Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 11:14-28

“Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,’ while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.’ As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:14–28, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Although this passage of Scripture raises many questions, the main message is clear. Beyond the physical realm that we perceive with our natural senses, there is a spiritual realm. In that spiritual realm, there is a kingdom of darkness that wars against God and oppress men. And clearly, a part of the mission of Jesus Christ was to overthrow this kingdom of darkness, to set captives free, and to bring them into his kingdom of light. These basic truths are wonderfully displayed in the text that is open before us today. But let us now walk through the text together to be sure that we understand its meaning. Afterwards, I will make a few suggestions for application. 

   *****

A Miracle Performed By Jesus: A Mute Demon Cast Out

In verse 14, it is reported that Jesus cast out a demon. There we read, “Now [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled” (Luke 11:14, ESV). 

This is not the first time in Luke’s gospel that we have heard about Jesus casting out demons. It seems to have been a regular part of his earthly ministry (see Luke 4:33, 4:41, 8:2 & 8:27). And we should not forget that Christ gave his twelve apostles and the seventy disciples who followed him the power to cast out demons too (see Luke 9:1 & 10:17). This activity of casting out demons was not a rare occurrence but was a central part of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  

Demons are spiritual beings. They are fallen angels. Amongst the fallen angels, there seems to be a hierarchy. Satan, or Lucifer, is their chief. And the Scriptures speak of these demonic forces as having dominion over the world. As you know, Satan and his minions took dominion when man rebelled against God and fell into sin by listening to the voice of Satan. Christ has come to defeat Satan and to overthrow his kingdom of darkness, and Paul says, “[God the Father] has delivered [those who have faith in Christ] from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (Colossians 1:13, ESV)

Luke 11:14 says that Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. The meaning is not that the demon was mute, but that the demon inflicted this man with muteness, that is, he took away the man’s ability to speak. The man was bound and oppressed. He could not use his tongue for its designed purpose, to give thanks and praise to God.  

Some might wonder, is all muteness the result of demon possession or oppression? And what about other ailments? Are all physical ailments to be blamed on Satan and his demons?  Yes and no. Yes, in that all afflictions result from man’s fall into sin. Before sin entered the world, there were no afflictions like this. And if we remember the story of man’s fall into sin, we will recall that it was Satan who tempted Adam to sin through Eve. When Adam rebelled against God as King, he submitted to Satan as king. And so all of the sufferings we see in this world are the result of man’s fall into sin, and Satan’s kingdom of darkness has much to do with that. But this does not mean that every ailment is the direct result of demon possession or oppression. When Adam fell into sin, even the physical world was corrupted. Romans 8:20-21 puts it this way, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:20–21, ESV). When Adam fell into sin, humanity fell with him into an estate of sin, misery, and death. It is not only our souls that are fallen, but our bodies too. Our bodies are imperfect. We sometimes experience injuries and ailments. All will experience death. And so Paul spoke of the body and its common afflictions in this way: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). Though illness, physical defects, and death were not natural when the world was first created, they are a part of the natural order now that man has fallen into an estate of sin and misery.  

Is all muteness the result of demon possession or oppression? No. But this man’s muteness was. So Jesus cast out the demon that was afflicting him with muteness, and “when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled” (Luke 11:14, ESV). The people marveled. That is important to see. This miracle, like most of the miracles that Jesus performed, was not done off in a corner somewhere. And it was indisputable that a miracle had been performed. The man was mute. Everyone knew it. And then his tongue was loosed when Jesus cast the demon out, and everyone could see it. The results were clear, obvious, and indisputable. 

    *****

An Accusation Against Jesus: He Casts Out Demons By Beelzebul 

That no one, not even the enemies of Jesus, could dispute that a miracle had been performed is made clear by the dispute that then arose. In verse 15 we read, “But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons’…” (Luke 11:15, ESV). Notice they did not say, he does not really cast out demons, but rather, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons”.

The word Beelzebul means lord of flies or fly-god. It was common in the days of Christ for the Jews to refer to Satan by this name. This is a fitting name for Satan, isn’t it? Satan is a lord of filth. He is a lord of flies. 

The enemies of Jesus could not deny that he cast out demons. But instead of submitting to his word and receiving him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the King of God’s kingdom, they doubled down in their opposition to him and attributed his works to Satan. That he was performing miraculous deeds, no one could deny. These opponents of Jesus were pressed into a corner, therefore. They had to explain these miracles. And as time passed, they found themselves with only two options. They could acknowledge that he was from God and that he was doing the works of God, or they could say that he was from Satan and was doing the works of Satan. Some of the opponents of Jesus were so hard-hearted in their opposition to him that they chose the latter of the two options. ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons’…”, they said. 

Notice that others were still on the fence. In verse 16 we read, “While others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven” (Luke 11:16, ESV). Many people live this way. They are interested in Jesus. They are open to the possibility that he is who he claims to be – the Messiah, the Son of God incarnate, the King of God’s eternal kingdom. They do not oppose Jesus, but neither do they receive him. They are waiting for a sign. But in fact, the signs have already been given. The accounts of Jesus’ miracles are recorded for us in the pages of Holy Scripture, especially the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

So, among those who had not followed after Jesus were two kinds of people. There were those who had begun to attribute his miraculous deeds to Satan – “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons”, they said. But some wanted to see just one more sign from heaven – they wanted a little more evidence to prove that Jesus was the son of God.

You should know that Jesus responded to both of these groups. First, in verses 17-23 he deals with the accusation that he casts out demons by the power of Satan. And then in verses 29-30, he addresses those who were requesting more signs from heaven, a text we will come to next Sunday, Lord willing.         

   *****

Jesus’ Response: The Kingdom Of God Has Come Upon You

Jesus’ response to the accusation that he cast out demons by Beelzebul begins in verse 17 and runs through verse 23. 

First, Jesus counters their claim by pointing out its absurdity. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, he says. 

Beginning in verse 17 we read, “But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul” (Luke 11:17–18, ESV).

The argument Jesus presents is rather simple. Kingdoms and households that are divided will quickly fall. Why would Satan, the king of this kingdom, war against his own kingdom? The theory that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan was absurd. Satan is committed to holding on to his kingdom and advancing it. Why would he war against his own?

In verse 19 we read, “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges” (Luke 11:19, ESV). There are two predominant theories as to who Jesus was referring to when he asked, “by whom do your sons cast them out?” Both theories share this in common: Jesus must have been referring to fellow Jews.

Some believe Jesus was referring to the Jewish exorcists who were active in the days of Christ. Josephus, the Jewish historian, makes mention of Jews who had the power to expel demons (see Josephus’ Antiquity of the Jews, 8.45-46). Whether or not these Jews had the power to cast out demons in the days of Christ is beside the point. If Jesus was referring to these Jewish exorcists when asked, “by whom do your sons cast them out?”, then his argument would go something like this: Why do you praise your sons (your fellow Jews) when they cast out demons (or attempt to do so in the name of the Lord or the patriarchs) but condemn me? And according to this view, when Christ says, “Therefore they will be your judges”, he means, your commendation of them and your condemnation of me for the same act of casting out demons proves your bias, and you stand condemned by them, therefore. Many commentators, including Calvin, hold to this view.

