But What Father From Among You, If His Son Will Ask For a Fish: Luke 11:9-13

Luke 11:9-13 Lexham English Bible

9 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 But what father from among you, if his son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake? 12 Or also, if he will ask for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 Therefore if you, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

The Lord calls us to ask, seek, and find. These are not one-time actions. When we are asking, seeking, and knocking it is continuous. It is a call to pray without ceasing. For if we ask, it will be given to us. If we seek, we will find. If we knock, the door will be open to us. It requires that we move according to the word of God and in faith, it releases the power of God to bring answer to prayer. If we expect breakthrough to take place because we are simply sitting around and waiting, we are sadly mistaken. We must engage in the spiritual battles that lie before us and use the authority Jesus has given us in prayer.

We see that there is a promise from the Lord. He says everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks it will be open. These are promises we must build our lives on. Many times, we may be facing situations that seem overwhelming and impossible and the easy way out is to simply throw in the towel. But is this what God is calling us to do? The answer is no. Regardless of how dark or difficult things become we must continue to ask, seek, and knock. We must take the word of God and act accordingly. God’s word is a playbook and instruction manual. When we live according to it, we will see the purposes and plans of God manifested in our midst.

Do we truly believe that God is a good father? The word father in the Greek is patēr and it means father, forefather. Literally someone’s male parent. It can also be used to refer to forefathers in the plural . God literally becomes our Father when we come to saving faith in Jesus. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them. We are chosen and we are adopted. Before Jesus we are separated from God, and we are actually children of the devil. But when we are washed by the blood of Jesus, the separation between us and God no longer exist. The dividing wall has been broken down. We now have access to our Father without fear but instead are called to come boldly to the throne of grace.

When we understand that God is our Father then we come to understand He will provide. Jesus asks some important questions. But what father from among you, if his son will ask for a fish, instead of a fish will give him a snake? Or also, if he will ask for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If earthly fathers who love their children provide when they ask for either fish or an egg, how much more our Father in Heaven who controls all things and owns all things will provide for us.

When we stand back and truly meditate on how awesome God is, it helps us to see that regardless of what need we have, it will be met. We don’t have to beg and plead for our Father to be moved to meet our needs. He calls us to simply ask. Again, when a father truly loves his children, he will not hold back any good thing in their life. God will always provide.

The word evil is the Greek word ponēros and it means bad, wicked, evil. Refers primarily to moral badness but also can refer to an undesirable condition . All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Every earthly father has a heart that is inherently wicked. Next to God we are wicked, and we are corrupt. I personally know how much I love my daughter, but it doesn’t even compare with how much our Father in Heaven loves us. I think there is something very supernatural that happens in the heart of a person when they become a parent and especially their understanding of God and His love for His children. If we love our children extravagantly and we are evil and imperfect, how much more does our Father in Heaven love us. He is perfect and His love is unconditional.

Jesus makes a very important statement here: how much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. You and I need the Holy Spirit. We need more of Him every day. The coming of The Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the promise of the Father. It is available to every believer. Jesus is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. There are things we face in this life that we need to simply surrender to The Holy Spirit. There are many who deal with addictions of all kinds and the only one who can lead us to freedom is The Holy Spirit. There are some who live in confusion on a daily basis, but it is only The Holy Spirit who can bring order out of the confusion. May we ask daily for more of The Holy Spirit and less of us. May our Father in Heaven completely empty us of ourselves. May we walk in His love, power, grace, mercy, gentleness, and compassion. May the character and nature of Christ be manifested in all things.

Prayer

Father thank you for meeting every need. Thank you that when we ask, we will receive. When we seek, we will find. When we knock, the door will be open to us. Father thank you for hearing and answering from Heaven. Thank you for honoring us with your presence. Father fill my life more and more with Your Spirit. Holy Spirit fill me daily and overflow. Touch those around me. May I be your hands and your feet. Father help me to honor you in all things. Bring greater intimacy into my life in the name of Jesus, Amen!