The Teachings of Jesus – Parable about Prayer
Text: Luke 11:1-13
The Occasion
The disciples observed Jesus praying
One disciple said to Him, “Lord teach us to pray.”
Jesus said, 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 also forgive everyone who is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation.”
The Parable
“Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.”
The Teaching
“So I say to 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 he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened.
(Illustration) Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
The Lesson
Much of prayer is ‘asking’ John 14:14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
Matthew 18:19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
The Truth about Prayer
Only God can supply what we truly need
He has it but is waiting for us to ask for it.
Ask, seek, and knock and you will be answered.
God is a loving Father who wants to give to us.
We have not because we do not ask (James 4:2)
We ask and do not receive because we ask with wrong motives (James 4:3)
Application
Ask God:
For what He already wants to give you
Our daily provision (Luke 11:3)
Forgiveness of sin (Luke 11: 4)
A new heart (Ezek. 36:26)
Peace that surpasses all comprehension (Phil. 4:6-7)
More of His Spirit (Luke 11:13)
Wisdom (James 1:5)
Persist in asking
He will respond to the persistent pray-er. (Luke 11:8)