In my opinion, a more natural reading of the text is to interpret Christ’s question, “by whom do your sons cast them out?”, as a reference to Jesus’ own disciples – the twelve and seventy – who had been given authority to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. The disciples of Jesus were all Jews, so he referred to them as “your sons”. According to this view, Jesus argues against the accusation that he casts out demons by Beelzebul by pointing to his twelve apostles and seventy disciples and asking, what about them? They have demonstrated that they have the ability to cast out demons. By whom do they – your sons, and my disciples – cast them out? And what is the answer? They cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ and not Beelzebul. 

You see, I do believe that this is what opened Jesus up to these accusations. When the Jewish exorcists attempted (pretended perhaps?) to cast out demons, they would do so, not in their own name, but in the name of the Lord, or in the name of some patriarch. But Jesus did not cast out demons in the name of the Lord. Rather, he cast them out by his own power and authority, for he is the Lord, the eternal Son of God incarnate. These enemies of Christ could not bring themselves to confess him as Lord, and so they had to find a way to explain this power he possessed. They could not believe that he possessed this power in himself, and because he did not cast out demons in the name of the Lord or in the name of Abraham or Moses, their only option was to accuse him of colluding with Satan. So, after Jesus highlighted the absurdity of thinking that Satan was warring against himself, he pointed to his disciples – the twelve and the seventy – and asked, then what do you say about your sons, your kinsmen according to the flesh? By whom do your sons cast the demons out? By whose power and in whose name do they do this work? And what is the answer? They were given the ability to cast out demons by Jesus Christ the Lord and in his name. This argument is very powerful, I think. You see, it is all about power. Where is the power coming from? Some of the Jews claimed the power was coming from Satan. But Jesus demonstrated that the power was coming from himself when he pointed to the twelve and the seventy and drew attention to the fact that they were casting out demons in his name. Furthermore, it seems to me that Jesus’ words, “Therefore, they will be your judges”, fit much better with this interpretation, for it is the disciples of Christ, and not the Jewish exorcists, who will participate in the final judgment (see 1 Corinthians 6:2). And so it is my opinion that when Jesus asked, “by whom do your sons cast them out?”, he was referring to his own disciples – the twelve and the seventy – to whom he had given this power and authority (see Luke 9:1 & 10:17).  

In verse 20 we read, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20, ESV). This is a marvelous saying. As I came to this verse in my sermon preparation, the thought occurred to me that an entire sermon could easily be devoted to this one saying of Jesus, for there is a lot of theology crammed into these words. Let us be content to consider this saying of Jesus briefly and in context.

First of all, it is here in verse 20 that Jesus reveals what was truly happening. The non-believing Jews were very wrong to attribute the works of Christ to Satan (in Matthew’s gospel, this is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit)  At first, Christ denied their accusations. Satan’s kingdom is not divided. And his disciples cast out demons, not in the name of Beelzebul, but in the name of Jesus. Now here in verse 20, Christ reveals the truth. He was casting out demons by the finger of God. 

Secondly, it is important to know that the “finger of God” is an anthropomorphic way of speaking about the Holy Spirit. God does not have an arm, a hand, or fingers. He is a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions (see 2LCF 2.1). But an arm and fingers are attributed to him in an analogical way to help us understand how God works. When Christ says in luke 11:20, “it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons”, he means, it is by the Holy Spirit that I cast out demons. 

This interpretation is supported by three observations:

One, if we compare this passage in Luke with the parallel passage in Matthew’s gospel we will see that the finger of God is the Spirit of God. Matthew tells us the same story, but in his account, Jesus says, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28, ESV). So Matthew helps to clarify Luke. The finger of God is the Spirit of God. 

Two, we may see that the finger of God is the Spirit of God by paying attention to the context. We should remember that in Luke 11:13, at the end of the previous passage, Jesus presented the Holy Spirit to us as the greatest of all possible gifts. Why? Because it is by the Holy Spirit that God distributes the benefits of the redemption that Christ has earned to his elect at the appointed time. Christ the Son has earned our redemption, but God the Father effectually calls his elect to repentance and faith in Christ by his Word and Spirit. And God further sanctifies his elect by his Word and Spirit too. God the Father is eager to give good gifts to his children (that is what we learned in the previous passage). And the very best gift that we can receive is the gift of the Holy Spirit and the many gifts and blessings he bestows.

Friends, you must know that our redemption is the work of the Triune God. God the Father sent the Son to accomplish our redemption, and the Father and Son send forth the Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect of God at the appointed time. This is how the Triune God works in the world. God the Father created the heavens and earth through the Son (or Word) and by the Holy Spirit. And when it comes to the accomplishment and application of our redemption, the same is true. God the Father redeems his elect through the Son and by the Spirit. Notice the order of things. The Son proceeds from the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This order of procession that we see in the works of God agrees with the eternal processions of the persons within the Godhead. The Father eternally begets the Son, and the Father and Son eternally breathe forth the Holy Spirit. I bring up the context here because I do believe this passage is related to the previous one. In the previous passage, the Holy Spirit is mentioned as the greatest gift that God gives. And here in this text, we find Christ delivering a man from demon possession by the finger of God, that is to say, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Three, we may see that the finger of God is a reference to the Spirit of God in the analogy itself. In Isaiah 53:1, Jesus Christ the Son of God is referred to as the arm of God. We read the text earlier. That passage is about the Messiah. It begins, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he [the Messiah] grew up before him like a young plant… etc.” It is through the Son that the Father has accomplished our redemption, and so the Son is called the arm of God. But it is the Spirit of God who applies the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect of God in due time. It is the Spirit who sets us free from bondage (see Romans 8:1ff). It is the Spirit, working in concert with the Word, who convinces us of our sin and misery, enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renews our wills. It is the Spirit, working in concert with the Word, who persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel. It is a fitting and beautiful analogy to refer to Christ as the arm of God (as Isaiah 53 does) and to the Spirit as the finger of God. Just as a man accomplishes his work through the strength of his arms and with the finesse of his fingers, so too God accomplishes his work through the strength of the Son and by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. And just as it is the hands and fingers of a man that come into direct contact with his work (whatever it is) to mold and shape it and to bring it into being, so too it is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, who carries out the plans and purposes of God in creation and redemption to bring them into being. God the Father created and redeems his creation through Christ the Son and by the working of the Holy Spirit. And so, the Holy Spirit is called the finger of God.

I do believe it is important for us to see that when Jesus Christ cast out demons, he did not do it as a mere man standing apart from God, calling on the Father to bring deliverance through the Son and by the Spirit. No, he cast the demons out by his own power and authority, for he is the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Or to use the scriptural metaphor, Jesus Christ is the strong arm of God extended to accomplish our redemption. And when he cast out demons he did it by the power of the Holy Spirit, which for him, may be likened to an arm extending a hand and touching with a finger. 

