This session we a parable Jesus used to teach his disciples about prayer and the response to need.  The parable is found in Luke chapter 5.  This parable follows Luke’s shorter version of the Lord’s prayer and is meant to clarify God’s love, and commitment to His children.

⁵ Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ⁶ ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ ⁷ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ ⁸ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “You fathers—if your children ask^[e] for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? ¹² Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! ¹³ So if you sinful people 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.” – Luke 11:5-13 NLT

This parable works in contrast. The first part is verses 5-8, the second part is 11–13. The controversial part is 9-10. Let’ look at the contrast first.

What is differences of the friend visiting in the middle of the night compared to the father and his children?

Asking and Receiving

Many of us may have been taught or instructed by the verses 9-10, where the scripture clearly says ‘keep asking and you will receive what you ask for’. Many of us may have even lived this out in our own life. We many have been the determined child, badgering our parents for something until they gave in. Or we may have been the parent that said no, over and over again, only to give in to just shut up the irritating child.

Do you think Jesus is teaching us to be that irritating child ? What is your insights to this scripture taught by Jesus?

In this section of scripture, we need to ensure that we do not pull verses 9-10 for our sinful desires.  The scripture is seldom removed from the foundation of the teaching, which begins with teaching how to pray (the Lord’s prayer).  Let’s review Luke’s version that starts the chapter.

² So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our[a] Father [b]in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
³ Give us day by day our daily bread.
⁴ And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Luke 11:2-4 NKJV

In the prayer, what is being asked for?

Have you ever had unanswered prayers? How do you handle the situation when someone comes to you complaining that God did not heal their friend or family member?

In conclusion we focus on Jesus closing words to this parable…

 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! – Luke 11:13 NKJV

What is Jesus saying the father is offering? Is that different than asking for anything in His name, and if you don’t get it, keep asking and expecting until He gives it to you?

God will give his good gift of the Spirit to all that ask. Jesus is speaking in broad terms of the spiritual blessings which the Father gives to his children; he is not saying that people, who ask, say, for specific charismatic gifts will necessarily receive them.

This week seek wisdom and a heart for the Father’s will to be done. As it is recored in Micah…

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8 NIV