Prayer

Living the Parables
-Part VIII-

#16 The Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5-13

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Background
The host was in a desperate situation
The friend was in an unwilling state
Prayer in those days was very reserved

Compare
Our prayers must be made in desperation
Our prayers must be made with boldness

Contrast
God’s door is always open
God is eager to meet the needs of His people

Types of Prayer
Ask
Seek
Knock

#17 The Unjust Judge
Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'”

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Background
Widows in those days were very mistreated
Judges in those days were very corrupt
The cry in those days was for justice

Compare
Our prayers must be persistent
Our prayers must be for justice

Contrast
God is a just judge
God wants a relationship with His people

Laws for Prayer
You must ask in faith (Matthew 21:22)
You must first forgive others (Mark 11:25)
You must ask in Jesus' name (John 14:14)
You must remain in Christ (John 15:7)
You must bear fruit (John 15:16)
You must first obey (1 John 3:22)
You must ask according to His will (1 John 5:14)
You must have a right motive (James 4:3)