That the people were astonished at Jesus’ ability to cast out demons in his own name and with his own power and authority has already been expressed in Luke’s gospel. In fact, in Luke 4:31-37 we find the first account of Jesus casting out a demon, and in that text we read, “And [the people] were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’” (Luke 4:36, ESV). You see, this is the thing that people were struggling to comprehend. They were familiar with the approach of the Jewish exorcists attempting to free men and women from demon oppression by calling on the name of the Lord or using the names of great men like Abraham or Moses or by employing incantations. But never had they witnessed anything like this. Jesus spoke with power and authority all his own. For him, casting out evil spirits was as simple as stretching out the hand and touching with the finger. 

The third thing to notice about this wonderful statement of Jesus found in verse 20 is the conclusion he reaches: “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20, ESV). In other words, Jesus was saying, when you see me casting out demons by my own authority and in my own name, and when you see my disciples casting our demons by the authority I have given to them and in my name, it does not mean that Satan’s kingdom is divided against itself, but that another kingdom – the very kingdom of God – has arrived with power and is now overthrowing the kingdom of Satan to bring it to an end.

Dear brothers and sisters, do I need to remind you of all the promises of God found in the Old Testament that pointed forward to a redeemer who would one day arrive to do this very thing, to crush the head of Satan and set captives free? I rehearse these things with you so often I trust that many of these promises will come immediately to mind. Do I need to remind you of the first promise of the gospel found in Genesis 3:15 regarding the offspring of the woman who would drop his wounded heal on the head of the serpent? And do I need to remind you of how that seed of the gospel, once planted in the ground, did spout and grow as human history unfolded? Should I remind you of the great promises given to Abraham, of the redemption worked for Israel through Moses to deliver them from Egyptian bondage, and how that exodus anticipated a greater exodus in the future? Need I remind you of the promises made to King David regarding a Son whose enemies would be made his footstool, who would reign forever over a kingdom that would never end? I trust that you are very familiar with the concept that, because of these precious and very great promises, God’s people were living with a sense of expectation. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of this King of God’s Kingdom, the one who would deliver them from their enemies, the greatest enemy of all being Satan himself. When Christ said, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20, ESV), he meant, if you see me casting out demons and overthrowing Satan’s kingdom by my own power and authority, does it not show you that God’s kingdom and the King of God’s kingdom promised from long ago has arrived and that I am he?

In verses 21-22, Jesus provides us with an illustration to make all of this very clear. There we read, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil” (Luke 11:21–22, ESV). 

Who does the strong man of verse 21 represent? Satan is the strong man. He is fully armed. His kingdom is not divided. He is fully committed to guarding his palace to keep his goods safe. Where is his palace? His palace is this fallen world. And what are the goods he is eager to keep? The goods are the souls of men. And now I ask you, who is the one stronger than the strong man? He is Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Son of God who descended from heaven and became incarnate. And why did he come? For what purpose was he sent? His mission can be stated in these terms. He came to attack the strong man, Satan, to overcome him, to take away his armor, in which he trusted, to plunder his palace, and divide the spoil.

Jesus made it very clear at the beginning of his earthly ministry that this was his mission. In Luke 4:16 we read, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:16–21, ESV). 

As we consider the ministry of Jesus as it is recorded for us in Luke’s gospel, it is clear that the liberty Christ has come to bring is not earthy, but spiritual and eternal. Stated differently, Christ did not come to free Israel from Roman occupation but to overthrow the kingdom of Satan and to establish the eternal kingdom of God.   

In verse 23 we find a warning. There Christ says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Luke 11:23, ESV). This saying of Jesus can only be properly interpreted in light of what Jesus has just taught about the presence of the kingdom of God and the impending overthrow of the kingdom of Satan. It’s as if Christ said, given that this is the reality – given that I have come as the King of God’s kingdom to overthrow Satan and his kingdom, to bind him, to take away his armor, and to plunder his house – whose side are you on in this war? If you are not with me, you are against me. Whoever does not gather with me scatters. And this is true both of angels and men.     

*****

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, I will begin to move this sermon to a conclusion by offering three suggestions for application. It will be in this application portion of the sermon that I will also give you my interpretation of Luke 11:24-28. 

First, I do believe this passage should wake us up to the reality of the spiritual world and the spiritual battle that rages around us continually. Of course, there is a danger in growing fascinated and fixated on the world of angels and demons, and I must warn you about that. The Scriptures warn about the danger of seeking out encounters with the powers of darkness (see Galatians 5:19-20, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15). The Christian is to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good (see Romans 12:9). The Christian is to resist the devil knowing that he will flee from us (James 4:7). When I say that this passage should wake us up to the reality of the spiritual world and the spiritual battle that rages around us continually, I do not mean that we are to seek out encounters with the spiritual world. Rather, I encourage you to think of this world as not merely physical. Beyond the physical, there is a heavenly and spiritual realm. God is Spirit. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Man is not the only rational being created by God. God created angels in the beginning too. Some kept their upright place. Others rebelled against God. The story told in Scripture regarding man’s fall into sin and our redemption in Christ Jesus is all intertwined with the spiritual realm. One thing we have learned from our passage today is that Christ came to redeem us from the domain of darkness and to transfer us into his kingdom of light. While there is danger in growing overly curious about the spiritual realm, there is also danger in living on this earth as if the spiritual realm and the spiritual battle do not exist. This is why Peter warns us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV). And this is why Paul says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:3–6, ESV).

Secondly, let us take part in the mission of the overthrowing of Satan’s doomed kingdom of darkness and the advancement of Christ’s everlasting kingdom of light. And how are we to take part in this mission? Answer: we are to obey the commission that Christ has given to the church as recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture. And what is the commission that Christ has given to the church? We are to “Go… and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This we are to do knowing that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given” to Christ. This we are to do knowing that Christ is with us “always, to the end of the age” (see Matthew 28:18–20). And how are disciples of Jesus made? They are made through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. And how are these disciples taught to observe all that Christ has commanded? It is through the ministry word of God within the church of God.  

You know, some might assume that because Jesus cast out demons and because his twelve apostles and seventy disciples cast out demons, we the church, who live now after Christ’s ascension to the Father’s right hand, are to devote ourselves to the casting out of demons too, but this is false. Those who devote themselves to healing ministries and deliverance ministries overlook the simple fact that there was something extraordinary about Christ’s ministry and the ministry of his apostles and other eyewitnesses of his resurrection. Christ cast out demons as a sign that the kingdom of heaven was now present with power. And his apostles – the twelve and the seventy – were granted this power for the same reason. But the church was given no such mission. The church, consisting of professing and baptized believers, is called to devote itself to preaching and teaching of the Word of God (the Word of the Apostles), to the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer. The only offices appointed within the church are the offices of elder and deacon. The office of Apostle has ceased. And so too have the miraculous gifts that were given to them (and to the other eyewitnesses). There are no healers, there are no miracle workers, there are no exorcists appointed to this work within Christ’s church. The mission of the church is clear. Disciples of Jesus are to be made to the ends of the earth. These are to be baptized. These are to be taught to obey Christ. Christ has given pastors or elders and deacons to the church to lead in the accomplishment of this mission. 

