Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #49 Jesus and the Prayer Lesson 2 – Luke 11/18

 

Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #49
Jesus and the Prayer Lesson 2– Luke 11/18

Review: Like 11:1-4 The Parts of A Prayer

When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Part 1: Relation with God. Our Father, which art In Heaven

Part 2: Adoration of the Father. Hallowed Be They Name

Part 3: Submission to the Divine Will. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be done as in heaven so in earth.

Part 4: Recognition of necessity of God for life. Give us day by day our daily bread.

Part 5: Reconciliation with God and with others. Forgive us our sin, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

Part 6 Humiliation before God. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

After giving the elements of the prayer, Jesus then gives examples of how the disciples should approach prayer. These are prerequisites for powerful, passionate prayers. A prerequisite is an accomplishment, action or knowledge that must precede another accomplishment, action or knowledge.  Without the proper prerequisite as your first step, there can be no success in the following steps.

Prerequisites of Prayer

Importunity: Unashamed To Ask - Luke 11:5-8

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 

In this example, Jesus introduces two men, one who has an unexpected, unprepared for need and one that can meet that need. It is important to note that Jesus says they are friends, they have a relationship. The friend who has a need goes to the friend who can meet that need at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread to feed his unexpected guests.

In the middle East and to a degree in the south of the USA, there is a strong custom of hospitality. You must take care of the needs of your guests, no matter when they arrive and no matter how little you may have to offer them. The tradition of middle eastern or southern hospitality is paramount. This man must take care of his guests, so he goes to his neighbor who is a friend and ask for some bread.

The neighbor may be friendly, but he is not happy to be awoken at midnight. Don’t bother me. The doors shut, my kids are asleep with me. I cannot do anything. Most of us would go home and just be ashamed and embarrassed that we can’t do what we are supposed to do, but that is not what Jesus says.

“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

What is importunity? Well, you can tell from the parable it means to persistently ask, but it is more than just being a pest. Importunity means to be persistent in asking but its root meeting is to unashamedly ask. These men are friends and though it is a hassle, the man asleep on the open roof with his kids all around him will get up, disturb all the kids, unlock the door and get some bread for his persistent neighbor instead of throwing rocks at him and telling him to go home. The relationship and the persistence, the importunity, means the request will be met.

Asking, Seeking and Knocking:  To Jesus this is such an important understanding before you approach prayer that he adds His own commentary in vss. 9-13. Luke 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Implied in the tense of the Greek language used here is the idea of acting and then continuing to act. This is how the Amplified Bible conveys this, So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.

What we need to realize is how this applies to our prayer life.  When we are approach our Heavenly Father, with a true need in our life, then there should be no embarrassment or shame in coming before Him.  Because of the relationship we have with God, our Heavenly Father, we not only will come  and ask, but we will continue to come and keep asking, we will come and raise the level of our asking to seeking and even to persistent knocking because we aren’t just friends with the God of Heaven and earth His is our Father. A father who loves us.

The Reason for Our Importunity - And that is what Jesus says next, Luke 11:11-13 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Jesus makes this great contrast, If your child came and asked for bread, or fish or an egg, would you give your child instead, a stone, a snake or a scorpion. Of course not, and Jesus says, If you who are evil in comparison to God would give to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.

This lesson on prayer is given later in Jesus life on earth, but in much earlier in Matthew’s recording of the Sermon On the Mount, Matt. 7:11, Jesus taught “give good gifts to them that ask Him:” but now in this later teaching just His disciples apart from the multitude, He says “give the Holy Spirit. ” this to Israel and to the disciples was the greatest of all gifts that the Father would give. For us the meaning and the admonition is the same, ask, seek, knock and be persistence, have importunity in mind before you pray.

Exhortations for Boldness in Prayer.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ro 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Ga 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1John 3:19-21 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Illustrations:

Abraham’s intercession for Sodom in Gen. 18:23–33;

The Gentile Syro-Phoenician woman pleading for her daughter in Matt. 15:22–28.

