The Life And Message Of Jesus The Promised Saviour And King Series

Ask and Receive: Teachings on Prayer

One day, Jesus was praying by himself and when he had finished praying, his disciples came to him and said, “Jesus, teach us how to pray.” Jesus said, “When you pray, pray like this. ‘Father, may your name be honoured. Come and set up your kingdom so what you want to happen will be done on earth in the same way it is done in heaven. Give us the food we need for today. Forgive us for doing wrong as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.’” He then told them a story to teach them more about prayer. He said, “There was a man who had a visitor come to him late at night. He didn’t have any food to serve him so he went over to his friend’s house even though it was late and he knocked on the door. He asked his friend to give him some food. His friend said, ‘Go away, it is too late and my family and I are all in bed.’ But if the man is persistent and keeps knocking on the door, then his friend will get up and give him what he needs. In the same way, keep on asking and your will receive. Keep on searching and you will find what you are looking for. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For those of you who are fathers, if your child asked you for a fish, you wouldn’t give him a snake, would you? Or if he came to you and asked for an egg, you wouldn’t give him a scorpion and you are a sinful people. If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does God your heavenly father give his spirit to those who ask him?”

Running: The Prodigal Son

As Jesus continued teach people about God’s kingdom, all kinds of people came to listen to him. Some religious leaders were upset about how much time Jesus spent with sinners. Jesus told them a story about a man who had two sons. One day the younger son came to his dad and said, “Dad, give me my share of the inheritance before you die.” The man divided his wealth among his two sons and a few days later, the younger son left home and went to a faraway country with all that he had. While he was there, he wasted all of his money on wild living. Before he knew it, his money was gone. There was a famine in the land at that time and he began to starve so he got a job feeding pigs. Soon he became so hungry that even the slop of the pigs were being fed looked good to him. He came to his senses and he said, “Even my father’s workers have plenty to eat and I am here starving. I am going to go home and tell him, ‘Dad, I have sinned against you and I have sinned against God, and I am not worthy to be called you son. So make me just like one of your workers.’” So he then left and went home but while he was still a long way off, his dad saw him and ran to him and hugged him. He said to his dad, “Dad, I have sinned against you and I have sinned against God and I am not worthy to be called your son.” The dad called for his servant and said, “Quick, my son has come home. Go get the finest clothes and put them on him. Get some food and let’s have a party because my son who was dead to me but now he is alive again. He was lost to me but now he is found again.” They began to celebrate. Later that day, the older son came back from working in the fields. He heard music and dancing. He called for a servant and asked, “What is going on here?” The servant said, “Your brother has come home and because he has come home safe and sound, your dad called for a celebration for him.” This made the older son really angry. He refused to go inside so his dad came out to beg him to go inside but the older son said, “Look, I have worked so hard for you all of these years. I have done everything you’ve said but you have never thrown a party for me and my friends. But this son of yours comes home after spending all of his money on prostitutes and you throw him a party?” The dad said, “Son, all I have is yours and you have been with me this whole time. It is right that we celebrate your brother because he was die but now he is alive. He was lost but now he is found.”