So, is God still delivering men and women from the domain of Satan’s dark kingdom and transferring them into the kingdom of his beloved Son today? Yes (see Colossians 1:13). But how does he do it? Not through exorcists and exorcisms but through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. It is only when men and women respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ in faith and repentance that they are rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of the beloved Son. This redemption is accomplished by God the Father, through Christ the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. When Christ performed this extraordinary miracle of casting this mute demon out by the finger of God, it was a sign or demonstration of what he would do through the ordinary ministry of the Word of God through his church to the end of the age. It by means of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ that God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, delivers men and women from Satan’s grasp and ushers them into the kingdom of God where Christ is King. 

In fact, I do believe this is what verses 24-28 are about. What good will it do a man, ultimately, if he is delivered from demonic oppression – that is to say, if the demon that oppressed him is evicted from his house, and his house is swept clean and put in order for a time – if Christ the King does not take up residence within that house through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? What will the man be left with except a clean and orderly, but empty, house? Christ tells us that the evicted spirit will “passes through waterless [desert-like] places seeking rest, and finding none it [will say], ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then [it will  go] and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24–26, ESV). 

This is a strange and mysterious text, but I believe the meaning is clear. Christ, the one who is stronger than the strong man, overcomes the strong man, that is, Satan and his demons, not merely to evict them from the hearts and souls of men to leave the men in a cleaner and yet empty state, but to take up residence within in them as King. Friends, Christ the King did not come to merely clean your house but to take up residence within it, to possess it as King, and to guard it forever. Christian “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV). Christ did not come to merely expel Satan and his demons and to clean up the world, he came to redeem the world and to possess it as his own, to the glory of God, and this includes your own heart. It will do you no good in the end if Satan is expelled from the throne of your heart for it sit empty. No, that void will be quickly filled with demons and your own sins (perhaps the seven deadly sins). To be redeemed, Satan must be expelled, and Christ must sit down upon the throne of your heart as Lord and King to rule you and keep you as his own forever. 

And this is what is urged in verses 27-28. “As [Christ] said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’” In other words, your mother is blessed. “But [Christ] said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:27–28, ESV).

And so our passage concludes with a call to trust in Jesus and to obey him as King. That is my third point of application. Having considered these truths about the great work of redemption accomplished by God the Father, through Christ the Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit, let us turn from our sins, trust in Christ the redeemer, to have him as King. Christ is our only hope. He is the one stronger than the strong man who is capable of rescuing us from the dark and oppressive domain of Satan to keep us as his own in the blessed kingdom of God, forever and ever, Amen.  

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 32

“A MASKIL OF DAVID. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 11:5-13

“And he said to them, ‘Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:5–13, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

I do love this portion of Luke’s Gospel. Here in Luke 10:25-11:13, we learn a lot about the Christian life. According to the Great Commission, the church is to be about the task of making disciples of all nations through the preaching of the gospel. Those who turn from their sins to trust in Christ are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And these baptized disciples are to be taught to observe all that Christ has commanded. 

And what has Christ commanded? What is the law of Christ that his followers are to be taught to observe? Answer: Disciples of Jesus are to keep God’s ever-abiding and unchanging moral law and the positive laws that Christ has added under the New Covenant – laws about the worship of God, and laws about the government of his church. The moral law, as you know, is summarized within the Ten Commandments. And the Ten Commandments are further summarized by the two great commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, ESV). Disciples of Jesus are to keep God’s law, not to be saved, but because they are saved. We are to obey God’s law, not to earn God’s love and favor, but because he has freely and graciously bestowed his love and favor upon us. Christians are to keep God’s law, not in thier own strength but with the strngth that God provides. God has regenrated his people and he gives them his Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to keep his commandments. 

Luke brought these two great commandments to the forefront of his gospel through the story of Jesus’ interaction with the lawyer as recorded in Luke 10:25-29. After this, we find the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which helps us to understand what it means to keep the second great commandment, to love neighbor as self. And after this, we find a story about the sisters, Mary and Martha, followed by Jesus’ teaching about prayer. As I have said in previous sermons, I believe that the story about Mary and Martha and Jesus’ teaching about prayer is meant to teach us something about what it means to love God and to stir us to do so from the heart. 

What did we learn about loving God with all the heart, soul, strength, and mind from the story about the sisters? Those who love God truly will love Jesus Christ. Those who love God will sit at the feet of Jesus to receive his teaching. The lawyer stood to put Jesus to the test (Luke 10:25). But Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to his teaching. Furthermore, those who love God will serve Jesus and his disciples as Martha did. But in that story about the sisters, we are taught that sitting at Jesus’ feet to receive his Word takes precedence over devoting ourselves to service. Both Mary and Martha are to be commended. The Christian is to imitate Mary in her sitting and Martha in her serving. But sitting at the feet of Jesus to receive his teaching is the good portion that must not be neglected. Our service of Christ must flow from our communion with him. Considered in terms of the two great commandments, the command to love God is first and greater than the command to love neighbor. Neither should be neglected but the order must be maintained.

And what have we learned about loving God with all the heart, soul, strength, and mind from Jesus’ teaching about prayer? We have learned that those who love God will commune with him in prayer. More than this, Christ has taught us how to pray. He said, “When you pray, say, ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2–4, ESV). This prayer, which is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, is to function as a pattern or guide for us. Here the Lord directs us concerning the things we should pray for and in what order. Brothers and sisters, the Christian life is to be a prayerful life. And if we wish to pray well, we must not neglect this prayer that Christ has given to us as a pattern or guide.

Notice, that after Jesus presented his disciples with this pattern for prayer, he taught them more about the practice of prayer. Here in Luke 11:5-13, Jesus instructs us concerning the perspective we are to have while praying. Teach us to pray, was the request. First, Christ presented a model or pattern to follow. But here in the passage that is open before us today, Christ teaches us about the perspective we should have in prayer. What should we think and feel about God as we approach him in prayer? Does he hear us? Does he care for us? Is he eager to help us? These are the kinds of questions that Jesus answers here in this passage. 

Stated differently, I do believe that the main objective of this passage is to teach us to draw near to “draw near to God, with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, [who is] able and ready to help us…” (see Baptist Catechism 107). In a way, I see this teaching of Jesus, as found in Luke 11:5-13, as an explanation of what it means to pray to God as Father. If it is true for those in Christ Jesus that God is our Father in heaven, how then should we pray? What kind of mindset or perspective should we bring to prayer? Should we think of God as being distant? Should we think of him as disinterested? Should we feel as if we are a nuisance to him? Should we think that if we are to get what we want from God we must pester him with our prayers as if to twist his arm? No, when Christ taught us to pray to God as our Father in heaven, it was an invitation to “draw near to God, with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, [who is] able and ready to help us…” This is implied by the name “Father” (Luke 11:2). Here in the passage open before us, Jesus explicitly teaches this.  

   *****

When You Pray, Draw Near To God, As Children To A Father, Who Is Able And Ready To Help Us

I have drawn three points from this text. The first is this: When you pray, you must draw near to God, as children to a Father, who is able and ready to help us. 

