The Finger that Invokes a Kingdom

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” (Lk 11:14–23).

The Son of God became like us in order to reveal the glory of God to us… “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  When Jesus spoke we heard the word of God… “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak” (John 12:49). When Jesus acted we saw the work of God… “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves” (John 14:11). Today we see that when Jesus spoke and acted people did not always acknowledge His manifestation of the kingdom of God. The difference between would-be and genuine disciples is that we anticipate and acknowledge the finger of God as the finger that invokes a Kingdom.

The finger of God imprecates His enemies. In this encounter between the Son of God and a son of Beelzebul, the demon was cast out by the power of God. The touch of heaven’s potency was captivating and conquering. This was a revelation of the creative power of God… “‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17). This was a release of the defending power of God… “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14). As we grow in faith we learn to rejoice in our trials because they are opportunities for the kingdom of God to be released and revealed through the finger of God in triumph over our enemies.

The finger of God imposes His authority. In this encounter between the Son of God and a son of Beelzebul, the demon was cast out by the rule of God. The touch from heaven’s throne was commanding and compelling. This was a revelation of the reign of God over other would-be pretenders… “Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity’” (Psalm 96:10). This was a manifestation of the divine sovereignty of God… “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:11). As we grow in faith we learn to surrender our battles to the Lord as we trust the finger of God to enforce His kingdom authority over our enemies.

The finger of God identifies His disciples. In this encounter between the Son of God and a son of Beelzebul, the demon was cast out and witnesses were compelled to choose sides. The touch of heaven’s grace was divisive and distinguishing. Whenever God shows up and defeats His enemies, those who despise Him will deny His power… “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). Those who love Him will praise and celebrate His grace… “What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might” (Ephesians 1:19). As we grow in faith we welcome trials in anticipation of the finger of God manifesting His kingdom’s grace toward us, His children.

As we grow up into Christ we anticipate and celebrate the finger of God every day because it is…

The Finger that Invokes a Kingdom.

The Prayer that is Impudent

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!” (Lk 11:5–13).

Right after He told them what to pray, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. It’s all about relationship. He described the kind of attitude the person praying should have with the word impudence. The Greek word anaideia means audacity, rudeness, shameless persistence. In short, Jesus taught that determined disciples should pray determined prayers. He wants us to pray with a bold, consistent confidence because we know that He is like a faithful friend who will not grow weary of our request. He is like a loving father who will not let anything hinder or distract Him from answering us. When we have a serious need, Jesus wants His true disciples to pray the prayer that is impudent.

The impudent prayer is persistent. Jesus responds to the persistent prayer because persistence drives us closer to Him. He is not like a fickle friend that is disturbed by the desperate need of another. Jesus is a faithful friend that willingly sets aside His agenda and reorders His life’s priorities around the needs of His friends… “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Our shameless, persistent prayers in time of need are an expression of our humility and confidence in the special relationship we have as born again friends of the Son of God… “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

The impudent prayer is paternal. Jesus responds to childlike prayer because He loves to reveal God as our Father. He is not like an earthly father who although he may love his children still has a sin nature to deal with. Jesus wants us to discover the perfect love our holy and omnipotent Father has for us as His born again children… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). When we respond to need with audacious, persistent prayer, God responds with the precious, powerful grace of a loving father… “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).

The impudent prayer is pursuing. Jesus responds to the vocal, searching, and pursuing seeker because such diligent prayer drives us closer to Him. Asking is speaking and declaring the need. Seeking is searching for the answer. Knocking is approaching the Presence. God is sovereign over every inch and moment of our lives and He allows and orchestrates our needs to compel us to discover and know Him more clearly because knowing God is what real life is all about… “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Asking, seeking, and knocking should become a way of life for born again children of God living in a very needy and fallen world… “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When we learn to let our needs inspire impudent prayer we get to know God and His glorious power better… “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).

As we grow up into Christ we discover that our loving Father always answers when we pray…

The Prayer that is Impudent.

The Requirements of Kingdom Living

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” (Lk 11:1–4).

