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But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.
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“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
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For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
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“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?
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Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!
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So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
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One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed,
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but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”
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Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
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He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
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You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?