Hartman column: God gives us indwelling spirit to call upon in prayer

In my last two columns, we have considered Jesus’ teachings on prayer. His disciples desired to know, so Jesus gave them a model prayer — in the church, we often call this model “The Lord’s Prayer.” Then, Jesus told them a parable from Luke 11:8-13 concerning the importance of our persistence in prayer.

Today, let us consider the latter part of Jesus’ teaching.

In this remaining part of the text, Jesus says that when we sincerely persist in prayer, the answers we seek are open to us; we receive, we find, and again, the answers are open to us. Twice, Jesus says the answers were opened for those who seek. If you are a believer and feel you have never received from God, maybe the first question to consider is, “Have I prayed?” A second question, “Am I persistent?” A third question, “Am I holding unforgiveness?”

Jesus continues by saying God knows how to give good gifts and offers the perfect gift: Himself in the form of His spirit. You might read this and think, “I wasn’t asking for the Holy Spirit.” Fill in the blank: what is your desire? Understand, for every good gift we could ever desire, God gives us the greatest gift, His Holy Spirit, to indwell, fill, lead and guide us.

His spirit is the fountain from which all good things flow. Should we ask for comfort, Jesus does not merely give comfort; He provides the comforter. Strength? Jesus gives us God’s spirit, who is omnipotent. Peace? God indwells you with His spirit of peace. Guidance? He provides us with the guide who guides our thoughts, desires, actions, and motives. Luke 11:13 confirms that one of our greatest gifts is the Holy Spirit.

Jesus closes His teaching as radically as He begins. He opens by permitting us to call God “Father.” He closes by saying God will give you the most perfect gift: His Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament, The spirit of God rested on people and was taken away from people at God’s discretion. Saul and David were prime examples as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:13-14. The Old Testament provides a rich record of the work of God’s spirit, but the Holy Spirit was not poured out on all flesh under the Old Covenant.

Instead, certain people were filled with the spirit of God at certain times and for specific duties. Examples include the craftsmen who built the Tabernacle in Exodus 31:3; and the 70 elders who received the same spirit that was upon Moses in Numbers 11:24-30.

Jesus said God will give you His Holy Spirit to indwell in you; this is radically more than His disciples could ever hope or think. The greatest thing they could ever desire is having the Holy Spirit poured out on them when they asked, believing through prayer.

God’s spirit is as available today as His spirit was to Jesus’ followers in the 1st century. Because of His spirit’s indwelling, we can ask, and it will be given; seek and find; knock, and it will be opened. How can this radical truth bring greater faithfulness to your prayer life? I pray this reality will find you even more faithful in prayer.