The Strand Study Bible

LUKE LUKE 10:41 The reason Jesus rebuked ( Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things ) is because her “service” for Him had not been preceded by her “worship” of Him. Whereas Martha opened her home, Mary opened her heart. Jesus wants our “heart” before our “heartfelt deeds.” Just because you serve God doesn’t mean you’re serving God. Joseph M. Stowell in Radical Reliance humbly recalls the time in his life when his service for God was a matter of busyness , not intimacy. He notes: 1647

While I have given God my best years and maximized my energies for Him, I have found that this busyness has not drawn me closer to Him. In fact, in some ways it creates a false and treacherous sense of spirituality. It leads to the assumption that spirituality is a performance and that intimacy with God is a business arrangement. Busyness creates a flat and dull sort of Christianity that can begin to turn our hearts cold and even sour if we are not careful. I am awakening to the reality that we do ourselves no favors when we act and live as though Christianity were a stage on which we are to perform as though there were no deep need of an intimate relationship with the One who is the focus of our activity. 1

THE ADAGE IS TRUE: If Satan can’t convince us to become bad, he’ll convince us to become busy 11:1 It is interesting to note that the disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them “a prayer,” (something to recite - Mt 6:7). Rather, they asked Him to teach them “ to pra y” (to follow a pattern or blueprint concerning prayer). William Steuart McBirnie in Secrets of Successful Prayer notes: Though we use it in worship, it was more of an outline of the principles of prayer than an actual prayer intended to be repeated ceremonially. 2 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Prayer is not a rite you perform; it’s a right you possess NOTE – As believers, we are called to pray without ceasing (I Thess 5:17), i.e., to have an attitude of devotion about us at all times. Question is: Who are we to pray to (seeing there are three Persons within the Triune Godhead), and for what are we to pray? According to the Scriptures, we are to pray to all three Persons within the Triune Godhead: 1. We are to pray to the FATHER for help with: * holiness ( Amos 7:7 and Jn 17:17) * provision (Lk 11:1-3) * penitence (Lk 11:4 and Lk 6:28) * protection (Lk 11:4, Mt 26:41,53, II Cor 13:7 and I Thess 5:23) * people (Lk 11:5-8 and Lk 10:2) * power (Lk 11:9-13, I Cor 12:6 and Jn 14:16-17 & 16:26) 2. We are to pray to the SON for help with: * doctrine (Judg 13:1-8-23, Lk 11:1 and Mt 24:1-4) * direction (Acts 9:1-6 & 27:21-25, Gen 16:7-9-13, Exo 23:20-23, Judg 2:1-5 and I Cor 12:5) * deliverance (Mk 5:23, Gen 18:1,23-33 & 19:15-24 & 32:24-26-30, Exo 3:1-8, Josh 5:13-6:3 and Judg 6:11-24 & 13:1-25) 3. We are to pray to the HOLY SPIRIT for help: * when praying (Rom 8:26-27) * with the Word of God (I Cor 2:12) * with understanding our gifts (I Cor 12:1-4-11) 11:2a Jesus taught us to pray concerning seven areas (petitions) (See LUKE “MINI” SERIES). Luther C. Peak in The Gospel of the King and the Kingdom notes: There are seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer, thus perfectly covering all the needs of man. 3 The seven areas (petitions) are: (1) praise ( Hallowed be thy name – vs 2); (2) pleasure ( Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done – vs 2); (3) provision ( Give us day by day our daily bread – vs 3); (4) penitence ( And forgive us our sins – vs 4); (5) protection ( And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil – vs 4); (6) people ( For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me – vs 5-8); and (7) power ( shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit – vs 9-13) 11:2b This portion of the verse ( which art in heaven ) is omitted in some of the newer versions (like the NIV). 11:4 There are three enemies that God’s people face daily: the world ; the flesh ; and the Devil (the EVIL ONE ). 11:5 The word “ FRIEND ” here is in reference to the heavenly FATHER (vs 13). According to Jesus, in order to help other people via our prayers God must become our friend. There are three ways to get our heavenly FATHER to become our helpful friend: 1. Learn to live by faith (Jn 15:14 and Jms 2:21-23/Isa 41:8/II Chro 20:7) According to Hebrews 11:1-6, men practice faith whenever they give God the “last say” in their life. Those who desire to gain a friendship with God must learn to please Him. 2. Learn to be a friend before you need a friend (Prov 18:24) According to the Bible, we are to be a friend if we are to have a friend. According to James 4:8, God is looking for Christians who will take the initiative and be a friend before they need a friend. Those who learn to be a friend find a friend in God. 3. Learn to avoid the friendship of the world (Jms 4:4 and Exo 33:11) 11:8 Importunity expresses a shameless persistence that knows no restraint.

1 Stowell, Joseph M. Radical Reliance, Grand Rapids, MI, Discovery House Pub., 1998, 2006. Print. 2 McBirnie, William Steuart. Secrets of Successful Prayer! (Booklet) 3 Peak, Luther C. The Gospel of the King and the Kingdom , Dallas, TX, The Evangelist Press, 1942. Print.