Tonight, we continue our look at the parables of Jesus. And tonight we're in Luke chapter 11. Luke 11. And we'll be reading the first 13 verses.
Now, Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord. teach us to pray as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, When you pray, say, Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation. And he said to them, Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. And he will answer from within, Do not bother me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, Yet because of his impudence, He will rise and give him whatever he needs.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds. and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, How much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit? to those who ask him. Let's pray.
Father, you are a God near at hand and never far off. You hear the cries of your children. You abound in mercy and love. You invite us to boldly come to you in our need. Grant us ears to hear your word tonight.
give us understanding and a willing spirit to obey. We pray. In Jesus' name. Amen. When Livy and I were in college, We traveled one night from Boise Creek to Raleigh.
Uh to see an opera. Neither of us had a car in college, and so I made arrangements with my parents to borrow their car so we could go see the opera. And so late that evening, after dropping Libby off at the dorm, I headed back to Clayton to. carry the car back so mom and dad have a way to get to work the next morning. And um In the wee hours of the night on a small country road, Car broke down.
And uh I was still about five miles from home.
So uh This was of course before the days of cell phones. I went to college a long time ago, but I started walking. And uh This was also before the days of every farm having security lights and things around. It was dark. Uh but uh I grew up in a small town.
I knew everybody in town. I knew most of the farmers around the town. And so I was able to spot a home that I recognized. It was after midnight, no lights visible in the house. But I confidently and shamelessly began to knock on the door.
I needed help and I knew this family would have a phone. That was another thing not everybody had in those days. Uh but I kept knocking until I heard a window open in the upstairs and Mr. Austin stuck his hat out and said, what do you want? And uh so I found help.
Just as we can be uh persistent and shameless and and uh uh Impudent is the word ASV uses in this parable. We can do this in temporal matters. Uh But We also Uh can In the realm of the Spirit, come in confidence. and persistence in prayer. The fact is that the intensity of our prayer uh reflects the level of our need.
When we desire something greatly, we Attend to pray. More persistently and more emphatically, because persistence really is a sign of sincerity or earnestness. And if we do not want what we're asking for enough. Uh it's uh enough to be persistent in it. That's a good sign that we really don't want it very much.
So as we look at this parable tonight, I want to begin by just a quick look at the context of the parable. It begins with pointing us to the fact of Jesus' example of prayer for his disciples. Yeah, the Apostle John in his first letter Wrote of the disciples' experience, and he said, That which we have seen and heard. We declare to you. The disciples both saw Jesus praying and heard him teaching about prayer.
I just want to just remind you of. How often, how many different ways they saw Jesus praying and heard him teach. Matthew, we read: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain to pray by himself. And rising very early in the morning while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. After he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Now, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. Great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to a desolate place and pray. Went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer with God. The disciples saw him time and again in prayer to his Father.
And then on that marvelous occasion of the Transfiguration, we're told that he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. Not only did they see him pray, but they also heard him. as he taught about prayer. What Jesus taught them, He put into practice before them. The way he lived is the way he taught and taught them to do.
Just a few examples of his teaching. In Matthew 6, again, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door. Pray to your Father who is in secret. When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases.
Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe. Whenever you pray, Forgive. He told them they ought always to pray and not lose heart. And then at the end of his ministry, he He was praying to the Father in the time of his great need, and he said, stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape.
Um It's no surprise then that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They saw his prayer life. They understood how important it was to him as he taught them. And so the disciples asked the question. I want you to note a couple of things about this question.
First of all, Jesus is acknowledged as. uh teacher and lord They also at times referred to him as rabbi, master. They looked to him as their teacher. And even some of the Jews who did not believe Recognized and called him one who they saw as a teacher. At one of the feasts in Jerusalem, we're told that the Jews marveled, saying, How is it that this man has learning when he never studied?
