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Jehovah Gives “Holy Spirit to Those Asking Him”The Watchtower—2006 | December 15
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11. How did Jesus apply the illustration of a father and his son to prayer?
11 Jesus’ illustration of the persistent host highlights the disposition of the one who prays—the believer. The next illustration highlights the disposition of the one who hears prayers—Jehovah God. Jesus asked: “Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion?” Jesus went on to make the application, saying: “Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”—Luke 11:11-13.
12. How does the illustration of the father hearing his son’s request highlight Jehovah’s willingness to respond to our prayers?
12 With this example of a father responding to his son, Jesus reveals how Jehovah feels about those who turn to him in prayer. (Luke 10:22) First, note the contrast. Unlike the man in the first illustration who was reluctant to respond to a call for help, Jehovah is like a caring human parent, who is eager to respond to a request from his child. (Psalm 50:15) Jesus further reveals Jehovah’s willing disposition toward us by reasoning from the lesser to the greater. He says that if a human father, though “being wicked” because of inherited sinfulness, gives a good gift to his son, how much more so can we expect that our heavenly Father, being benevolent, will give holy spirit to his family of worshippers!—James 1:17.
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Jehovah Gives “Holy Spirit to Those Asking Him”The Watchtower—2006 | December 15
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14. (a) What erroneous idea troubles some who face trials? (b) When facing trials, why may we pray to Jehovah with confidence?
14 Jesus’ illustration of the caring father also emphasizes that Jehovah’s goodness is far greater than the goodness shown by any human parent. Hence, none of us should ever feel that the trials we may be facing must be an expression of God’s displeasure with us. It is our archenemy, Satan, who wants us to think that way. (Job 4:1, 7, 8; John 8:44) There is no Scriptural basis for such self-condemnatory thoughts. Jehovah does not try us “with evil things.” (James 1:13) He does not hand us a serpentlike trial or a scorpionlike test. Our heavenly Father gives “good things to those asking him.” (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13) Indeed, the more we appreciate Jehovah’s goodness and his willingness to help us, the more we will be moved to pray with confidence. As we do, we too will be able to express sentiments like those of the psalmist who wrote: “Truly God has heard; he has paid attention to the voice of my prayer.”—Psalm 10:17; 66:19.
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