The Persistent Friend
The Parables of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 91 viewsGod is a father willing to respond to our prayers if we seek him
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The Persistent Friend
The Persistent Friend
Recap
What is a parable?
greek word “parabole”
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
The truth was hidden mysteries
The truth was hidden mysteries
Why did Jesus speak in Parables?
The reason Jesus spoke in parables was not so that they could understand more, it was to hide the truth
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurt
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurt
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
Privileged information
Privileged information
Last session
The Prodigal Son
The Persistent Friend
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Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
And he said to them, “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 forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,
for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
And I tell 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, who are evil, 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!”
Context
We have Jesus and His disciples (always important to understand who he is speaking to)
They ask “Teach us to pray”. Notice they didn’t say “teach us how to pray”
Teach us how to play basketball is different than teach us basketball. rules, fundamentals, model
Why is it important we see this distinction in what they asked?
Because it shows us that what Jesus was showing them was a model of prayer not a set of words to be mindlessly repeated
Also, in getting more context, it says at the beginning of the verse “Now Jesus was praying at a certain place”
Throughout the Gospel of Luke....He makes it a point to show us that prayer was a priority in Jesus’ life
In it says at Jesus’ baptism, He was praying as the dove descended on Him from heaven
In it says Jesus was led into the wilderness to fast for 40 days
says when the crowds got big Jesus would go off and pray
Before he chose the 12 disciples it says he was praying all night
before Peter answered the question “Who do you say that I am?” it says in verse 18 that Jesus was praying alone
And right before Jesus’ transfiguration it says in verse 28 of Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain to pray
And so you see that our Lord Jesus was A MAN OF PRAYER
So it makes sense why the disciples would ask Him “TEACH US TO PRAY”
It’s what they saw Him doing often
Jesus was not telling His disciples or us to do something in which he himself was not doing
And how amazing it is....He did not sin but prays ALL THE TIME
Jesus being the perfect, sinless man of God
OH HOW I SHOULD PRAY MORE OFTEN
WHEN NOT IF
Lets look at closer at this portion
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
luke 11
Why do you think it says WHEN and not IF?
Because its expected you pray
pray without ceasing,
We must constantly have an attitude of prayer
FATHER
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
Why begin with father?
The most important part of having an actual prayer life is having an actual relationship with God
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
God is called “Father” 65 times in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and 100 times in the book of John.
True prayer depends on a spiritual relationship with God that allows us to call him “Father”
Hallowed
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
What does it mean to hallow God’s name?
This is an act of worship
Let your name be glorified, be magnified, be exalted
Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Let your name be glorified, be magnified, be exalted
When you pray it is GOD CENTERED.
The cry of your heart WHEN you pray is no matter what I’m praying for GODS NAME BE GLORIFIED
Your Kingdom come
When you pray it is GOD CENTERED. NOT ME CENTERED
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
In Matthew “YOUR WILL BE DONE”
Prayer is NOT telling God what we want so that we could selfishly enjoy our desires
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Prayer is asking GOD to use us to accomplish what HE WANTS.......SO THAT HIS NAME IS HALLOWED
It all goes back to His name being glorified
The example shows us our responsibility in prayer. Honor the name of God and submit to HIS WILL
Give us
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
It sounds like he’s moving on from His will being done and His name be hallowed to our petetions
Wh
This is what a lot of us do. We read this in a 1234 order. But thats wrong
All these have one message and all point to the same thing. Gods name being glorified
Give me the portion for today and today only to DO YOUR WILL.....SO THAT YOUR NAME IS GLORIFIED
“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
You only need todays portion to accomplish His will so He receive s all the honor and Glory
Forgive us
And he said to them, “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 forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Luke 11:
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Why is it important to ask for forgiveness?
The parable of the unforgiving servants
We interrupt the lines of communication with God when we don’t forgive or don’t repent
We create a wall in our relationship with God
But when we ask for forgiveness and confess before God we are like the Psalmist
For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.
If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
When we ask for forgiveness and show that same grace and mercy to others we know God hears us
And if He hears us then He hears our request for our daily bread so we can accomplish His will so His name is glorified
Lead us not into temptation
And he said to them, “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 forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Last portion...”Lead us not into temptation”
Lets not get confused here....We know God does not tempt anyone
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
So what is it saying?
So what is it saying?
......ITS SAYING HELP ME! HELP ME!
Jesus included this because yes the righteous are tempted.
