Asking for the Father’s Gift

Genesis 27-28; Psalms 4, Luke 11 

“He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” ‘…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’”

Luke 11:2-4, 13

Jesus’ teaching on prayer focused on worship and full dependence on our Father in heaven. We have often isolated this prayer from the teaching around it; but, Jesus was clear that through persistence we, too, could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to live a life of prayer. The 120 early disciples spent ten days in the Upper Room asking the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Why do we believe there isn’t more of the Holy Spirit’s presence that we could discover, and why are we so casual about this gift?

The Lord’s Prayer comes alive in the power of the Holy Spirit. It becomes our life, rather than a one minute spiritual exercise.

Will we ask, seek, and knock?

“Father God, I too, desire the gift of your Spirit, for your glory.”