Good fathers love to give good gifts to their children. Good fathers are accessible to their children. Good fathers are delighted when their children approach them for assistance. Good fathers will give good gifts to their children according to their ability. And your heavenly Father is a good Father.  He is ready and willing to give good gifts to his adopted children. And he is able. I wonder, is this your perspective? When you pray, do you see God like this? Do you know him to be your good Father in heaven, who is ready and able to give good gifts to you, his beloved child?

Jesus teaches us to pray with this perspective by presenting us with a couple of illustrations. 

The Story Of The Impudent Friend

First, in verses 5-8 we find a story about a man in need approaching a friend for assistance. Jesus asked his disciples, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’…” (Luke 11:5–6, ESV). 

Can you picture the scenario? A man has a friend arrive at his home unexpectedly. This friend of his has been on a long journey and he is hungry. The right thing for this man to do is to receive this friend of his into his home to feed him and show him hospitality. By the way, we should not forget the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the story about Martha serving Jesus and his disciples as they journeyed. The importance of showing kindness and hospitality to those in need in obedience to the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself, has just been stressed in Luke’s gospel. And so, this man’s need was real. His friend had come to him. It was necessary to show him hospitality. And he did not have daily bread to share. And so he went to another “friend” to ask for help. 

In verse 7 we find the response of the “friend” who was awakened at midnight. He answered from within the house, “Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything?” 

Notice a few things about this story. One, the reluctant friend was sleeping. He was tired. He was warm in bed. Selfishly, he did not want to be disturbed. Two, as was common in those days, his family in bed with him. To get up to fetch his friend some bread would disturb the whole household. Certainly, it is understandable that he was somewhat annoyed with the request. Three, nevertheless, I think most people would respond to this story by saying, some friend this is! With friends like this, who needs enemies? And that, I think,  is the point. Though it is true that we humans grow tired and sleepy and can sometimes be selfish and self-serving, most would happily jump out of bed even at midnight to meet the legitimate need of a friend. If we are shocked by the selfish and begrudging response of this friend – stated differently, if we would expect more kindness and generosity from a friend – how much more should we expect kindness and generosity from our Father in heaven?

The story does not end here, though. Jesus goes on to say in verse 8, “I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs” (Luke 11:8, ESV). The word impudence means shamelessness. The idea here is that the man shamelessly knocked and knocked, asked and asked until his selfish and begrudging friend finally got out of bed to meet his need. 

Friends, the point of this story is not that God is like this “friend”, as if he were annoyed by the prayers of his people, begrudging, and withholding, and that if we wish to get anything out of him then we must pester him with our prayers until he finally gives in. No! The meaning is the opposite. God is not like this friend. He does not sleep or slumber. He does not grow tired or weary. He is not selfish but is most generous and kind. He is not begrudging but is most benevolent. He does not withhold but freely gives good gifts to his beloved children. If we are willing to persist with impudence in asking a selfish friend to meet some need of ours, how much more should we persist in prayer with our Father in heaven?

This is the point that Christ makes in verse 9, saying, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9–10, ESV). Notice the repetition. It is there for emphasis. And notice how open our access is to the Father and how generous he is said to be. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” 

This story that Jesus tells about the two friends and their midnight encounter teaches us to be persistent in prayer. And this is not the only place in Scripture where we are taught to be persistent in prayer. Christians are to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2, ESV). We are to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). We “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1, ESV). Yes, we are to be persistent in prayer. And this story about the impudent friend encourages us to do this very thing. But more than this, I do believe that this story is meant to affect our perspective of God in prayer.  God is not like this sleepy and selfish friend! No, he is our Father in heaven. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is ready and able to give good gifts to his children and to help us in our need.   

Good Fathers Give Good Gifts

This brings us to the second illustration. In verse 11 Jesus asks, “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11–13, ESV).

I trust you can see why I said this entire passage is about the perspective we are to have of our Father in heaven. Most earthly fathers, sinful as we are, are eager to give good gifts to their children. If a child asks his earthly father for something good and reasonable like a morsel of bread, a fish, or an egg, he will gladly and freely give that good thing. No earthly father would give something dangerous or damaging instead. This is even true of very wicked men. Even they, though they might be very cruel to others, will show kindness to their own children.  “How much more”, Jesus says, will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

“How much more…” That is the phrase that binds these two stories together. If a sinful and selfish man will rise up to give bread to his impudent friend in the middle of the night, how much more will your heavenly Father freely give to those who ask, seek, and knock at his door? And if sinful, earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will the heavenly Father give good gifts to his children when they ask?

Application

Brothers and sisters, what is the perspective that you have of God when you come to him in prayer? What do you think of him? I do hope that you pray according to the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer. I hope you pray that God be glorified, that his kingdom come, and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I hope you pray for daily bread, for the forgiveness of sins, and to be kept from, or given victory over, temptation. But your thoughts concerning God must be right and true. When you call him Father, you are to think of him as loving, accessible, and kind. You must know that he is ready and able to help you. He is eager to give good gifts to you as you come to him in prayer. If your thoughts concerning God are amiss – if you think of him as distant, cold, or begrudging – worse yet, if you think of him as cruel – as one who would give a scorpion instead of an egg, or a snake instead of a fish – it is time for you to repent of these wrongheaded notions of God and to replace them with the truth as revealed in God’s Holy Word.       

   *****

When You Pray To God The Father, Be Sure That You Are Asking For Good Things

My first point drawn from the text is, that when you pray, you must draw near to God, as children to a Father, who is able and ready to help us. My second point is, that when you pray, you must be sure to ask God the Father for good things. 

Never should a Christian ask God for evil or sinful things. That is so obvious it hardly needs to be said. 

And neither should Christians ask God for good things so that they might spend it on their passions. James warns against this. First, he says, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” And then he adds, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:2–3, ESV). It is good to have work and the wisdom, health, and strength to do it. It is good to have money, food, clothing, and shelter. There are many things in this life that are good gifts from God. But to ask God for these good gifts so that we might spend it on our passions is to ask amiss. 

What does it mean to ask for good things from God, then? Well, those who are godly will pray from the heart according to the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. Not only will they pray for the variety of things that Christ has taught us to pray for, but they will also pray for them in the order in which they are given to us by our Lord. The priorities of the Lord’s Prayer will match the priorities of their hearts. 

Those who are worldly will sometimes pray, but when they pray they will often pray only for bread. And rarely will it be daily bread that they pray for, but an abundance of bread. And when they pray for an abundance of bread, it will not be to share it with those in need, but to feast upon it themselves being driven by gluttonous passion. 

When the goldy pray, they will not pray first for daily bread. Their first and highest to concern will ber to give thanks and praise to God. After this, they will express their concern for the furtherance of Christ’s kingdom. After this, they will ask the Lord to make them ready and willing to obey his revealed will, as the elect angels do in heaven, and for contentment and humility to submit to God hidden will for them, as Christ did in the garden, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42, ESV). And only after praying that God be glorified, that his kingdom come, and his will be done, will the godly be concerned with bread. And it is to be daily bread that we are concerned about. Give us, O God, what we need to live so that we might worship and serve you in thankfulness all the days you have ordained for us. Can you see the difference between praying for daily bread so that you might spend it on your passions and praying for daily bread so that we might be sustained in the worship and service of God?  

