Improved Prayer
In Luke 11:1, Jesus’ disciples requested that Jesus teach them how to pray whereupon he said… like this…
“When you pray, say: “ 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation”
If that was the extent of his lesson on prayer it would be a short lesson indeed but consider dear reader that the lesson goes though verse 26.
In the model prayer Jesus introduces the concept of the coming of “kingdom” that word is mentioned two more times…
- If Satan is divided is divided against himself how will (Satan’s) kingdom stand?
- If by the finger of God (Jesus) casts out demons then God’s kingdom has come upon you.
In the model prayer Jesus introduces the concept of praying for food and contrasts asking a neighbor for food and his reluctance to provide said food with God’s quick answer for the request to provide the necessary provender.
And contrasts their ignorance in even knowing what to ask for by adding… if you asked for the “Holy Spirit” he would give it to you (instead of mere victuals).
This giving of the Holy Spirit segways nicely into Jesus casting out an evil demonic spirit from a human being (who could have prayed for the Holy Spirit)
Then Jesus tells the story of a man who had an evil demonic spirit removed from him… perhaps referring to the individual he had just removed the demonic spirit from. Jesus describes the demonic spirit wandering around looking for another human host… and being unable to find one goes back to his previous residence and original host and finds a nice, tidy home and invites seven other demons to live with him… the house was vacant.
That poor human being… his last state was truly worse than the first.
How did that happen?
Let me suggest that if the individual had invited the Holy Spirit to live in him it would have been impossible for a demonic spirit to live there.
It may have even been the case that the individual became a believer but as suggested in the model prayer… don’t expect forgiveness of sins if you don’t have the capacity to forgive others.
You see that attitude is like inviting a demon to come in and live comfortably within you.
Jesus gave a brief example of a prayer but used it to educate his followers about the coming kingdom, what they could ask for and when to expect results and how to live in Spirit without having to worry about demon possession.
Now the disciples could pray better.