Have you ever wondered why Jesus prayed? Jesus and His Father are one… “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus intentionally talked to Himself in prayer in the sight of His disciples. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to present this compelling illustration of Christ at prayer for hungry disciples in every age as an example for us to follow too. Today we note how Christ’s discipline of prayer moved at least one of His disciples to ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray”. In His response, Jesus exhorted them to acknowledge the holiness of God and then to ask Him to let “Your kingdom come”. Then He taught His disciples to ask for God’s help, that they might live the kingdom life here on earth and so become a part of the answer to their prayer. Luke’s Holy Spirit inspired reflection on the Lord’s Prayer reminds us that God promises to give us grace when we pray for and seek to meet the requirements of kingdom living.

Determined disciples trust God to provide daily bread. When we are born again we become children of God and citizens of His kingdom… “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). As we grow and mature in the faith we become more aware of the contrasts and contradictions between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God… “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36). Decreasing dependence on the world and increasing trust in God’s provision are evidence that we are truly born again and growing as disciples. We are learning that we can serve and trust only one King to meet our needs… “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13). Choosing God’s kingdom is the right choice for today and tomorrow in the light of Biblical revelation… “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Kingdom living relies on God’s faithful provision.

Diligent disciples trust God to forgive sin. In this fallen world, everyone sins. Both believers and non-believers sin… “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The difference is disciples believe Jesus paid for our sins and helps us to forgive others who sin against us… “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). Kingdom living reflects the forgiveness we’ve experienced in Christ to others.

Disciplined disciples trust God to deliver from temptation. True disciples believe that Christ also empowers us to overcome sin. The born again Christ follower does not willingly keep on sinning… “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). The Spirit of Christ in us makes us sensitive and resistant to temptation so that we can overcome sin… “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Kingdom living results in increasing victory over temptation and sin.

As we grow up into Christ we learn how faithful God is to answer prayer and empower us to meet…

The Requirements of Kingdom Living.

The One Thing that is Necessary

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 38-42).

The Spirit inspired Luke to make a record of a brief stop at the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. We notice the contrast here between the sisters’ interaction with Jesus. Mary was so consumed with the presence and words of Jesus that she sat undistracted at His feet. Martha was so consumed with serving Jesus and that she was moved to complain. Jesus did not condemn or commend either sister, but He used this encounter to teach truth seekers that He is the one thing that is necessary.

Developing disciples are not distracted by Godly service. Martha was upset because she was busy tending to the needs of Jesus and the disciples that traveled with Him. There was so much to do that she had no time to sit at the feet of the Teacher like her insensitive sister Mary. The Spirit intentionally inspired Luke to use the words “Martha was distracted by much serving” to warn truth seekers to avoid the temptation to let serving Christ keep us from knowing Christ. Jesus taught that the primary work of God is building faith in Him… “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29). Increasing faith in Christ requires increasing fellowship and intimacy with Him… “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD” (Hosea 6:3). Truly born again disciples believe that all of life, serving, praying, studying, or fellowshipping is opportunity to know God and His Son better… “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Determined disciples are not disturbed by holy seclusion. Martha was upset because she was serving alone. Busyness separated Martha from others and left her bearing the entire responsibility of caring for Jesus and His disciples all by herself. Often our ministry takes us away from family and friends and leaves us feeling isolated. There is temptation to try to drag others into our place of service just so we don’t have to be alone. But the Spirit teaches that God has created each of us for a unique and holy work… “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). As we grow in Christ we learn to enjoy the wonderful diversity in the body of Christ and to encourage others to discover and pursue the calling and gifts God has uniquely blessed them with. We also learn to trust God to supply us with the personal energy and power we need to serve Him as well as bringing others alongside of us to help in His work… “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Diligent disciples are not diverted by less-important seductions. Martha was upset because her eyes were on circumstances that were not what she thought they should be. Her attention was on people that were not doing what she thought they should be doing. She was unable to see and appreciate how her Godly hospitality and service were enabling others like her sister Mary to enjoy the blessing of sitting at the feet of Jesus. Her focus on the natural things around her blinded her to the spiritual blessings others were receiving. Maturing disciples are increasingly sensitive to the spiritual blessings of knowing and serving Christ… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). This spiritual discernment increases as we train our eyes to seek Christ in every moment of life… “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 4:18).

As we grow up into Christ we are blessed in all we do as we keep our focus on Jesus because He is…

The One Thing that is Necessary.