Parables of Christ - Part 6

Announcements

Our Prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, that find themselves under threats of all kinds in this hour. May the LORD Bless and Keep you, Amen.

Friends, I urge you to listen to the contribution from Mike in the COT section down below for an update on the storm.

For another update, see BPEarthwatch (Link provided below)

Audio Version of the Note

The House of Bread · Voice Note For 20241008 - How To Pray - Parables Of Christ - Part 6

How to Pray

Luke 10:25-37 KJV

[25] And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? [27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. [28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. [29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? [30] And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. [33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, [34] and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. [36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? [37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.10.25-37.KJV

Note for 20241008

The Lord Jesus gives us here the way how to pray, and He follows that with this parable, comparing how we give to our children with what our Father in Heaven's response will be. Because it is Christ that said it, we know it is True.

Shall I then ask the question that may be on so many's mind? Why are our prayers unanswered then, especially considering the text that follows the Lord's prayer here in our reading today?

Just two days ago, our reading on the parables of Christ was paused by the Lord. The focus was on part of a single verse for emphasis, what was it? "... be still and know, I am GOD." (Psalm 46:10) Why was a single day set apart for that? It had a massive impact on me, even though I knew the verse well already. Our Father GOD in Heaven is the Most HOLY. GOD is Love, God is Spirit. So must we come with reverence before the LORD. Do we forget HIS interaction with Moses at the burning bush? How Moses was told to remove the sandals from his feet, for He was standing on Holy Ground? What of the Pillar of Fire before the tent of meeting, where Moses met with the LORD to write the Law? What of the way Moses' face shone so bright that he had to cover it with a veil? Have we become too casual with the LORD our GOD? If you are like me, I pray throughout the day, not always in separation as I am right now, but even as I go. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ says that we must go into our closet and pray (in Matthew) and not to pray on the street corners like the Pharisees. Yet, is the LORD with us, in us, all the time, by His Holy Spirit. (Ruach Elohim) There is so much more, but I must remind myself that we are looking at the parable Christ used here today.

Christ compares us praying to the Father, as our children asking bread or fish from us, and even as a friend requesting bread at a late hour. Notably, Christ finishes here in verse 13 with this...

[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 does it say at the end of this verse? What shall the Father give them that ask?

Let's take a brief look at James 4 verses 2 and 3.

[2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James, the brother of Christ, gives us something here to consider. How do we ask, and what do we ask for? Do we pray according to GOD'S will or for our will to be favored over another that Christ died for too? Do we pray as if it is a sibling-rivalry, seeing we are brothers and sisters in Christ?

In the parable here, did the man that needed bread pray for bread or go ask his friend that was already in bed? There you have it. Do you see it? Now, look at verse 13 again, and see what the Father gives, and is it not by the Holy Spirit that we are made one with Christ and with one another?

Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you... Not?

What does James say, why do we not have? Do you see the two come together? Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. But, friends, is it shame that keeps us quiet to suffer alone? Are we too proud to ask for what we need? Does that mean we do not pray for it? Of course not, we pray for our daily Bread. In other words, what we need. But you see, we also ask for what we want, and the two are not the same. What we ask, we must ask in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ... But, we must consider what we ask, if it is a need or want.

What is it that we pray for? World peace? What does the Word of GOD say will come? What is the testimony of the prophets, even the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John on Patmos? But, I tell you, peace is sustained because of the prayers of GOD'S saints.

What is the heart in our prayer? You see, even when Christ prayed for the cup to pass Him in the garden, just before He was taken to the High Priest, he concluded by asking the Father's will before His own. With faith the size of a mustard seed, what can we say to a mountain? But, should we not determine first if it is the Lord's will for that mountain to be cast into the sea?

I have need friends. I do this here, full time, besides other duties that I have before the Lord. The Lord knows what I do. And yet, I cannot bring myself to ask for help, not in pride, but because I have seen the struggle of mankind. I do not want to lay a burden upon anyone. The Lord's grace is sufficient for me.

I ask again, what is it that you pray for? Need or want? The Lord's prayer is my prayer, day by day. I receive what I must have. Don't you know that the Lord sends people to provide for those that He set apart for service unto Him? Is it not a man or woman that delivers the need you have? What then is required is the Holy Spirit of GOD, by which we are dispatched. By the Lord are each of us called to duty, not? Look again at verse 13,what does the Father give according to the words of Christ?

What happens then when people are not obedient to the Holy Spirit? Yes, others suffered because we did not stand on duty then. I ask you, if we are the Body of Christ, which the Word says that we are, who will He send then? Are you listening? Do you think for one moment I just woke up one morning and decided to do what I now do, or was I called out of my sleep to duty by the Lord? Who walks away from his regular income? Were the first disciples of Christ not called from their fishing boats?

If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit...

Selah, Shalom.

1 Timothy 5:17-19 KJV

[17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. [19] Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1ti.5.17-19.KJV

Verse of The Day

(YouVersion - Extended from verse 8)

Psalm 34:8-10 KJV

[8] O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. [9] O fear the LORD, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him. [10] The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.34.8-10.KJV