They recognized that there was something different about his teaching. Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, came to him at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher, come from God. They recognized that there was something different about his teaching. When the scribes and Pharisees sent officers to bring him to them, they came back and they hadn't brought him and the Pharisees, why didn't you bring him? And they said, never man spoke like this man.
There was something different about Jesus' teaching. When he finished the Sermon on the Mount, we are told that the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority and not as their scribes.
So the disciples called him master and lord and rabbi. They recognized that he was a teacher from God. And they obviously saw something in his prayer life that they recognized deficiency in their own prayers. And so when Jesus had finished praying, we're told that they asked him to teach them to pray. Their question points us to need in our own life.
We also need to be taught. And we might phrase a plea similar to what they did, and we say, Lord, teach us to pray as you also taught your disciples. We need to be taught by the Lord. I have over the years been blessed by Andrew Murray's book with Christ in the School of Prayer. We need to be taught to pray.
And you know, there are really two questions in that: teach us to pray. and implied teach us how to pray, we need to be taught both, don't we? The enemy doesn't care how many books we read on prayer, how many prayer conferences we go to, as long as we don't pray. The only way to learn to pray is to pray. by doing it.
And we need to be taught how to pray and we need to be taught to pray.
So Jesus answers them and he says, gives them some pretty specific directions. He says, when you pray, say. And he gives them words. In this version of the Lord's Prayer, He actually gives them words to say. In a parallel version of the teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives a model prayer.
We call it the Lord's Prayer, but it's really more of a model, not something to necessarily be recited verbatim, but it is a a model for us. Um Jesus says, pray then like this. Or as Hendrickskin writes in his commentary, it literally says, uh thus or in this manner. Pray.
So we are being given a model there in what is more commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. But here in Luke 11, Luke records Jesus giving specific words to say. Father, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins.
For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us, Lead us not into temptation. And of course all the Petitions that are in the other version are implied in these that Jesus gives here. But Jesus answers our prayers. And his answers are never limited to our questions and our petitions. I am always blessed by Paul's admonition in In Ephesians, in the closing of chapter 3, he says, Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think.
God's action in response to our prayers always goes way beyond what we ask for. And so here, Jesus not only gives the content for their prayer. But he also addresses the attitude of or mindset that they're to have as they pray. And he does this as he so often does in his teaching. Uh through a story.
a parable. A parable is nothing more than just a story that it has a purpose of teaching some moral or spiritual reality.
So let's look at the parable for a moment. Note first of all that this parable reveals the relationship of those involved. All of the characters in this parable are described as friends. The word friend is used three times in verses five and six. Jesus points to this relationship, this friendship, as a reasonable basis for granting this midnight request.
In verse 8, he says, Though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet he will rise and give him whatever he needs. Because he is a friend, he has a ground and basis for going and asking for what he needs. There's relationship. And that is true, of course, in In our prayer life, we have a ground, a basis for the prayer life because there's a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Jesus says that this friendship is a possible reason to respond to the request.
But that's not why the man answers. He won't get up and give it to him because he's his friend. But because of his impudence.
So look at the request that is made. He comes to his friend and he says, friend, lend me three loaves. for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. This request is not for his own for himself, but for his being able to provide for others. There's an outward unselfish aspect of his require of his request.
Our motivation in prayer should not be self-centered. Even when we ask for what we need personally, we should always keep God's Reputation, God's glory in mind, and acknowledge Him. As the source of every good and perfect gift. Recognize that God has. Uh established uh the way that we are to receive what we need through Him, through prayer.
And but the primary focus of that should be that we ask for God to give what we need for His glory. as well as our good. And we need to keep that before us and to think of others as we're praying.
So the reason for the friend's request was that there was this. this unexpected opportunity to show hospitality. He had a friend come at night and he had nothing to set before him. He was not prepared. You know, I'm often amazed at how early my wife gets prepared when she knows company is coming.
And she has, in fact, on the way to church tonight, she was planning for a meal that is coming next week where we're going to have folks in the house, and she's already going through menus and determining what she got to buy Monday morning to get the groceries ready.
