Three Parables that Challenge our Beliefs about Prayer

Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8 — Andrew Fountain: Sept 4, 2022

Goal

That we would fully take in these strong statements by Jesus
which will change our beliefs about prayer.

Three Parables that Challenge our Beliefs about Prayer

  1. The Neighbor at Midnight
  2. The Parent Asked for an Egg
  3. The Lazy Government Official

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 might 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.

Text at 12:27am

Hey Andrew, I sort of remember that you might have a fancy machine that can jump start cars.

One of the boys seems to have left the interior light on in my car, and now it won’t start.

So I was wondering if I might borrow your machine...

Quote from Klyne Snodgrass Stories with Intent p.448f.

Three Parables that Challenge our Beliefs about Prayer

  1. The Neighbor at Midnight
  2. The Parent Asked for an Egg
  3. The Lazy Government Official

2. The Parent Asked for an Egg

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, even as bad as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give...

Luke 11:1–13 cont’d

  1. If you then, even as bad as you are, 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!”

Three Parables that Challenge our Beliefs about Prayer

  1. The Neighbor at Midnight
  2. The Parent Asked for an Egg
  3. The Lazy Government Official

3. The Lazy Government Official

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.
    • government official
  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

Praying without giving up

1. Better than a neighbor

2. Better than your own mother or father

3. Better than a government official

Challenge for this week

  1. Pray about something right now! (small or big)
  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

Updated on 2022-09-04 by Andrew Fountain