Two Parables about Prayer

—Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8

 
 
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Luke 11:1–13

  1. Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
  2. So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
    Father, honoured be your name;
    may your kingdom come.
  3. Give us each day our daily bread,
  4. and forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
    And do not lead us into temptation.”

Luke 11:1–13 cont’d

  1. Then he said to them, “Would any of you have a friend whom you went to at midnight and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
  2. because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’
  3. Who would reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’
  4. I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, yet the very boldness of the request will make him get up and give him all he needs.

Quote from Klyne Snodgrass

If humans sometimes respond even when there is no friendship—simply to a demand, even if it’s rude.

  • how much more will God respond to his children

Luke 11:1–13 cont’d

  1. “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
  2. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
  3. What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
  4. Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
  5. If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give...

Luke 11:1–13 cont’d

  1. …the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus often prayed at night

  1. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone...
  2. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

Luke 18:1–8

  1. Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.
  2. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.
  3. There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
  4. For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,
  5. yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.’ ”

Luke 18:1–8

  1. And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!
  2. Won’t God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them?
  3. I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”

Quote from Klyne Snodgrass

  1. the character of God, who is not like the uncaring, unrighteous judge, but is merciful, patient, and eager to assist his people, and
  2. the necessity of staying alert and ready for God’s vindication and judgements.

Challenge for this week

  1. Pray about something small right now!
  2. Write down a list of 5–10 big prayers
    Try to pray about them every day, but don’t try to put pressure on God
    If one is answered, you can add another to replace it, but keep a record of the one answered
    Be patient, but don’t give up