Well, this fellow was not prepared. In those days, they didn't have the kind of storage facilities we have. Things had to be done fresh and right at the moment. And so he was not prepared for this unexpected visit. And he was confronted with a circumstance that gave him an opportunity to be neighborly and to meet the needs of his friend.
So the motivation for his request was not a selfish thing, but an opportunity for him to give in the need of his friend who had come to him.
So What then was the response of the friend to this request? The relationship with his friend did not provide the response that the friend needed. Jesus says that the friend will not get up and give him anything because he's his friend, but it was not a convenient time for him. In fact, he says, don't bother me. It was a bad time at midnight, it says, and he was already in bed with his children.
That seems kind of strange to us, but in those days, the home was probably just one large room, and everybody slept in the room together. And he'd have to crawl over his children and wake them all up to unbar the door.
So not a convenient time. And so he says, Don't bother me. And Jesus says, He won't do it because he's his friend. But because of his impudence or his persistence. He will rise.
and give him not just the three loaves. but whatever he needs. Jesus is setting us up for what he's about to say. about the Father and His goodness to us and His graciousness to us. We see here in this story, Jesus tells both similarity and contrast between the friend and our father.
Jesus explains this and illustrates this point in verses 11 through 13. Uh The friend is reluctant to get up and give what is needed. God is always willing. and eager to give what is needed for his children. He is our Father.
He is our Shepherd. And He... has what we need and is eager to give what we need. And while this friend was displeased with the impudence, the persistence of his friend. God is pleased when we are persistent.
God wants us to be persistent in prayer. You remember the other parable in Luke chapter 18 where Jesus tells of the persistent widow. And he talks about how God is eager and ready and willing to give to those who persist in prayer. There's a good illustration of persistence in prayer in Daniel chapters 9 and 10, where Daniel is praying for understanding of Jeremiah's prophecy. And he says, in the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasureas, I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas.
He says, While I was speaking in prayer, The man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. And he said to me, O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright for now I have been sent to you. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel. For from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, Your words have been heard.
And I have come because of your words. From the very beginning of his prayer, he was heard and the answer was sent. But Gabriel says, the prince of the king of Persia withstood me. 21 days. But Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days.
Daniel prayed for 21 days, three weeks. before he got the answer to his prayer. And though our Father God hears, and answers prayer. that we may miss the answer. if we're not persistent, if we don't stay with it.
So back to the parable tonight. When Jesus had finished the parable, he explained the point and applies it to the disciples and to us through what they have recorded for us. And so in verses 9 and 10, we have these promises. from our Lord. And I tell you, ask.
and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find Knock and it will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, It will be opened. Uh Jesus.
Speaks words that allow us to apply these scriptures, these promises, to us as well as to the disciples. Everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened. Uh Endrickson points out that there's a kind of a rising intensity in these three words.
You first ask, And seek And knock. And each of it has its own promised response. Those who ask, will be given. Those who seek will find. And to those who knock, it will be opened.
And each of these words has implications for us as we pray. Asking implies a humility. You know, it's interesting to me that in one of the great promises about prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14. God says, if my people, which are called by my name, shall... first humble themselves, And pray.
Seek my face. Turn from their wicked ways. One of the main reasons we don't pray like we should is because we're proud. We're not humble people. Um We recently uh had some Uh problem with our A C.
in the at our house. And uh Got ready to go to bed one night and it was hot. And uh I got up the next morning and immediately I began to make arrangements. I called, and I found somebody that could get there that day. But I didn't stop.
to ask the one who is the source. and who knew my need. And you know what should have been a quick fix. and have been taken care of in just a few days. got strung out over almost two weeks.
I don't think it was anything other than the fact God said, You need to talk to me first. We too often go through life Uh With the Uh Sign of a kind of a American I got this attitude. I don't got it. But God does. And that needs to be my first.
Resource. My first course of action should be always to pray. Because asking implies that I know my need. And I believe Uh the one uh to whom I pray exists. And answers.
and responds to the prayers of his children.
