The Persistent Neighbor At Midnight Luke 11:5-13

Context: Teach us how to pray- v.1-4 Our Lesson- v.5-8 Jesus says...ASK v.9-13 What Would You Do?

5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, 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. Luke 11

1.What this does not mean: This is not a picture of God’s Reluctance to answer our prayers. We keep praying to the point of wearing out both ourselves and God. God is unconcerned and unfeeling.

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isa 65:24 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

2. Lessons We Can Learn God is never too busy, far away, or tired

Psalm 145:18 The L ORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

2. Lessons We Can Learn God is never too busy, far away, or tired Even the “great ones” sometimes had to wait. We can affect out great God through prayers.

James 5 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

2. Lessons We Can Learn God is never too busy, far away, or tired Even the “great ones” sometimes had to wait. We can affect out great God through prayers. The persistent person was a neighbor We are not inconveniencing God.

Jeremiah “Am I a God who is near,” declares the L ORD,n“And not a God far off? 24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the L ORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the L ORD.

2. Lessons We Can Learn God is never too busy, far away, or tired Even the “great ones” sometimes had to wait. We can affect out great God through prayers. The persistent person was a neighbor We are not inconveniencing God. We matter to God more than any child ever has mattered to his parents.

9 “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. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 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? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 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

3. Becoming More Prayerful Person Matt. 6:5-6 – Times In Our Day For Prayer

Matthew 6 5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

3. Becoming More Prayerful Person Matt. 6:5-6 – Times In Our Day For Prayer Matt 6:7-8 – Make Prayer Personal

Matthew 6 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

3. Becoming More Prayerful Person Matt. 6:5-6 – Times In Our Day For Prayer Matt 6:7-8 – Make Prayer Personal Matt. 6:12-15 – Showing Love for Others

Matthew 6 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors… 14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

What is your prayer schedule going to be What might Satan use to hinder a consistent prayer schedule in your life? What plans can you make to keep from succumbing to Satan’s hindrances?