Dear brothers and sisters, God does invite us to pray for daily bread. He invites us to bring our cares and concerns to him. It is right that we pray for things like work, health, food, shelter, and clothing for ourselves and those we love. It is right that we pray for peace and prosperity in the land. These are good things to pray for. But followers of Jesus Christ must know that these things are not the best things. The very best things have to do with the glory of God, the furtherance of  Christ’s eternal kingdom, obedience to his revealed will, and the accomplishment of his hidden will, that is to say, his eternal decree. 

To illustrate I’ll ask, when you pray, what do you spend more time praying for? Health concerns or growth in holiness? And when you pray for healing, do you also pray that God would be glorified through the suffering and that men and women would be sanctified in the trial? 

I do believe that one of the secrets of a powerful prayer life is to first align our heart with the heart of God. What is God doing in the world? What is he most concerned with? What promises has he made? What is the mission he has given to us? These are the things we ought to concern ourselves with in prayer. 

I could pile up many passages of Scripture to prove the point.   

Matthew 6:31-33 comes to mind. There Christ says, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31–33, ESV)

There are many passages of Scripture that invite followers of Christ to pray boldly knowing that they will receive what they ask for. Carnal, worldly men think this is a blank check – an invitation to approach God as if he were a genie in a bottle. The thing they overlook is that it is the disciples of Jesus who are invited to pray with such boldness. And what is assumed in all of these passages? The assumption is that disciples of Jesus will have hearts, minds, and wills surrendered to God and Christ. 

In Matthew 21:22 Jesus speaks to his followers, saying, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” 

In Mark 11:24, Jesus speaks to his disciples, saying, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

In John 14:13 we hear our Lord say, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” 

In John 15:7 he says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” 

In John 15:16 Christ speaks to his followers, saying, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

1 John 3:22 says, “and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” 

In prayer, we do not bend God’s will to bring it into conformity with ours. To the contrary, when we pray, we must first surrender our will to his! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, we say. And then, having surrendered to God and having conformed our desires to his, we offer up our heartfelt desires to him. 

Baptist Catechim Q. 105 asks, What is Prayer? Answer: Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, believing, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies. Are we free to bring our desires to God in prayer? Yes, of course. But we are to do so being led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to help us pray for things agreeable to God’s revealed will. And we are we are to pray in the name of Jesus, that is to say, by his power and under his authority. Friends, those who truly love God and have Christ as Lord will bring their desires to God and prayer and it should be no surprise that their desires, plans, and purposes will align with God’s desires, plans, and purposes. 

Perhaps another way to say this is that the Christian is to pray for good things, but a Christian’s understanding of what is truly good will be different from that of one who is worldly. The worldly person will only be concerned with the things of this world – health, wealth, prosperity, and pleasure. But the true Christian will see other things as being of supreme value and importance. When the Christian is exhorted to pray for good things, their mind will, by God’s grace, naturally go to things having to do with the glory of God, the furtherance of his eternal kingdom, the salvation of sinners, and the sanctification of saints.      

   *****

When You Pray, Know That God Always Gives Good Gifts To His Children

My third and final point is, that when you pray, you must know that God always gives good gifts to his children. 

Again, to see this you must adopt God’s perspective concerning what is good. The carnal man will only think of earthly goods. The godly, spiritual man will think first of the heavenly and eternal goods that are ours in Christ Jesus, and of earthly goods second.   

This point is brought out powerfully at the very end of our passage. Verse 13 says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13, ESV). Instead of saying “good gifts” Christ says “the Holy Spirit”. What is the meaning of this? By inserting the phrase “the Holy Spirit” in the place of the phrase “good gifts” Christ directs our attention to the greatest gift of all – the Holy Spirit and all of the benefits he bestows. 

John Calvin comments on this, saying, “Instead of good things (ἀγαθὰ) in the last clause, Luke says the Holy Spirit. This does not exclude other benefits, but points out what we ought chiefly to ask: for we ought never to forget the exhortation, Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all other things shall be added to you, (Matth. 6:33.) It is the duty of the children of God, when they engage in prayer, to strip themselves of earthly affections, and to rise to meditation on the spiritual life. In this way, they will set little value on food and clothing, as compared to the earnest and pledge of their adoption, (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 1:14:) and when God has given so valuable a treasure, he will not refuse smaller favours” (John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1, 354).

  *****

Conclusion

I have said this passage is about the perspective or view that we have of God when we approach him in prayer, and so it is.  We must view him as our heavenly Father who is ready and able to give good gifts to his children and to help us in our need. It seems to me that one of the greatest challenges is when we bring good and reasonable requests to God and they seem to go unanswered. It is in moments like these that God’s people are tempted to think that God is absent, distant, disinterested, or unable to help us. In reality, God’s plans might simply be differnt than yours. Or maybe his plans agree with yours, but his timing is different. Whatever the case may be, by faith, we confess that God’s plans are always perfect, holy, wise, and good. And so we must rest in him. We must trust that our heavenly Father will give good gifts to his children in this life and in the life to come.   

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 141

“A PSALM OF DAVID. O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.” (Psalm 141, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 11:1-4

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:1–4, ESV).

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

I would like to begin this sermon by reminding you of the two great commandments stated in Luke 10:27. These two commandments summarize the whole of God’s law. What are they? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, ESV).

And I wonder if you can remember from the previous sermon how strongly I feel that the Parable of the Good Samaritan (as told in Luke 10:30-37) is to be linked to the second great commandment and the story about Mary and Martha (as told in Luke 10:38-42) is to be linked to the first great commandment. These stories – one, a parable, and the other historical – reveal what the great commandments require. What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? The parable of Good Samaritan obviously provides an answer. And what does it mean to love God with all of the heart, soul, strength, and mind? Well, the story about Mary and Marth has something to teach us about that.  I’ve reminded you of these things in the introduction to this sermon because I think this teaching about prayer is to be linked to the first great commandment too. 

The true Christian will strive to love God with all the heart, soul, strength, and mind. But the question is, what will this involve? What will it look like in practice? Will it involve service? Yes, no doubt. Will it involve obedience to God in the whole of life? Yes, certainly. But I do believe that the story about Mary at the feet of Jesus and this teaching about prayer that we will be considering today push us to see that love for God does not begin with service but with communion. Those who love God will commune with him. Those who love God will relate to him through Christ Jesus. Those who love God will be eager to hear and receive his Word. Those who love God will also speak to him through prayer. 

I should remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of what the first and greatest commandment actually says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind (Luke 10:27, ESV). The greatest commandment is not, you shall dutifully obey your God. Neither does it say, you shall faithfully serve your God. No, God’s law is summed up with the word love. Yes, God is to be obeyed. God is to be served. But he is to be obeyed and served in love. The words, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, intensify the point. The thing that God desires from his people is not dutiful, heartless service and obedience, but love.   