Protect me, guide me, cover me, strengthened me
To not be side tracked but be obedient to your will so your name is HALLOWED
IT ALL POINTS TO GODS NAME BEING GLORIFIED. HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME!
The Parable
Luke 11
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,
for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
Summarize story
In the Jewish culture, hospitality was a crucial obligation
In small villages back then, people were often dependent on each other.
In those times, they had one-room houses
Kids in bed with him
Bread probably had to be made
Door was shut with a heavy bar across it
But the friend just keeps knocking…lol
Jesus goes on to say in v8...
Jesus says
The main point - He might not give you the bread because he likes you but he’ll give it to you so that you would leave him alone.
The main point is that “He might not give you the bread because he likes you but because to get you to leave”.
The key to understanding
The key to understanding this parable is not by looking at it from the point of view of the man in bed but from the man searching for bread
It said because of his impudence…Meaning his “SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE”
He was going to stop until he got what he was searching for
He was going to keep on asking. Keep on knocking. And keep on seeking.
Thats why Jesus goes on to say
Luke 9
And I tell 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
couple this portion with the parable and the idea is this....in prayer we are to
KEEP ON ASKING
KEEP ON SEEKING
KEEP ON KNOCKING
In other words, don’t come to God ONLY during the midnight emergencies, but have a consistent God honoring prayer life.
Where daily you come before the father
Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t you dare come around knocking/banging in God’s presence demanding things...” He says the opposite... KEEP ON
Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t you dare come around knocking/banging in God’s presence demanding things...” He says the opposite... KEEP ON.
Keep pursuing. Keep knocking
Keep pursuing. Keep knocking.
This constant communion is what Jesus called “abiding” ( - I am the True Vine)
This constant communion is what Jesus called “abiding” ( - I am the True Vine)
Closing it out. Why should we Keep on...
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, who are evil, 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!”
Luke 11:
Why should you keep on....Because God is not like the man in bed with his children
God is not like...”Alright already…HERE! Just leave me alone!
Just like the parable of the prodigal son…Our God is a LOVING FATHER
Good fathers do good to their children
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
What does Jesus mean here?
OF COURSE NOT!
A father won’t mock his son’s hunger or need. He won’t give his son something he can’t eat. A father won’t give his son something that can kill him (snake, scorpion).
This is also why God sometimes says NO to our request
Only a bad father gives his children WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR
Its true, sometimes like the prodigal son, you give your children exactly what they are asking for to teach them a lesson.
But the majority of the time when your child ask to go play in the street you don’t say.... ok you keep asking and I feel bad....so…go play in the street
You protect your child by having to say no sometimes
its the same with God
If earthly sinful fathers give what’s best to their children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give?
So If a earthly sinful father gives what’s best for his children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give to us?
And what He gives us is the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
If you then, who are evil, 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!”
The original Greek doesn’t have the word “the” when speaking of the Holy Spirit.
We don’t need to pray for the Person of the Holy Spirit, because He comes to dwell is us at the time of our conversion
We don’t need to pray for the Person of the Holy Spirit, because He comes to dwell in us at the time of our conversion.
you.
We’re talking about the power that enables us to live a Christian life. The Holy Spirit is our Helper in EVERY SITUATION
We’re talking about the power that enables us to live a Christian life. The Holy Spirit is our Helper! (Parallel to )
When you ask for comfort, you get the Comforter
When you ask for comfort, you get the Comforter
When you ask for help, you get the Helper
When you ask for help, you get the Helper
When you ask for truth, you get the Truth Teacher
When you ask for truth, you get the Truth Teacher
When you ask for wisdom, you get the Spirit of Wisdom
When you ask for wisdom, you get the Spirit of Wisdom
When you ask for love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control, you get the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
When you ask for love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control, you get the Spirit who’s fruit is released in your life.
Closing
It is by the power of the holy spirit that we can overcome temptation
Forgive those who hurt us
ask for our daily portion
so we can accomplish His will
SO THAT HIS NAME IS GLORIFIED AND WORTHY TO BE PRAISED
What can we learn from this parable? How can we apply this to our lives?
If Jesus prayed so should I
Don’t just show up at midnight emergencies
God is not like the friend in bed
Does our prayer consist of only asking? Do we seek? Do we put feet to our prayers?
We pray for our marriage to get better…but what are we doing about it?
We pray about our addictions?....But what are we doing about it?
We pray for a job and hope just drops one out of the sky but we haven’t worked or held a consistent job in 3 years.
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?
GOD IS NOT A GENIE
Do we trust God? Do we trust Him as a loving father? Do we believe He’s good?