Luke-Strongman

Luke 11:21  When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
Luke 11:22  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.  

 Jesus is greater than the strongman; the devil.

Luke 11:23  He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.  

 No fence walking, you are either with Jesus or you are against him. All must decide who they will trust.  Hear the words of Joshua.    

Josh 24:14  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Josh 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Josh 24:16  And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;

Love never fails

1 Cor 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Cor 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1 Cor 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1 Cor 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Cor 13:8  Charity never faileth:

Beautiful words. Have most of us been hurt by someone or something we loved? Sure, for we live in a world with both good and evil. This is why we must live in the Spirit and study the word of God. The natural man cannot make it alone. Failed love is a normal occurance. Words can be cheap. The tongue can bless or curse, It seems that the bad we often remember all too well. The Bible says to look on good things. We are to love God with all we are and others as ourselves. We must not be too quick to judge others.The alcoholic man, may have a daughter who loves him with all her heart. Pray for the man, that he will be free to truly love that daughter. Sin destroys lives; Jesus came to free us from sin and to bring us to the Father.

What greater love than to reconcile others to God the Father.We must have eyes of love, to look past the sin and see a person as Gods beloved.We are not to destroy lives, but to save them. Love gives, without expecting in return. How can you be hurt by that kind of love? This is the love in 1Cor 13, the love that Jesus has for us to share.

flesh and Spirit

 " Keep  watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." -Matthew 26:40-41 NAS

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

My flesh may fail. My strength may not be as it once was. Perhaps I get too many recurring coughs; the memory forgets to remember, all part of the older person. Yet, we are not old in His Spirit. His word renews my mind minute by minute. What is lost in the flesh is a gain in the spiritual walk. For when I am weak then He is strong.  

2 Cor 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Father help your weaker in body Saints, renew them first in the Holy Spirit. Bring new health and life to them...  

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Luke-Finger of God

Luke 11:14  And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.  

A dumb devil, interesting.  

Luke 11:15  But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
Luke 11:16  And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:17  But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
Luke 11:18  If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.  

A kingdom divided cannot stand, words to apply also to our nation, that appears to be divided over the name of Jesus and the ten commandments written by the finger of God.   What purpose would it be to cast out through the authority of the devil? Beelzebub, It is probably the same as Baalzebub ( q.v.), the god of Ekron, meaning "the lord of flies," or, as others think, "the lord of dung," or "the dung-god." (Easton's)

Luke 11:19  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.  

Let your own son's speak to you of your error.

Luke 11:20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.  

Jesus, with the finger of God, casting out devils, no doubt this was the presence of God's kingdom authority. This was the finger of God that was with Moses before the King of Egypt.  

Exo 8:19  Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.   This was the same authority that met with Moses on Mt. Sinai and delivered the law.

Exo 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.  

The Jewish leaders hearts were as Pharaohs heart, resisting the Lord. You can resist God and bring destruction or glorify him and be blessed. The power of God is at hand. His finger is pointed at you. Receive his power, by receiving Jesus, and a new life in Him.

Eaglewings Ministries

 

Luke: more Holy Spirit

Luke 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luke 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  

A natural father should meet the needs of a child when asked. A good father will try to give the child good things. How much more will our heavenly Father give us good things when we ask Him in faith?

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?  

What do we need most to be spiritual children of God? We need more of His Holy Spirit. Some refer to this as the way to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Hear the words of John the Baptist.  

John 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  

We are not His without having the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is necessary for salvation. By grace are we saved by faith, it is the work of God.  

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  

 Some teach that when we are become children of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that we receive all of the Holy Spirit. There is one Spirit and many fillings. Are you completely filled with His Spirit, lacking nothing in truth and the power of God in your life? If not? Pray, as Jesus has spoken in this verse.  

How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?  

One final thought. This was spoken to Jews under the old covenant. Jesus had not yet finished his purpose for coming. He had not yet made the way for our redemption through his shed blood and His resurrection from the dead.  

John 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
 

At Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit came and we are sealed by His Spirit.   

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted (Jesus), after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
 

It is praying through the Holy Spirit that we are connected to our heavenly Father. A spiritual experience cannot replace your need to hear God's word and to communicate in prayer. If you are not sure you are saved, for sure you need to pray asking for the Holy Spirit in your life. If you want more evidence, including knowledge of His gifts for you? Pray, ask for more of His Spirit of truth.

sow to reap

If you want something Godly to come out of your life...You have to get it in there!      Sow, sow, sow the Word of God into you life. What do you need? Joy, direction, peace, healing...comfort? Something else? What? Start with prayer. Lord; I need_______. Don't sow sparingly. Sow heavily...so you will reap abundance. Don't delay. Start planting today. You will reap a harvest. (gh)

Ask...I need. If we truly need something, ask, amen, sow the seed, read His promises and ask in His will.  

Seek..walk in faith, what you need may be in God's word already, seek his word first and pray, listening for his answer. Seek His presence in your life with all the Spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

knock...Do not avoid opportunities and do not let your life be ruled by habits, good habits are still habits. Seek new directions and ministries, if an opportunity comes, go through the door. You have knocked, so when the door opens go through it.  

Luke: Ask

  Luke 11:5  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  

You can go to a friend at midnight, when in need.  

 Prov 17:17  A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Luke 11:6  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
Luke 11:7  And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  

We sometimes would rather not be bothered.

Luke 11:8  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.  

Because of his bothersome persistance, his boldness to continue asking, the man gave him his request, just to shut him up. The friend was a nuisance, but he got what he had requested. Think of Jesus as our best friend.  

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Luke 11:9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  

God is not seeing us as a nuisance. God is not asleep and if we are his friend he will hear our request, we need not continue begging him. Ask in faith based on your relationship to him through the Lord Jesus Christ.   Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, his things and you shall find; knock, inquire of God and he shall open up the blessings of God to you; now, that is a true friend.

Luke 11:10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jesus is speaking to everyone chosen of the Father.  

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
John 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Ask on the basis of your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, he is our best friend and our Lord. Has he not promised?

Eaglewings New Testament Studies