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1112 THE KING’S fourth petition is to be taken first of all, literally as applying to the necessities' of 'the body. It is right to speak to God about these (Phil. 4:6). The fifth petition is not the prayer of the unsaved sinner for the forgiveness of the sins that are destroying him forever, but the prayer of the saved child of God for the forgiveness of the sins that are hindering his communion with the Father. If we are to enjoy the forgive ness that brings unbroken fellowship with God, we must on our part forgive those who have'injured us." Nothing more surely r destroys communion than an unforgiving spirit (cf. Matt. 6:14, 15; Mark 11:25). The fact that we forgive others is not the ground upon which God forgives us, but is the'condition'of our enjoying that for giveness. The ground upon which God forgives us is the ground of our redemp tion through the' blood of Jesus Christ |j (Eph. 1:7; 4:32). The prayer for pardon is put first of the prayers for spiritual blessing, because there can be no blessing The central thought of this parable is plain enough, viz., that if we do not get what we. ask of God the first time we ask, we should keep on praying until we do (cf. Luke 18:1-8). The word translated “im portunity” means literally, “shamelessness.” God delights in that persistent faith, that holy boldness that will not be put to shame by an apparent refusal on His part to grant what we ask, and that will not take no for an answer (cf. Matt. 15:21-23). The rea son why many people- do not get things is because they do not pray through. When God does not seem to hear they take it for granted it is npt His will to giye, when in reality it is His will if we will only show that determined faith that makes it wise for Him,to giye. In verse 9 there.are three commands and three promises. Obtaining the promises is conditioned upon obeying the commands. Men do not obtain because they do not ask (cf. Jas. 4:2) ; they do not find because they do not seek; they do not have the door opened to them because they unless there is pardon. Friday, December 17. Duke 11:5-13.
BUSINESS do not knock. By piling up wordsj “ask,” “seek,” “knock,” Jesus sets forth the need of earnestness and persistence in prayer. How few people there are who are per sistent in prayer, even people who are per sistent in their other actions soon faint in prayer. They are often on the very verge of getting, but stop short just too soon. Our Lord does not say that every one who asks gets everything that he asks, not ,even if he asks of God. Even an earthly father will give a son at least as good as he asks— how much more God. The fundamental truth that underlies prayer is that God is a father. Those who argue against God’s prayer from the “reign of law” lose sight of the great truth that God is a father. Incidentally, Jesus teaches the corruption of human nature. God’s especial gift is the Holy Spirit (cf. Matt. 7:11). There are many in this day who say we should, not pray for the Holy Spirit; Jesus says we should (cf. Acts 4:31; 8:15; Eph. 3:14-16). Saturday, December 18. , Luke 11:14-26. We have already had much of the teach ing here given, in our study of Matthew the 12th chapter, 22nd to the 37th verses, ■but Luke adds things that Matthew omits," and Matthew adds very solemn truths in this connection which Luke omits in this place. Matthew puts it that oui^ Lord said, cast out demons by the “Spirit of God” (Matt. 12:28). Luke puts it, instead, of this, that our Lord said cast out spirits “by the finger of God." Doubtless our Lord said both and Matthew records part of what He said and Luke another part. By our Lord’s casting put demons by the Spirit of God and by the finger of God, it was evidenced that the Kingdom of God had come near to them in the person of Jesus Christ. We have in verses 21 and 22 the glorious truth that while Satan and his forces are strong, that the Lord Jesus is immeasurably , stronger. Satan is a “strong man, fully armed, guarding his own court,” but the Lord Jesus is the “stronger than he.” He comes upon him and overcomes him, and takes, from him
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