And so I ask you, dear friends, do you love God? Do you long to know him, to hear his Word, and to speak with him in prayer? Do you long to commune with God? Do you obey him and serve him because you love him? Or is your obedience heartless and merely dutiful?  

It was in the previous sermon that we considered the story of Mary and Martha and stressed the importance and supreme goodness of receiving God’s Word by sitting at the feet of Jesus, as Mary did. Today, we will turn our attention to prayer. Those who love God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind will love to hear God’s Word and they will also love to speak to God in prayer. 

   *****

A Few Observations About Jesus And His Disciples Concerning Prayer

One, Jesus was a man of prayer. “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place…” (Luke 11:1, ESV), the text says. 

Two, the disciples of Jesus were men of prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1, ESV). Does this now sow that they were men of prayer who wished to pray better?

Three, Jesus assumed his disciples would pray. “And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:2, ESV). It was not if you pray, but when. 

   *****

The Lord’s Prayer, A Model Prayer

Let us now consider the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Luke’s gospel. Jesus spoke to his disciples saying, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” (Luke 11:2–4, ESV)

Clearly, the Lord’s prayer is a model prayer. It provides followers of Christ with a pattern to follow. It is like an outline for prayer. It is a purposefully ordered list of subjects to be prayed for. 

Consider what the Lord’s Prayer is not.  

One, it is not a prayer that Jesus himself prayed. Never did Christ pray for the forgiveness of his sins, for he had none. The name we have given to this prayer can be misleading. We call it the Lord’s Prayer not because Jesus prayed this prayer himself, but because he gave it to his disciples as a model prayer. 

Two, the Lord’s Prayer is not meant to be merely recited. Now granted, there is nothing wrong with reciting the Lord’s Prayer. We will do this very thing together later in our worship. And it may be that you sometimes simply recited the Lord’s Prayer. Perhaps you will find yourself in a difficult situation where you need to pray but you do not know what to pray. You would do well to recite the Lord’s Prayer. Lastly, the Lord’s Prayer may be recited by children or others new to the faith as they begin to learn to pray. These are legitimate uses of the Lord’s Prayer. But the Lord’s Prayer was given not to be recited word for word, but to function as a guide. Each petition is to be expanded upon. Each phrase is an invitation to linger a while and to pray about a certain subject. 

Three, the Lord’s Prayer is not the only prayer we are ever to pray. By this I mean, the follower of Jesus is not obligated to pray through each petition of the Lord’s Prayer every time he or she prays. Sometimes we simply need to cry out to God about some concern. It is not wrong to get to the point in situations like these. And perhaps you have noticed that not every prayer offered up in corporate worship strictly follows the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer. Different prayers are offered up according to different themes at different themes in the worship service, and this is good and right. But ordinarily, when we pray in private, we ought to pray according to the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. And the various prayers that are offered up in corporate worship ought to follow the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer when considered in total.

Perhaps you noticed that the Lord’s Prayer recorded in Luke’s Gospel is slightly different from the one recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. I think this supports the idea that Jesus intended this prayer, not to be recited from memory, but to function as a model. The Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel is a bit shorter. 

There are four main differences: One, in Matthew, we are taught to pray to “Our Father in heaven”. In Luke, we are simply taught to say “Father”. Of course, it is assumed that when we pray, we are praying, not to angels or men, but to God. So “Father” is clearly a reference to “our Father in heaven.” Two, Matthew says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke only says, “Your kingdom come.” The phrase, “your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is not found. So you can see that the version of the Lord’s Prayer found in Luke is shorter. But the substance is really the same. When we pray to God saying, “your kingdom come”, our desire is to see the will of our King accomplished on earth as in heaven. “Your will be done” is implied in the phrase “your kingdom come.” What is implied in Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is made explicit in Matthew’s version. Three, Matthew says, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”, whereas Luke says, “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” The differences are minor. The meaning is the same.  Four, Matthew says, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”, whereas Luke only says, “And lead us not into temptation.” Again, Luke’s version is shorter but the meaning is the same. 

One question we should ask is, why are there different versions of the Lord’s Prayer? It must be that Christ taught people to pray on different occasions and when he taught them to pray he did not always use the exact same words. The prayer found in Luke is briefer than the prayer found in Matthew but the substance and pattern of the prayers are the same.

   *****

The Lord’s Prayer, Its Petitions

Let us now consider the Lord’s Prayer as it is given to us by Luke.

Father 

“And he said to [his disciples], ‘When you pray, say: Father…” Do not overlook the significance of this name. It was not unheard of prior to the arrival of Christ to refer to God as Father but neither was it common. When Christ taught his disciples to pray, Father, he brought this name or title for God to the forefront and gave it prominence. Jesus prayed to God as Father. For example, in John 17:1 we read, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him” (John 17:1–2, ESV). 

Jesus is the eternal Son of the Father and he taught his people – those united to him by faith – to pray to God as Father because in him we are adopted sons and daughters. God is not our Father by nature on account of sin. But if we are united to Christ by faith, God is our Father by way of redemption and adoption. When you pray to God as Father, it should prompt you to remember that God is your creator and sustainor. More than this, it should remind you that God is your redeemer. He has shown grace to you. He has sent a Savior, Christ the Lord. He has removed the guilt of your sin, washed you clean, and clothed you with Christ’s righteousness. He has set you free from the domain of darkness and has transferred you into the kingdom of his beloved Son. More than this, he has reconciled you to himself and has adopted you into his eternal family. This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote these words: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15, ESV). 

When you pray to God as Father, these truths should come to your mind. These truths must also warm your heart. If you are in Christ Jesus, friends, it is because God has set his love upon you. He has been merciful and gracious to you. He has reconciled you to himself. And so we are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV). 

Think of all that one word, “Father”, communicates. Do not utter that word carelessly or thoughtlessly. When we address God as “Father” it should deeply affect our minds and our hearts leading us to approach God with reverential fear, yes, but also with warmth and affection. Imagine a king’s chamber and a great king seated on his throne.  The way that a lowly servant approaches the king and the way that the king’s child approaches him will be very different. I’m afraid that many Christians approach the throne of grace like lowly servants. They have forgotten that they have been adopted as sons and daughters. No doubt, this hinders them from approaching the throne of grace with the boldness that is ours in Christ Jesus.

Baptist Catechism 107 asks, What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? Answer: “The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, ‘Our Father, which art in heaven,’ teacheth us to draw near to God, with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.”

Hallowed Be Your Name

The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is “hallowed be your name.” This is the first petition for good reason. When we approach God in prayer, it is right for us to begin by blessing his holy name. It is right that we give praise to him for his nature and perfections. It is right that we give thanks and praise to him for the kindness that he has shown to us. It is right that we pray his name would be hallowed – glorified, exulted, and praised – by others too. The first petition, “hallowed be your name”, should prompt is to give thank and praise to God ourselves, and to pray that others would give thanks and praise to him too. We should pray for things like this: Lord, move my wife and children to give praise to you. Bless my brothers and sisters in Christ to live for your glory. Bless us as we assemble this Lord’s Day that you would be exulted within our congregation. Be exalted in other churches too. Be exulted to the ends of the earth, etc. 