So there's first the asking. And then there's seeking. which Hendrickskin says is asking plus action. Using the means that God has given graciously, His word. Preached and read and meditated on and memorized.
His word obeyed. The corporate worship, the celebration of the sacraments, these means that God has given us to draw near to Him. And the promise is that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. And so we ask. And we seek his face.
And we knock, we persist. asking with action and persistence. The first knock may not awaken your friend. Another knock just annoys him. But if you just won't quit knocking, you keep on, eventually he'll come open the door.
But of course, in contrast, God never sleeps. He's not bothered by our persistence. In fact, it pleases him when we persist in prayer.
Sometimes he lets us just stand at the door and knock for a while so that we learn patience and we learn persistence. But God responds. when we persist in prayer. We've said before that the parables have one main point. That is being taught, one lesson to get across.
So, what is the point of this parable? In reality, it's not so much about us. even as redeemed believers with a new nature. We struggle with our own importance. Tend to read everything and see everything in terms of self and what it means for me and how I'm to respond.
This need for us to be persistent in prayer is part of what Jesus is teaching here. But it's not the main point. Uh Dr. Terry Johnson puts it like this. The parable is first and foremost about God.
and His graciousness and hearing our prayers, and granting requests. It's about God. It's not about us. Jesus amplifies the point by calling attention to the care that earthly fathers give to their children. Verses 11 and 12, he says, What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? Yet one commentary says, the point is this. If even an earthly friend would certainly extend help, then will not the Heavenly Father generously answer our petitions? If earthly fathers, we who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children. How much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
So What is our motivation to prayer? The parable reminds us. of the nature. of our Heavenly Father. knowing the one to whom we pray.
is our greatest encouragement. to pray. knowing the Father who hears our prayers. Because with God, I like one way, one commentary, but with God it is never midnight. And he never lacks anything.
God has what we need. and he's always available. Psalm 121 says, Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. He's always available. And he never lacks anything.
One of my favorite verses is in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. He says in chapter 9, verse 8. God is able to make all grace abound to you.
So that having all sufficiency In all things, at all times, you may abound in every good work. God lacks nothing. God Yes. always available. And he's never bothered.
when we come in humble dependence on Him, Hebrews chapter 4. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Let us then confidently come, draw near. and to the throne of grace. God is never taken by surprise.
Uh these unexpected guests don't surprise God. The unexpected circumstances in our life are not a surprise to him. It's all ordained from the beginning. Several verses we could go to. Let me just mention a few that remind us For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight.
For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rearguard. He's before us and behind us, always there to help. I am God, there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done. I am the alpha and the omega, the first, the last, the beginning. And the end.
So The lesson for us Keep on keeping on. Because you can pray anytime. In fact, we're encouraged to pray without ceasing. You can pray. about anything.
We are told in Paul's letter to the Philippians that we are not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer, supplication, with thanksgiving, to make our request known to God. You can pray freely and confidently. Like a little child. God is our Father. And he does not deal with us according to our sins, the psalmist says.
does not repay us according to our iniquities. as a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.
So Why? Do I persevere? And when I do persevere, why is that? I have confessed that Most of the time, if I persevere in prayer, it's because I have great need. And it's my need that drives me.
the father. And yet When I draw near to God, it becomes evident. That the point of my prayer is not meeting my need.
So much as it is, bringing glory to the Father.
So go on asking. Go on seeking. Go on knocking. And just never go. Never let it go until you receive.
The blessing. Let's pray together. Lord Jesus. Teach us to pray. Teach us to pray in believing.
that the Father hears and answers. Teach us to persist and to persevere. And not just because we're so needy, but... primarily for your glory. But we don't know how to pray as we ought.
Holy Spirit, refine our prayers according to the Father's will. And Lord Jesus, may our prayers be acceptable. I'll throw you. our Savior, our mediator. A Redeemer.
And it is in your name we pray. Amen. Yeah.