Jacob’s Importunity - Or the most graphic example of importunity and persistence is in Genesis 32:24-26 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

That is importunity, that is asking, seeking and knocking or in this case wrestling, that is what our prayer life should be. Let me give you a quote from the great Baptist missionary, Adinirom Judson – God loves importunate prayer so much that He will not give us much blessing without it.

Jump with me to Luke 18:1. We don’t often use more than one text in a sermon, but in this case it is justified since both deal with Jesus teaching about prayer and probably occurred fairly close together chronologically.

Principles In Prayer

Praying or Fainting, Faithful or Faithless - Luke 18:1-8

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

            The eighteenth chapter of Luke is the next passage dealing with Jesus' lessons on prayer.  Two parables are given which illustrate two important points about prayer.

            Luke says the first parable was for the purpose of praying rather than fainting.  The term "that men ought always" means "with a view of being necessary” this was more than a suggestion it was a definite principle about the power of prayer in the disciple’s life, in our life.

            Men ought always to pray and not to faint. Literally, this means not to give in to evil, to turn coward, lose heart, or behave badly. In other words, don't give up, don't quit but instead pray and keep on praying. To pray is to continue the fight. The two words, pray and faint, are in contrast, they are in opposition to each other. In other words, if we are not praying then we are fainting. If I am not praying then I am giving up, quitting the battlefield, walking away in surrender.   

This casts a different light upon the practice of prayer.  Instead of a sometimes occurrence or a type of emergency escape, prayer becomes the source of power for continuing the fight in the skirmishes or the battles of living in this sinful world.  We might think that words like fighting, or believing or enduring, would be more appropriate here than praying, but Jesus point is that praying is enduring, believing and fighting.

We need to quit think of prayer as an add-on to the Christian life and begin to see it as the foundation of the Christian life. Prayer is the essential. Prayer is my strength for continuing the fight, but it is my submission to God who supplies my needs, the ammunition for the fight and it is a sign of my faith that I will not give up the fight. Without consistent and continual prayer this there is no hope of victory.    

 Psalms 55:16-18 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:  and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

David is in the midst of a battle due to betrayal in his life but despite that terrible harsh blow, he doesn’t quit, no he prays and does not faint. He simply increases his time and intensity in prayer.     

Now let’s look at the parable Jesus used to teach about prayer.  Luke 18:2

The Widow and the Judge - Luke 18:2-6

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

The Judge in this story was probably a Roman provincial magistrate.  He was not therefore under Jewish law or the Jewish God. A widow asks the judge, "Avenge me of mine adversary"  To "avenge " meant to do justice, to protect me. The woman had an enemy who was seeking to do her harm. She goes to one in authority and asks for justice and protection. Just as you or I might do.

The judge though, will not help her at first. He just ignores her pleas, they aren’t important to him and she is not important to him. He won’t help for justice sake but finally relents due to her persistence.  “Lest she weary me, literally means, "Lest she beat me under the eye."  The term was a figure of speech, it meant that the judge feared damage, "a black eye," to his reputation because of her persistence in asking for justice. The judge then relents and grants her request.

The Prayer Principle of Persistence

Jesus give us the point of the parable, Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Once again Jesus uses a strong contrast, the unrighteous Judge to the all righteous God to increase the power of the parable. He does this often, if not always in his parables about people. Remember the unrighteous steward who stole from his master, the undesirable Samaritan who stopped to help, or the ungrateful son who had denied his father and ran away.  In this case Jesus contrasts the uncaring judge with the loving Heavenly Father. 

Jesus says, If an unrighteous, uncaring judge would do right because of persistence, how much more will a holy, loving God care for us, His own children. Then Jesus adds this qualifier about persistence to God's answer to our prayers "Which cry day and night to Him."   

            The parable is a lesson in persistence. We cannot expect God to help us if we faint before He answers. He will answer, of that there is no doubt. He will answer as our Heavenly Father because He loves His children. Here, the only conditional element is persistence in Prayer.     

