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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Persistence In Prayer” |
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I. Introduction.
A. One of the most effective methods of teaching is the use of
illustrations. To clarify what you mean to say, to make an
impression on your hearers, you use some sort of simple
comparison, one that your listeners would understand based
on their own experiences. (It’s similar to . . .”; “Here’s
what it’s like . . .”). The biblical counterpart of such
teaching is the parable. A parable is saying, or story, that
seeks to make a point by illustrating it with a common
situation from life.B. Jesus used this teaching style to get His disciples to focus
on what He was saying about the Kingdom of God.1. His purpose was to tell them about kingdom living
by using simple stories.2. Real key to understanding parables is faith in Jesus
Christ. We must truly believe He was teaching
principles with eternal application, and that His
teaching was from God.C. I want to look at a parable Jesus told that had as its central
theme, prayer; specifically, persistence in prayer. This
parable follows Jesus’ instruction on how to pray, in
Luke 11. After giving the form of prayer, Jesus speaks the
intensity, and passion, of prayer, effective prayer.D. You find this parable on prayer in Luke 11:5-10.
1. Before we elaborate on these verses, let’s get
central theme: Effective prayer is offered with
urgency, and a trust that God will hear us, and
answer us.2. Jesus certainly wanted to encourage the disciples
to pray, but to pray earnestly, sincerely, and
trustingly. Also, wanted to encourage disciples to
believe that God answers prayer faithfully.3. All of this is put in context of relationship between
God, as Father, and His children.E. Jesus takes a possible situation, the arrival of visitor at late
hour, and gives it a spiritual application.II. The Parable Itself.
A. In Palestine, people often traveled late in evening, to avoid
heat of midday sun, despite dangers of nighttime travel.1. In Jesus’ story, just such a traveler had arrived,
towards midnight, at friend’s house.2. Hospitality was considered a sacred duty. And, was
not enough to set before a guest just what they
might need. If possible, had to provide abundance
for visitor.B. In Palestinian villages, bread was baked at home, usually
early in the morning, and, then, only enough to meet
requirements of family for that day. If you baked too
much, would become stale and inedible.1. The late arrival of this guest puts his host in an
embarrassing situation. His larder empty; his
ability to be hospitable, limited.2. Late as it was, he went to his friend’s house to
see if he could borrow food for his guest.C. We don’t know that the man went easily to his friend’s
house. Probably hesitated to bother his friend. Again,
custom said you didn’t knock on a shut door unless it was
absolutely necessary. But, obligations of a host compelled
him to at least try to get some help.1. He knocked – and kept on knocking. (verse 8:
Greek term means, “Shameless persistence”).2. Friend’s reaction to this disturbance was typically
human. (RE-READ underlined part of verse 7).a. Poorer Palestinian house generally consisted
of one room, and a floor of beaten earth,
covered with dried reeds or rushes.b. Often, a room was divided into two parts,
not by partition, but by low platform. On
this raised part is where family slept, on
mats spread on the platform.c. As families generally slept together, for
warmth, to rise would inevitably disturb
whole family. (“. . . my children are with
me in bed; I cannot rise . . .” v. 7).D. Even with this response, man continued to knock on door.
Finally, with whole family roused anyway, so man inside
gets up, and gives him what’s needed.1. Matthew Henry comments: “We prevail with men
by persistence because they are displeased with it,
but we prevail with God because He is pleased with
it!”2. Jesus says: “This story tells you about prayer.”
Urgent, intense prayer is not to overcome the
reluctance of God, but to tap the willingness of
God.a. It’s not that we must batter God’s “door”
until we finally compel Him, in weariness,
to give us what we want; until we coerce an
unwilling God to respond to us.b. To truly understand this story, we must
understand nature of parables.3. Term “parable” means, literally, “something laid
alongside.” If we put something beside something
else, the lesson is drawn from the comparison of the
two objects – how they are alike, or different.a. In this parable, the point is not likeness, but
contrast. (Jesus doesn’t begin, here, “It’s
like this . . .”, as He often did in parables.)b. If an unwilling friend can be moved by
persistence into giving what is needed, how
much more will God – a loving Father –
supply all His children’s needs. (READ
verse 13).III. Lessons To Be Learned.
A. Put this parable into broader context. Like the man who
comes at midnight, we are unable to fulfill our greatest
needs on our own, meager, resources.1. We must face, and admit, our insufficiencies.
a. It is only when we admit our need, that
God is able to give to us.b. In relation to the parable, if this man never
went to his friend, no matter what the hour,
or circumstances, he would never have
received help he needed.2. Then, number 2, we must seek, continually, from
Father, what we need, trusting that He can provide
for us.a. What we truly need is not, necessarily, what
we desire.b. Look again at parable: What did the man at
door request of his friend? (verse 5:
“. . . lend me three loaves;”). What did his
friend give him? (vs. 8: “ . . . as many as he
needs.”).B. Jesus instructs us not to be fearful in approaching God.
The man who sought help didn’t hesitate to go to another to
get it. He didn’t have to go searching for a friend to ask for
help, he already had one. In the darkest hours
(“midnight”), or in the brightest times, we have a Father to
whom we may turn, and from whom we can expect to
receive blessings.C. But one of the greatest lessons here is that we are to keep
on praying.1. This is one of the essential ingredients for any
successful endeavor. (Endurance; perseverance).2. The musician learns, early on, that “practice makes
perfect.” The linguist discovers you don’t master a
foreign language in a few minutes; takes time,
effort, patience, and practice.3. Proficiency is a matter of perseverance.
4. Life – successful living – also demands
perseverance.D. Persistence is a steady, not spectacular, virtue. People are
constantly seeking the “easy way” to accomplish
something; the way that requires less effort, and less
commitment, or dedication.1. With prayer, we want to trade persistence for
miracles. The long-term for the immediate.2. Jesus knew about prayer, and persistence:
(Luke 18:1: “[people] always ought to pray and
not lose heart,”; introduces another parable on
persistence in prayer).3. Neil Lightfoot, in book “Lessons From The
Parables”, says these parables tell us:a. We have a responsibility in prayer – and to
pray.b. Prayer must be sincere.
c. Prayer must be persistent.
d. Earnest prayer is rewarded.
4. God blesses those who make sincere requests of
Him.IV. Conclusion.
A. If we don’t receive what we pray for, it’s not because a
malicious God refuses to give it to us, but because He has
something better for us. His answer is always one of love,
and of wisdom – He knows what we need.B. How hopeless we would be if we had no one to turn to in
the time of our greatest need. How hopeful it is to know
that we have One who hears us, loves us, responds to us,
when we ask Him.