Bible Reading: Judges 20-21; Luke 11:1-28.
Memory Verse: “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?” Luke 11:13 KJV.
Several years ago, both myself and my wife travelled to a foreign country to meet two of our children studying there. Then we agreed how much we would give them for feeding, general maintenance and others. The elder one said as usual, it was okay but the younger one raised issues why the money allocated would not be enough and we needed to add more. Though it was above our plan, we added more for both of them. The truth is if he had not asked for more, we would not have added anything! But because he asked, we increased their allowance!
This incident brings home to me the point raised by our Lord Jesus in Luke 11:11 (KJV) that “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?” The critical problem is that you do not ask your father for the gift. Some do not ask because they think they are not entitled to it. Others do not ask because they think they might be asking for too much while many do not ask because they have not done what is expected of them and so feel shy of asking. But in all God expressly directs us to ask for whatever we desire. Jesus says in Luke 11:9 (KJV), “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.”
You should feel free to ask of whatever you desire from God, He is willing and ready to give you. However he has even made more provisions for us by sending the Holy Spirit to us. Jesus says in John 14:26 (KJV), “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” So as a child of God, the Holy Spirit will teach you everything you need to know including helping you to pray to God, because a number of times, we do not know how to pray. What you think is the cause of a challenge may not be but the Holy Spirit knows all things and so will pray directly and correctly. In fact, issues that you do not understand will be made clear to you by the Holy Spirit. For this and more you need to have the Holy Spirit directing your life.
How do you do this? It’s by having the baptism of the Spirit. Such a baptism is evidenced by speaking in tongues (in a language you do not understand). And Jesus says all you need is to ask for this baptism. Hear him in Luke 11:13 (KJV), “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?” But you must be born again and living a life of obedience to the word of God for you to have the Holy Spirit.
Prayer point: Father fill me with the Holy Spirit afresh this morning in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero