

Jesus is the greatest teacher that ever lived. A good teacher will not only teach the theory but will also show how to apply that knowledge to their lives. One of the ways did this was through parables. After teaching the Lord’s Prayer which taught us what to pray, Jesus wants to demonstrate the importance of prayer in our lives. Jesus wants to share that prayer is not about the technical skills or the format but all about your heart. In short, prayer is not a ritual.

Just the fact that Jesus prays should stimulate our faith. Jesus’ praying challenges all of us to pray. For if the Son of God prayed then we must also pray. But it is also encouraging because Jesus was not above prayer and used prayer. Prayer was Jesus’ means of learning obedience (Hebrews 5:7-8). Unfortunately, we have so many reasons to not pray, due to our busyness, which ultimately becomes our excuse for disobeying. Little prayer is little obedience. Remember, we are born again to pray, we are born again to obey.

How does God view our prayers? God receives our prayer as worship. Worship is the central desire God has for his people. Moses confronted Pharaoh so that the Israelites could worship the Lord freely. In heaven, God gathers our prayers in golden bowls (Revelation 5:8). How amazing prayer is. So ask yourself, how full is your bowl in heaven? Prayer also brings us close to the Holy Spirit. We are too weak to pray and our prayers are poor, which is why the Holy Spirit is constantly present to aid us in our prayer (Romans 8:26). In Isaiah 38:1-5, when Hezekiah heard from God that he would die, he began to pray. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and saw his tears. Again it’s amazing that God hears our prayers. He is such a loving Father.

To continue teaching on prayer, Jesus begins speaking in a parable. A parable is a story that is presented alongside a truth in order to illustrate and aid the point of that truth. It is an earthly story with a heavenly truth. The purpose of this parable is the necessity of prayer. By prayer, the disciples would sustain their spiritual lives. They learn that prayer is one of the greatest gifts of salvation. Prayer and salvation are two oars rowing a boat where both are needed to go forward. This parable is the application of the Lord’s teaching of prayer.

“Which of you has a friend” or neighbor. We all have a friend or neighbor. This is the common ground to bring the truth into our own lives.

The parable sets the time “at midnight”. Remember, this is ancient Israel, when nothing is open and everyone is sleeping once it gets dark. At midnight, we go to our neighbor and ask for three loaves of bread.

The reason for this request is because another friend has visited at that hour and you have nothing to eat. The friend might have been late due to various reasons such as weather or other hardships. Of course, that friend would be hungry after such a late running journey. During Jesus’ day, hospitality was a very important part of their culture (Hebrews 13:2). It was a shame to fail in hospitality. So the neighbor is asked despite the late hour.

Naturally, there would be a problem asking for food from the neighbor’s friend. The neighbor says “Do not bother me” and is unwilling to get up. They are most likely very tired and probably have to be up early in the morning. Also, the door is shut. Back then, there was only one room in the house with one door, and opening the door would wake up everyone including the children. Anyone with kids knows how troublesome it is to have children wake up in the middle of the night. Ultimately the friend is unwilling and unable to get out of bed to give some food.

At this point we might ask, does God really answer prayers? Based on the friend’s response, it doesn’t seem like God is willing to answer our prayers. Yes, of course, God answers prayers! He even answered the prayers of one of the worst kings in Israel’s history (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). The Bible is full of examples of God answering prayers. The prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16-18). God hears every prayer and answers (Luke 1:13) because he is our Father. If you understand God is your heavenly Father then prayer makes a lot of sense and becomes your comfortable practice.

“I tell you” is a significant phrase from Jesus. It is used multiple times in His teachings before revealing an important truth. He is now going to make the key point of the parable. “Even though he will not arise and give him anything because he is his friend”. The friend will not get up because he is a friend. Instead, “because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”

This parable is popularly applied as persistence in prayer, to never give up on prayer. Persistence is important and it is emphasized in Luke 18:5 by the parable of the widow and the judge. However, based on the context of hospitality, we must understand the position of the host and the neighbor. It is shameful to fail in hospitality. The host has shame for not being able to provide bread because he didn’t have any, but the neighbor would face greater shame because he failed to be hospitable to his friend. The word persistence is rooted in shamelessness, continuing without shame. Not because he’s a friend but because he will not be shamed by the friend’s persistence, will the friend get up and give bread. In other words, God will not be shamed. There can be no slander against God’s name for God upholds His name to the highest.

Take for example the people of Israel, who were waiting for Moses to return from the top of Mt. Sinai. When Moses delayed, they rebelled against God and built a golden calf which they worshipped. They claimed it was the calf who saved them from Egypt. This insult to God and blaspheming of His name caused God’s anger to burn and He was about to consume them (Exodus 32:9-10). However, Moses pleaded with the Lord, saying if God were to destroy the Israelites His name would also be slandered among the Egyptians (Exodus 32:11-12). So the Israelites were shown mercy.

God loves His name. God will not be embarrassed of His name. This is why God must answer your prayer. He preserves His name. God doesn’t answer your prayer because of your friendship or your good works or because He owes you anything, but for His name’s sake. Don’t misunderstand Jesus’ point as leverage in prayer. The point is that through prayer, which is worship, God will be glorified as He answers.

So how did this understanding of prayer impact the disciples? Whatever happened, they prayed first. Like David who prayed shamelessly for his baby who was born from an affair. Even though David was wrong, he prayed to God, because He knows God hears our prayers. Also, prayer is the best gift for the believer. Just because God has not answered your prayers doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray. Think of how many prayers God has answered. Peter was thrown into prison and surrounded by guards. There was no hope for his escape. In Acts 12:5, “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church of God”. There is always hope in prayer. Remember the gospel which has brought hope to the hopeless. It is never too late and it is never impossible for God. That is why we pray and why God answers.