Baptist Catechism 108 asks,  What do we pray for in the first petition? Answer: In the first petition, which is “Hallowed be thy name,” we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify Him in all that whereby He makes Himself known, and that He would dispose all things to His own glory. 

Your Kingdom Come

The second petition of the Lord’s Prayer is “Your kingdom come.” This is the second petition for good reason. After praying that God be glorified, we are to pray that his kingdom advance and prosper. How does God’s kingdom advance on earth? Through the preaching the Word of God as the Spirit works. And what does it look like for God’s kingdom to advance? Sinners turn from their sins and to Christ. These are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are to be taught to observe all that Christ has commanded. This includes participation in the Lord’s Supper. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be administered by the church, particularly Pastors or elders. So then, the expansion and building up of God’s kingdom on earth is made visible when Christ’s church expands, grows, and flourishes.    

What then should you pray for under the petition, “your kingdom come”? Many things. Pray that the gospel be proclaimed to the non-believing world. Pray tat workers be sent out into the harvest, for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray that men and women, boys and girls, come to repentance and faith. Pray that they be baptized and join the church according to the commands of Holy Scripture. Pray that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is administered faithfully to these and that the truth of the word of God is faithfully preached so that the church of Christ is built up strong and true. Pray for your pastors and elders. Pray for you deacons. Pray for your fellow church members. Pray for the unity and health of the church. Pray for other churches. Pray for church planters. 

As I have said, Matthew’s account of the Lord’s prayer follows the petition, “Your kingdom come” with a third petition, “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. The wills of kings are to be obeyed in their kingdoms. We are to pray that God’s hidden will be accomplished and that we will surrender to it with contentment. Furthermore, we are to pray that we, as his redeemed people, would obey God’s revealed will. In Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer the petition, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is stated. In Luke, it is implied in the petition, “you kingdom come.”

Baptist Catechism 109 asks, What do we pray for in the second petition? Answer: In the second petition, which is “Thy kingdom come,” we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. 

Baptist Catechism 110 asks. What do we pray for in the third petition? Answer: In the third petition, which is, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” we pray that God by His grace would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to His will in all things, as the angels do in heaven. (Matt. 6:10; Ps. 103:20,21; Ps. 25:4,5; Ps. 119:26)

Give Us Each Day Our Daily Bread

The third petition of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke, and the fourth in Matthew, is “Give us each day our daily bread.” Here we are prompted to pray for earth provisions. That we are instructed to pray for earthly provisions shows us that is concerned to provide us with the things needed for life on earth. We may pray to God for good, honest work and the health, skill, and wisdom to do it. We may pray to God for peace and prosperity in our state and nation so that life would flourish here. I believe it is under this petition that we should pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:2, ESV). Most basically, we are to pray that God would provide us with adequate resources – money, food, clothing, and shelter – under the petition, “Give us each day our daily bread.” And do not forget that we are to pray, not only for ourselves but others too. We should intercede on behalf of others under every petition including this one. 

Baptist Catechism 111 asks, What do we pray for in the fourth petition? Answer: In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy His blessing with them.

Forgive Us Our Sins As We Forgive

The fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke, and the fifth in Matthew is, “and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Here we are prompted to confess our sisn to God. Of course, it is not just confession that is required but true repentance. To confess your sins to God is to admit them. To repent is to admit your sins and to turn from them resolved to walk in new obedience. Do not merely confess your sins, brothers and sisters. Turn from them and to Christ. Turn from them and walk in obedience to God’s law.  

It is under this petition that we are also prompted to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Whenever I consider this petition of the Lord’s prayer I am reminded of the parable of the unforgiving servant that is told in Matthew 18:21 and following. There in that parable, Christ warns his disciples of the sin of unforgiveness. Those forgiven much are expected to forgive much.  The Lord’s Prayer helps us with this. 

Question 112 of the Baptist Catechism asks, What do we pray for in the fifth petition? Answer: In the fifth petition, which is, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are rather encouraged to ask because by His grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. 

Forgive Us Our Sins As We Forgive

The fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke, and the sixth in Matthew is, “And lead us not into temptation.” Matthew’s version adds, “but deliver us from evil.”

Baptist Catechism 113 asks, What do we pray for in the sixth petition? Answer: In the sixth petition, which is, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

  *****

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, it is my opinion that the story about Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to his teaching and this teaching from Jesus regarding prayer is presented by Luke at this place in his gospel to teach us something about what it means to love God with all of the heart, soul, strength, and mind. Will loving God involve serving God and others? Yes. But true love for God will involve more than dutiful obedience. Those who love God truly and from the heart will love Christ and his Word. Those who love truly and from the heart will love to commune with God through Christ in prayer.  

Do you love God’s word, friends? Do you feast upon it? And to you pray? Do you come to God the Father, through Christ the Son, and by the Spirit to pray?

You know, if you come to a pastor and ask for help with some spiritual ailment – depression, anxiety, anger, bitterness, resentment, discontent, or some other thing — it is likely that your pastor will at some point ask you, having you been meditating upon the Word of God and have you been praying? Why do you think pastors frequently ask this question? Do pastors not know that life is complicated and that there might be other factors to consider? Yes, good pastors will be aware of other factors. But the truth remains that our spiritual health does flow from our communion with God. Generally speaking (and there are exceptions) when we are keeping our minds and hearts by filling them with the word of God and through prayer, spiritual health typically follows. 

Prayer, dear brothers and sisters, is one of the primary ways that we keep our souls pure before God. Does God accomplish things in the world through the prayers of his people? Yes, of course. God carries out his eternal and unchanging decree through means, and one of those means is prayer. Just as God works through our evangelism and our good deeds, so too God works through the prayers of his people which he has prepared beforehand (see Ephesians 2:8-10). But one of the most important things that happens in prayer is that our hearts and minds are changed 

It is hard to imagine someone praying through the Lord’s Prayer daily in a thoughtful, thorough, sincere, and faithful way living with a soul overrun by covetousness, misplaced priorities, fear, anxiety, pride, anger, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, or any other sin. Notice, I did not say that those who pray faithfully and fervently will not be tempted by these things. And neither did I say that they will not struggle with these things. But I did say, it is hard to imagine their soul bing overrun by these things. Prayer, dear brother and sisters, is means that God uses to accomplish his purposes in the world. And prayer is a means of grace for us. It is one of te primary things that God uses to save his people and to sanctify them further.        

We must be faithful in prayer. Some of you may now be coming to the realization that you are more like Martha than Mary. Martha loved the Lord, I do not doubt it. But she was too busy. She was distracted and anxious about many things. May the Lord help us to be first like Mary and then like Martha. May our love for God be shown, firstly, by sitting at the feet of Jesus to receive his word and to pray to our Father in heaven through him. Secondly, may we rise up from receiving the word and from prayer to serve God, Christ, and others as Martha did.