HAVE YOU ASKED GOD FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 MIDNIGHT VISITOR

OPEN UP THE DOOR

"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you went to your friend’s house very late at night and said to him, ‘A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.’  

Your friend inside the house answers, ‘Go away! Don’t bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.’  

I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask.  

So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.  

Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.  

Do any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give him a snake?  Or, if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Of course not!  Even you who are bad know how to give good things to your children. 

So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to the people who ask him.”  

(Luke 11:5-13  ERV ~ Easy To Read Version)

LETTUCE PRAYER

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SAY, "LET US?"

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Mary the teacher speaks, "What is prayer?"

Charlie raises his hands, "It's talking to God."

Mary continues, "Why is it important to talk to God?  Sue answers, "It's like talking to my papa.  He wants to know what I need, he comes to me when I need help, and he cares for me when I'm sick."

Mary says, "When you say to your father, I need this, I need help, or I feel sick; you are personally talking to your father.  Same is true when you're having a personal conversation with God."

Sally remarks, "What does that have to do with lettuce?"

Mary adds, "Lettuce is healthy when it's fresh and washed properly.  But spoiled lettuce may make you sick."

Kevan speaks, "I ate a salad once and had to go home sick."

Mary continues, "Sometimes when we pray in a group, one person gets in the habit of using the words, "Let Us!"   Can anyone give me an example when Lettuce can be good in a prayer?"

Brenda blurts out, "Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Bob adds, "Let us run the good race and fight the good fight."

Mary speaks, "Lettuce can be good when we encourage others. Can anyone give me an example when lettuce can be bad in a prayer?"

Sally smiles, "Let us take baths before coming to church."

Bob adds, "Let us grow up and read the Bible and stop playing video games."

Brenda blurts out, "Let us not talk in class."

Mary speaks, "But are you talking to God or are you talking to your classmates.

"Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."  (Luke 6:37 ERV ~ Easy to Read Version)

Bob adds, "I don't like it when others in the class point fingers at me."

Mary continues, "Lettuce can be bad, when we use it to judge others in a prayer group.   It's important when we pray to build others up and support one another.  We need to be humble and examine ourselves and not others.  And we need to be respectful when talking to God the Father who created the Universe!"

Bob, "I guess we need to talk to God and not to the teacher or classmates."

Mary adds, "Remember you don't have to always use "we" or "us" in everything you say.  What would you say if you were talking to your daddy at home?"

Sally grins, "When are we going to eat the salad?  Did anyone bring any salad dressing?  Do we have bowls and forks?"