Praying Every Hour for a Hundred Years

The Moravians were a band of persecuted Protestants who became the first true missionaries of our modern age.  They began to go to the new world around 1730 and to start churches among the native Indians and slaves.  Before the work of missions began the Moravians under the leadership and protection of  Count Zinzendorf began a prayer chain.  In two bands, one of 24 men the other of 24 women, they determined to pray every hour of the day. Stopping whatever they were doing or rising up from bed these men and women began a chain of prayer 24 hours a day that lasted for over 100 years. Because of their devotion missionaries were sent throughout England and the new world of America. Ultimately, those reached though the missions outnumbered the home church by thousands. This all took place at a time in which this type of mission activity was virtually unknown. Yet, here it was accomplished through the power of persistent prayer.

Fainting Faith and a Questioning Lord - Luke 18:8 

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Jesus, himself gives us His word that, Yes!, God will answer. That is not in question, but what is in question is our faith. Our faith as seen by our prayers. Jesus asks, if He shall find faith on the earth when He comes. This is a question directed to us. "When the Son of Man comes will he find the saints praying?"  We who now stand between the saints of old, who did not faint, and the return of our Lord, will we pray or will we faint?

Under the pressure of finances, under the stress of those who are watching for mistakes, under the strain of difficulties and weakness will I faithfully continue in prayer? Do I hear the words of Jesus, "Saint of God, pray don't faint."  Often I want to faint, to quit, to give up, to have rest even if it is the rest of failure, but the echo of Jesus words will not cease, "Pray, don't faint."

Prayer will keep me from sinking, pray will hold me above the waves of despair. Prayer is the only power I have to the forces that oppose me.  Pray, pray and pray some more! Pray, don’t faint.

Praying Till the Answer Comes.

Remember the story of Daniel. Here was someone who prayed regularly and deeply at all times.  When bad times came Daniel increased and intensified his prayers.  Look in Daniel the tenth chapter as he prays and fasts for three weeks until he receives an answer.

            Daniel 10:1-14   2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4  And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: … 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

Daniel prayed and did not faint for 21 days. What would have happened if Daniel had stopped praying after only a few days?  He would not have received the answer. His prayer was the cause of the messenger being sent and it was the cause of the battle and ultimately it was the victory for a battle waged in the heavens. Without the prayer the battle would have been lost and messenger would gone back.

Parable 2: The Proud Pharisee and Repentant Publican - Luke 18:9-14      

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Prayer Principle of Humility

During the time of Christ, the Pharisees were considered the closest in lifestyle to what the law demanded, they were looked up to as holy and righteous examples of Godly living as keepers of the Law of God. The Publicans are the contrast to the Pharisees, they were Jewish people who had taken jobs for the hated Roman Empire as tax collectors, who often padded the tax bill for their own wealth and benefit.  They were hated because they were traitors to their own people.

But Jesus says, in vs. 14 I tell you, this man, the Publican, went down to his house justified rather than the other. And here is the point of the parable and the next lesson about prayer from Jesus, He says, “for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

God expects and accepts the humble man and the humble prayer, but He refuses and rejects the proud..

The two parables Jesus taught in Luke 18 give us these two principle of prayer.

Powerful prayer mut be consistent, and persistent. Prayer is the weapon of distinction in the battles of faith. Pray, don’t faint.  

Secondly our heart and our prayers must be given in the attitude of humility. God debases the proud, but exalts the humble.

Conclusion

We live in a sinful, hurtful, belligerent world opposed to the children of God. That is our arena, our battlefield. We are here by God’s will to fight the fight of faith. Paul in Ephesians 6 says, we are outfitted with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Word, the shoes of the Gospel and the belt of truth. And as Paul finishes that list of armor and weapons, he says, in …

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Prayer is an essential part of the whole armor of God. Jesus says we can’t begin or finish the fight without prayer. Paul says the armor of God is not complete without prayer.

In 2026 may we as Calvary Baptist church, as families, as individual children of God, resolve to truly pray as Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Pray with importunity, pray with persistence and pray with humility. Pray and don’t faint until Jesus comes with all the Host of Heaven to gain the final victory.