Saturday, July 24, 2010

Pentecost 9 - Proper 12

July 25, 2010
Pentecost 9 – Proper 12
Luke 11:11-13
A God who loves to Give

We often think of God’s unwillingness to give. So, we use prayer, especially persistence, to eke out of God some favor to answer our needs. To get this answer, we are concerned about the quality of prayer and the pray-er. This is unnecessary according to Jesus in our text. God is more willing to give than we to ask. God lives to give.

1. Good gifts. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” Vv. 11, 12

A. God, like a good father, gives only good gifts. The point is ‘you just can’t imagine a father who would do this!’ He is not reluctant to give gifts. He does not have to be persuaded to help. As a father gives only good gifts, God gives the same to his children.

B. If one asks for a fish, God does not give a serpent. Here the Savior teaches us how to pray the right way. We pray as a child to a magnificent Father, confidently as Abraham and the persistent and unrelenting friend did.

C. God’s gifts are only and always good, helpful for us. Even when God is silent. Persistence in prayer means we mean it. We are sincere., It is urgent. It may be a test of our faith. God’s timing is always perfect. When God is silent it may be that it is not the right time for God to answer. At the time we ask we may not be ready for the gift. If we do not keep asking, when the time is right, we may not be receptive.

2. The best gift. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" V. 13

A. The best gift is the Holy Spirit. Of all the gifts, the Holy Spirit is the best.

B. How many pray for the Spirit? How many realize the Spirit is the best gift God could ever give us?

C. Why is the Spirit the best gift? The Spirit is God. To Have the Holy Spirit is to have God in you, with you, for you.

Can there ever be anything better than God?

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