What Jesus Did

[Jesus said,] "Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me."

—Luke 11:23 NLT

Key Thought


There is no way to be neutral about Jesus. He comes and challenges us to decide if we are going to follow and help him or not. Simply ignoring Jesus, putting off a decision about him, treating him lightly, or looking at him as just another good religious person is not an option. Either we help and work with him, or...

 

[Jesus said,] "And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said."

—Luke 11:19 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus had been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan. His second response to the people's accusation was very simple. If they were going to claim that his power was coming from Satan, then where did the power of other Jewish exorcists come from? Jesus wanted them to...

 

[Jesus continued,] "But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings."

—Luke 11:20-22 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' power was God's power demonstrated. Jesus' power demonstrated the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Jesus'...

 

[Jesus] knew their thoughts, so he said, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?"

—Luke 11:17-18 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus took the criticisms of his opponents and destroyed them by a simple statement of truth. We recognize this truth. Many of us have also experienced or witnessed this truth: A divided...

 

Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

—Luke 11:16 NLT

Key Thought


When someone is determined to oppose us, we will never be able to do enough to satisfy that person. Jesus' involvement with his opponents here reminds us of this reality. The request for Jesus to do a sign to prove himself wasn't genuine. It was just another test from opponents who would not be satisfied with anything he did. Jesus...

 

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."

—Luke 11:14-15 NLT

Key Thought


One of the ways Satan tries to discourage God's workers is through the constant badgering and attacks of tenaciously unfair opponents. Satan knew his power was no match for Jesus. So, when...

 

[Continuing his teaching on prayer, Jesus said,] "You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

—Luke 11:11-13 NLT

Key Thought


What's one of the greatest answers to our prayers? The gift of God's cleansing...

 

[Continuing his teaching about prayer, Jesus said,] "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

—Luke 11:9-10 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus repeatedly said, "Don't quit! Don't give up! Keep on knocking, seeking, and asking! Keep on keepin'...

 

Then, teaching [his disciples] more about prayer, [Jesus] used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this — though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if...

 

Then, teaching [the disciples] more about prayer, [Jesus] used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.'"

—Luke 11:5-6 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus didn't teach about prayer just once, but many times. Jesus didn't pray just once but consistently went to his Father in prayer. Prayer is not something that we...