PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS (1)

“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” – Luke 11:9

GOD wants His children to Prevail in Prayer by learning to PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS: “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” (Lk.11: 9-10). This speaks of Perseverance and Persistence, attitudes our Lord Jesus modelled by example and precept. His prayer lifestyle and teachings encourage us to continually endure in prayer, no matter how difficult our situation may be. The Lord narrated two parables that remind us to pray and never give up. We’ve examined the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18).

In this Parable of the Friend at Night, the Lord teaches that since even a selfish neighbour eventually gave in and provided his friend what he needed, how much more would our heavenly Father provide for our cherished needs (vv.5-8)! In case the disciples missed the message, Jesus told another story to reinforce His point: “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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!” (vv.11-13).

Prayer is an act of worship in which we communicate with God the Father, through the access provided by God the Son, and by the prompting of God the Spirit. God is good and He delights in answering our prayers. However, Jesus not only encourages us to pray, but insists on us praying boldly, persistently and expectantly.

Pray Boldly (vv.5-8): Midnight is not a suitable time to go asking for bread, but having nothing to set before a guest, regardless of time, was unthinkable for a host in Jesus’ day. The friend refused to help because everyone in his house was asleep. Jesus said, “though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his PERSISTENCE he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (v.8). This parable calls believers to boldly ask God to help us in times of need: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16). An important difference is that God the Father is not answering from a locked house: “Do not trouble me; the door is now shut”; but He is saying “ASK…SEEK…KNOCK” (vv.7, 9). Let’s come to God humbly, but boldly!

Pray Persistently: The Lord commands us to Ask, Seek, and Knock (v.9). Interestingly, these three verbs all indicate a continual habit. Literally the verse reads: “Keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking.” We’re not to be content to ask once and move on, but continually bring our prayers to the Father, just like a child at a grocery store troublesomely asks the parents: “Can I have this and that?”

Pray Expectantly: “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (v.10). The rhetorical question that follows indicates that our Father-God is good and loving (vv.11-12). The obvious answer is that only a wicked father would do something as mean as give a snake to a child who asks for fish or a scorpion instead of an egg. Jesus then reminds His disciples that they were evil yet they gave good gifts to their children. If humans, who are spiritually dead are able to give good gifts to their children; how much more is God – the Epitome of Love and of spiritual life – able to give good gifts to His children?

God calls us to Pray Until Something Happens – Boldly, Persistently, and Expectantly!